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Maravarman Rajasimha I

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Maravarman Rajasimha I
Reignc. 730 - 765 AD[1]
PredecessorKo Chadaiyan Ranadhira
SuccessorJatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan/Varaguna I
DynastyPandya
FatherKo Chadaiyan Ranadhira

Maravarman Rajasimha I (r. c. 730 - 765 AD), also known as Pallavabhanjana,(Tamil:முதலாம் இராசசிம்மன்) was a Pandya king of early medieval south India.[2] He was the son and successor of Ko Chadaiyan Ranadhira.[3] He remembered for his important successes against the Pallavas and in the Kongu country.[3]

Although mentioned in the Larger Sinnamanur Plates, the Velvikkudi Grant is the major source of information about this Pandya king.[3][4]

Life and career

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Siege of Nandigrama

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When the Pallava king Parameswara II died in a battle with the Gangas, a crisis arose in the Pallava kingdom over succession. The Pallava officials then chose a young prince, Nandivarman II Pallavamalla, r. c. 731 - 96 AD, as the next monarch.[5] Rajasimha espoused the cause of a son of Parameswara II (named Chitramaya) in this crisis.[3]

The Pandya seems to have taken part in the campaigns which led to the siege of Nandivarman II in Nandigrama (Nandipuram, Kumbakonam) by the Tamil princess. [3] The Velvikkudi Grant ascribes him victories at Neduvayal, Kurumadai, Mannikuricchi (Mannaikkudi[4]), Tirumangai, Puvalur, and Kodumbalur.[3] The grant also says that he defeated Nandivarman II in a battle at Kuzhumbur.[3] The siege was eventually raised by Pallava general Udayachandra (as mentioned in the Udayendiram Plates of Pallavamalla).[3] He defeated the Pandyas, beheaded prince Chitramaya, and made the Pallava throne secure for Nandivarman II.[6]

Even after defeating the Gangas in c. 760 AD, the Pallavas were unable to restrain the growing power of the Pandyas.[7]

Kongu country

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Rajasimha I won a battle at Periyalur, then crossed the Kaveri River to subjugate the country of Mala Kongam (borders of Trichy and Thanjavur districts).[8] The Malava king who suffered defeat gave his daughter in marriage to Rajasimha. It seems that the conquests of the Pandya extended up to Pandikkodumudi (Kodumudi). [8]

Rajasimha is reportly to have "renewed the cities of Kudal, Vanchi and Kozhi". It is possible that this is a reference to the conquest of the ancient capitals of the Pandyas, the Cheras and the Cholas.[8]

Battle of Venbai

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Velvikkudi Grant describes the Pandya foray in to the Ganga kingdom (a vassal of the Chalukyas).[8][6] It says that the Western Chalukya king was defeated by the Pandya king in a battle at Venbai. Subsequently, a Ganga princess was offered in marriage to a Pandya prince (a son of the Pandya king).[8][6] The Western Chalukya king who was defeated was probably Kirttivarman II (and thus the southern territory of the Chalukya kingdom was lost to the Pandyas under Kirttivarman II).[8][7]

References

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  1. ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras, Oxford University Press. 165.
  2. ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras, Oxford University Press. 165.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1929) The Pandyan Kingdom. London, Luzac and Company. 56-58.
  4. ^ a b Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1929) The Pandyan Kingdom.London, Luzac and Company. 51-52.
  5. ^ Noburu Karashima (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 87-88.
  6. ^ a b c Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1958, second ed.) A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Madras, Oxford University Press. 149-50.
  7. ^ a b Noburu Karashima (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 88.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta. (1929) The Pandyan Kingdom.London, Luzac and Company. 57-58.