This article is about the Chola Dynasty. For the medieval empire, see Chola Empire.
Chola Dynasty
Imperial, and Royal, dynasty
Imperial coin of Emperor Rajaraja I (985–1014). Uncertain Tamilnadu mint. Legend "Chola, conqueror of the Gangas" in Tamil, seated tiger with two fish.
Country
List
Chola Empire
Chola Kingdom
Anuradhapura Kingdom
Eastern Ganga Kingdom
Kadaram
Kingdom of Velanati
Kingdom of Nellore
Kingdom of Pottapi
Kingdom of Nannuru
Kingdom of Konidena
Kingdom of Niduga
Raja of Cebu (Semi-Legendary)
Other smaller historical states
Etymology
Chola Nadu
Founder
Ilamchetchenni (first documented)
Final ruler
Rajendra III (main branch)
Deposition
1279
Cadet branches
Telugu Choda Dynasties
Chodas of Velanati
Chodas of Nellore
Chodas of Renati
Chodas of Pottapi
Chodas of Konidena
Chodas of Nannuru
Cholas of Nidugal
Chodaganga Dynasty
Rajanate of Cebu (Semi-Legendary)
Chola Kings and Emperors
Early Cholas
Ellalan
205 BCE– c. 161 BCE
Kulakkottan
Ilamchetchenni
Karikala
Nedunkilli
Nalankilli
Killivalavan
Kopperuncholan
Kochchenganan
Perunarkilli
Interregnum (c. 200 – c. 848 CE)
Medieval Cholas
Vijayalaya
848–871?
Aditya I
871–907
Parantaka I
907–955
Rajaditya Chola
935–949
Gandaraditya
949–962
Arinjaya
955–956
Parantaka II (Sundara)
950–980
Aditya II (Karikala)
966–971
Uttama
971–987
Rajaraja I
985–1014
Rajendra I
1012–1044
Rajadhiraja
1018–1054
Rajendra II
1051–1063
Rajamahendra
1060–1063
Virarajendra
1063–1070
Athirajendra
1067–1070
Later Cholas
Kulothunga I
1070–1120
Vikrama
1118–1135
Kulothunga II
1133–1150
Rajaraja II
1146–1173
Rajadhiraja II
1166–1178
Kulothunga III
1178–1218
Rajaraja III
1216–1256
Rajendra III
1246–1279
Related
Related dynasties
Telugu Chodas of Andhra
Chodagangas of Kalinga
Nidugal Cholas of Karnataka
Rajahnate of Cebu
Rajahnate of Sanmalan
Chola society
Ganges Expedition
Chola government
Chola military
Chola Navy
Chola art and architecture
Chola literature
Flag of Chola
Great Living Chola Temples
Solesvara Temples
Poompuhar
Uraiyur
Melakadambur
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Thanjavur
Tiruvarur
Legendary early Chola kings
v
t
e
Part of a series on
History of Tamil Nadu
Main
Tamiḻakam
Chronology of Tamil history
List of Tamil monarchs
Wootz steel
Maritime contacts
Sangam period
Sources
Three Crowned Kings
Education
Legal system
Naming conventions
Government
Economy
Society
Religion
Music
Early Pandyas
Early Cheras
Early Cholas
Velirs
Medieval history
Kalabhra Empire
Pallava Empire
Pandyan Empire
Chola Empire
Chera Kingdom
Madurai Sultanate
Vijayanagara Empire
Madurai Nayaks
Tanjore Nayaks
Kalahasti Nayaks
Gingee Nayaks
Thondaiman Kingdom
Categories
Ancient Tamil Nadu
Architecture
Culture
Economies
Monuments
Inscriptions
Forts
Ancient sites
v
t
e
The Chola dynasty (Tamil:[t͡ʃoːɻɐr]) was a Tamil dynasty originating from southern India. At its height, it ruled over the Chola Empire, an expansive maritime empire. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated to the 3rd century BCE during the reign of Ashoka of the Maurya empire. The Chola empire was at its peak and achieved imperialism under the Medieval Cholas in the mid-9th century CE. As one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam, along with the Chera and Pandya, the dynasty continued to govern over varying territories until the 13th century CE.
The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the Kaveri River. They ruled a significantly larger area at the height of their power from the latter half of the 9th century till the beginning of the 13th century. They unified peninsular India south of the Tungabhadra River and held the territory as one state for three centuries between 907 and 1215 CE.[1] Under Rajaraja I and his successors Rajendra I, Rajadhiraja I, Rajendra II, Virarajendra, and Kulothunga Chola I, the empire became a military, economic and cultural powerhouse in South Asia and Southeast Asia.[2]
^K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, A History of South India, p 157
The Choladynasty (Tamil: [t͡ʃoːɻɐr]) was a Tamil dynasty originating from southern India. At its height, it ruled over the Chola Empire, an expansive...
13th century with the rise of the Pandyan dynasty, which ultimately caused the Chola's downfall. The Cholas established a centralized form of government...
Indonesia and Malay Peninsula were invaded by Rajendra I of the Choladynasty. The Chola invasion furthered the expansion of Tamil merchant associations...
The Early Cholas were a Tamil kingdom of the CholaDynasty - pre and post Sangam period (600 BCE–300 CE). It was one of the three main kingdoms of Tamilakam...
The Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for a group of Choladynasty era Hindu temples in the Indian state of Tamil...
Vijayalaya Chola (r. 847 – 871 CE; Tamil: விசயாலய சோழன், romanized: Vicayālaya Cōḻaṉ) was a descendant of the Early Cholas, who revived the Choladynasty and...
when the Cholas fought land battles with the Chalukyas of Andhra-Kannada area in South India, and with the rise of the Pandyan dynasty.: 175 Chola territorial...
The 'Chola Government during the imperial period in 850 – 1200 CE was marked for its uniqueness and innovativeness. Cholas were the first dynasty who tried...
Vaishnavite alvars. The Choladynasty was a Tamil thalassocratic empire of southern India, one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the world history. The...
towards the river Ganga. In Kalinga the Chola forces defeated Indraratha the ruler of the Somavamsi dynasty. The Chola army eventually reached the Pala kingdom...
was a Chola emperor who reigned from 985 CE to 1014 CE. He is known for his conquests of Southern India and parts of Sri Lanka, and increasing Chola influence...
The Chola military (Tamil: சோழர் படை) was the combined armed forces of the Chola Empire organized during two separate Tamil golden ages, the Sangam Period...
Imperial Cholas. Various dynasties exist among them including Velanati, Pottapi, Konidena, Nannuru, Nellore, Kunduru etc. The earliest Choda dynasty in the...
exclusively Hindu cultural setting. The Cholas built their temples in the traditional way of the Pallava dynasty, who were themselves influenced by the...
century, the two empires of Southern India, the Western Chalukyas and the Choladynasty of Tanjore fought many fierce wars to control the fertile region of...
referred to as Karikala the Great was a Tamil king of the Early Cholas of the Choladynasty who ruled ancient Tamilakam (Modern day Southern India) from...
identical with the word Tondaiyar. Chola Prince Ilandiraiyan is traditionally regarded as the founder of the Pallava dynasty. Ilandiraiyan is referred to in...
its delta, and formed the cultural homeland and political base of the CholaDynasty which ruled large parts of South India and parts of Sri Lanka between...
Muvendar were the traditional three Tamil dynasties that ruled the Tamilakam since the Sangam era. Chera Chola Pandyan Koon Pandiyan Nedunjeliyan I (he...
three being the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Cheras. Existing since at least the 4th to 3rd centuries BCE, the dynasty passed through two periods of imperial...
form the early Chera empire. The dynasty, known as one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam alongside the Chola and Pandya, has been documented as...
Flag of Chola or Tiger Flag (Tamil: புலி கொடி) was used by the Tamil Choladynasty. The Tiger or Jumping Tiger was the royal emblem of the Cholas and was...
The Chola conquest of Anuradhapura was a military invasion of the Kingdom of Anuradhapura by the Chola Empire. It can be seen as an ensuing conflict between...
powerful enough to challenge the waning Choladynasty during the reign of Rajaraja Chola III and Rajendra Chola III. The two Kopperunchingas have left...
epigraphs in the temple date to the reign of Kulottunga Chola III and Rajaraja Chola III of CholaDynasty; Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I of Pandya Dyanasty;...
against the Pala dynasty and captured a great deal of wealth, which he used to build the city of Gangaikondacholapuram, the capital of the Chola Empire, and...
wings and is themed after traditional Dravidian architecture of the Choladynasty. The hotel is the ninth hotel in The Luxury Collection brand. The hotel...
unrest, possibly religious in nature. Athirajendra was last clan of Choladynasty. He was killed in the religious chaos. Athirajindra and Virarajendra...