Vengi Chalukyas

The dynasty of the Eastern Chalukyas, also known as the Chalukyas of Vengi, had about 30 rulers who ruled for about 450 years with Vengi as their capital. The rule of Eastern Chalukyas can be seen in four distinct phases.

During this phase, the Eastern Chalukyas had close relations with the Chalukyas of Badami.

1. Kubja Vishnuvardhana was the founder of the dynasty, younger brother of Pulakesin-ll, who conquering several areas on the East Coast of India placed them under the control of his younger brother. Vishnuvardhana after a few years sought and secured the permission of his elder brother to assume independence and founded his own dynasty. Vishnuvardhana had two titles, 'Vishama Sidhi1 and 'Makaradwaja'. His kingdom was visited by the famous Chinese, Buddhist travellor, Hiuen Tsang, who left a very good account of the conditions of the period in Andhra desa.

2. Jayasimaha-I : He succeeded his father Vishnuvardhana-I and his reign was politically uneventful. But he has the credit of using Telugu in his inscriptions for the first time in history.

3. Others : Indrabhattaraka, Mangi, Jayasimha-ll and Vishnuvardhana-ll were the other rulers during the first phase, but their reigns were not marked by any significant developments.

It began with the overthrowal of the Chalukyas of Badami by the Rashtrakutas of Western Deccan, who frequently interfered in the internal affairs of the Eastern Chalukyas throughout this phase.

1. Vijayaditya-I: During his reign the first attack on the Vengi kingdom by the Rashtrakutas took place and he had to purchase peace with them.

2. Vishnuvardhan-IV : The Rashtrakutas again invaded the Vengi Kingdom and Vishnuvardhana made peace with them by offering his daughter (Simhala Devi) in marriage to Rashtrakuta king, Dhruva.

3. Vijayaditya-ll: His succession was disputed by his brother, Bhima Salki, who enjoyed the support of the Rashtrakutas. But in the end he was able to overcome the opposition of his brother and the Rashtrakutas, and assumed the title of "Narendra Mrugaraja".

4. Vijayaditya-llI :

(a) known as "Gunaga" (full of Virtues) his period was a period of prosperity and glory for the Eastern Chalukyas.

(b)Panduranga, his commander-in-chief, defeated the Eastern Gangas of Kalinga, and also captured 12 Kottams in Nellore district from the Pallavas.

(c) He is credited with introducing Telugu poetry in his inscriptions.

5. Bhima-I: He succeeded his uncle, Vijayaditya, but had to overcome the opposition of his cousins and the usual interference of the Rashtrakutas.

6. His successors : Bhima-I was succeeded by Vijayaditya-IV (who ruled for just 6 months before he was killed by the Eastern Garigas of Kalinga), Bhima-II (ruled for 12 years), Ammaraja and Danarnava. The period of all these rulers was a period of political chaos due to the frequent interference of the Rashtrakutas and the invasions of the other neighbours.

It began with the defeat and murder of Danarnava in 972 A.D. by the Telugu Choda king, Jata Choda Bhima, who occupied the Vengi Kingdom, and came to an end in 999 A.D, when the-Vengi Kingdom was restored back to the Eastern Chalukyas. During this interregnum of 27 years, Saktivarman and Vimaladitya, the two sons of Danarnava. were refugees in the court of the great Chola King Rajaraja-I of Tanjore. It was also the period of overthrowal of the Rashtrakutas by the Chalukyas of Kalyani (also known as the Western Chalukyas).

It was a period of close alliance between the Chalukyas of Vengi and the Cholas of Tanjore. During this period, the Chalukyas of Kalyani tried to interfere frequently in the affairs of Vengi, but were mostly thwarted by the Chola-Eastern Chalukya alliance.

1. Saktivarman : He recovered the throne of Vengi Kingdom by murdering Jata Choda Bhima with the help of Rajaraja Chola. And when the' Western Chalukyas invaded the Vengi Kingdom, the Chola emperor againcame to the rescue of Saktivarman and drove back the Western Chalukyas,

2. Vimaladitya: He succeeded his brother and ruled for about 8 years. During his period of exile in the Chola court, he was married to Rajaraja Choia's daughter, Kundava.

3. Rajaraja Narendra (1020-60 A.D.) : Son of Vimaladitya and Kundava, he had to fight for the throne against his half-brother, Vijayaditya (son of Vimaladitya and his second wife, a Telugu Choda princess). He succeeded in driving away Vijayaditya (who had the support of Western Chalukyas and Eastern Gangas) with the help of his maternal uncle, Rajendra Chola, who also gave his daughter, Ammanga Devi, in marriage to Narendra. He shifted his capital from Vengi to Rajamahendri. His court was adorned by Nannaya, who wrote IVlahabharata in Telugu.

4. Rajendra (1061-1118) : The son of Rajaraja Narendra, succeeded to the throne after a prolonged battles against his paternal uncle Vijayaditya VII. His mother Ammangadevi was the sister of Vira Rajendra, the Chola king. Adhirajendra (the son and successor of Vira Rajendra, the Chola king) was killed in an uprising and he had no male Issue. So, Rajendra United Chola and Eastern Chalukuan kingdoms and ruled upto 1118 under the title Kulottunga-I with the Capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

More info on: History of Andhra Pradesh