Battle of Takkolam

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Battle of Takkolam
Date948–949
Location
Result
  • Rashtrakuta
    victory - Death of Chola prince Rajaditya
  • Defeat of the Chola empire
Belligerents
Chera Perumals[1]
)
Western Gangas, Bana Kingdom
, and Vaidumbas)
Commanders and leaders
  • Krishna III
  • Butuga II
  • The Battle of Takkolam (948–949) was a military engagement between a contingent of troops led by

    Takkolam in southern India. The battle resulted in the death of Rajaditya on the battlefield and the defeat of the Chola garrison at Takkolam.[3]

    The battle is considered as the climax of the confrontation between the two imperials powers, the

    Rajendra Chola.[5][3] An account of the battle, which differs in some details from the Chola version, is found in the Atakur inscription issued by Krishna III and prince Butuga II (a young underlord of Krishna III[6]) of the Western Ganga family.[7][6] The Sravana Belgola record of Ganga king Marasimha (963 - 975 AD) also claims victory of the king for his predecessor Bhutuga II.[8]

    Background

    It seems that king Parantaka I anticipated a climatic battle with the Rashtrakutas and their allies in Tirumunaippati Nadu.[3]

    Sometime in the 930s, or perhaps as early as 923 AD,[9] prince Rajaditya was sent with a substantial military contingent, including elephants and horses, as well as his entire household, to the region (to protect the northern edges of a nascent Chola state).[1][3] The prince was joined in Tirumunaippati Nadu by his mother and his half-brother Arinjaya (whose mother also might have been from the Chera Perumal family).[3]

    Battle at Takkolam

    The Rashtrakuta contingent at Takkolam included a collection of feudal militias and royal soldiers (from

    Western Gangas, Banas and Vaidumbas among others).[3] Prince Rajaditya was supported by a number of military personnel from Kerala (Chera) chiefdoms.[3]

    An account of the battle, which differs in some details from the Chola version, is found in the Atakur inscription issued by Krishna III and prince Butuga (a young underlord of Krishna III[3]) of the Western Ganga family. According to the inscription, during the battle, Rajaditya was struck while seated atop his war elephant by an arrow from prince Butuga.[10] The Chola prince died instantly. The Chola army was subsequently defeated and retreated in disorder.[3]

    Consequences

    The collapse of the Chola resistance after the battle of Takkolam lead to the virtual destruction of the Chola empire. The Rashtrakutas conquered eastern and northern parts of the Chola empire and advanced to

    Pandya kings" during his campaign.[1]

    The epithet ‘Tanjaiyunkonda’ or the 'conqueror of

    As per historians, the defeat at Takkolam reversed the substantial political gains made by Parantaka Chola in previous decades. It opened the way for a period of multiple (and perhaps even disputed) Chola accessions.[12] The Chola royals remained in confusion, and perhaps continued a precarious political existence under the threat of Rashtrakuta invasion.[1]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ a b c d e f Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 100-101.
    2. ^ Curry, Anne (2020). The Cambridge History of War: Volume 2, War and the Medieval. Cambdrige. p. all.
    3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ali, Daud. "The Death of a Friend: Companionship, Loyalty and Affiliation in Chola South India." Studies in History, vol. 33, no. 1, Feb. 2017, pp. 36–60.
    4. ^ Epigraphia Indica 22 (1933–34), no. 34: vv. 19–21.
    5. ^ South Indian Inscriptions 3 (1920), no. 205: v. 54.
    6. ^ a b Ali, Daud. “The Death of a Friend: Companionship, Loyalty and Affiliation in Chola South India.” Studies in History, vol. 33, no. 1, Feb. 2017, pp. 36–60.
    7. ^ Epigraphia Indica 6 (1900–01), no. 6c: 53–56.
    8. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 100-101 and 113-114.
    9. ^ South Indian Inscriptions 7 (1932), No. 1009.
    10. ^ Epigraphia Indica 6 (1900–01), no. 6c: 53–56.
    11. ^ A. S. Altekar 1934, p. 134.
    12. ^ Nilakantha Sastri, Cōḷas, 140–67.


    Bibliography

    A. S. Altekar (1934). Rashtrakutas And Their Times. Digital Library of India.