The
Chalukya dynasty was an
Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central
India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. The rule of the
Chalukyas marks an important milestone in the history of
South India and a golden age in the history of
Indian State
Karnataka. The political atmosphere in
South India shifted from smaller kingdoms to large empires with the ascendancy of
Chalukyas.
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Keshava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka |
The
Chalukya dynasty was established by
Pulakeshin I in 543. He earned the distinction of being the first independent King and the real founder of the
Chalukya dynasty. He successfully defied the waning power of the
Kadamba Empire and proclaimed the
Chalukyan independence. He chose
Badami (Vatapi) as his capital and constructed a strong hill fortress there. The new fortress stood on the indefensible location surrounded by rivers and steep mountains.
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Bhutanatha temple complex, Badami |
Kirtivarma I (566–597 CE) succeeded
Pulakeshin I as the ruler of the
Chalukya Dynasty. Kirtivarma I consolidated the newly founded
Chalukya Kingdom. He completed the subjugation of the
Kadambas, and he secured the extension of the
Chalukya Kingdom by subduing the
Nalas of
Nalavadi, the
Alupas of
South Kanara and the
Maurya chiefs of
Konkan. He also annexed the port of
Goa, then known as
Revatidvipa.
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Vijayadurg Fort, Konkan Region |
Mangalesha (C. 596 – 610 CE) succeeded
Kirtivarman I to the
Chalukya throne. He ruled as regent as the heir to the throne
Pulakeshin II was considered too young to rule. When he sought to prolong his reign with the view of handing the throne to his own son
Sundaravarma, Pulakeshin II rebelled against his uncle and was made king in 610 CE. During his reign, the
Chalukyas of Badami saw their kingdom extend over most of the
Deccan.
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Artistic depiction of Pulakeshin II |
Pulakeshin II extended the
Chalukya Empire up to the northern extents of the
Pallava kingdom and halted the southward march of
Harsha by defeating him on the banks of the river
Narmada.The
Badami Chalukya dynasty went into a brief decline following the death of
Pulakeshin II due to internal feuds when
Badami was occupied by the
Pallavas for a period of thirteen years.
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Defeat of Pulakeshin II |
Vikramaditya I (655–680 CE) was the third son of
Pulakeshin II. He restored order in the fractured kingdom and made the
Pallavas retreat from the capital
Vatapi. Vikramaditya continued his enmity with
Pallava Narasimhavarman's son and successor
Mahendravarman II, and later with his son
Paramesvaravarman I. Early in the reign of
Paramesvaravarman, Vikramaditya advanced to the neighbourhood of the
Pallava capital
Kanchipuram. Vikramaditya died in 680 and his son
Vinayaditya succeeded him on the
Chalukya throne.
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Kailasanathar Temple, Kanchipuram |
Vinayaditya (680–696 CE) followed his father, Vikramaditya I on to the Chalukya throne. His reign was marked by general peace and harmony. Vinayaditya sent an ambassador to the Chinese court in 692. He was succeeded by Vijayaditya(696–733 CE). The thirty-seven year rule of Vijayaditya was a prosperous one and is known for prolific temple building activity.
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Sangameshwara Temple built by Vijayaditya |
The empire was its peak again during the rule of the
Vikramaditya II (733–744) who is known not only for his repeated invasions of the territory of
Tondaimandalam and his subsequent victories over
Pallava Nandivarman II, but also for his benevolence towards the people and the monuments of
Kanchipuram, the
Pallava capital. During his reign
Arab intruders of the
Umayyad Caliphate invaded southern
Gujarat in 739 CE, which was under
Chalukya rule but the
Arabs were defeated and driven out by
Pulakeshin, a
Chalukya governor.
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Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal built by Lokhamahadevi, the queen of Vikramaditya II |
Kirtivarman II (746 – 753 CE) was the last ruler in the Badami Chalukya dynasty. He succeeded his father Vikramaditya II. He was the last king of the Badami dynasty. There was a period of 220 years in which the western branch of the Chalukyas were in eclipse. Tailapa II revived the dynasty in 973. At their peak, the Chalukyas ruled a vast empire stretching from the Kaveri in the south to the Narmada in the north.
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Extent of Badami Chalukya Empire, 636 CE - 740 CE |
Under Badami Chalukya kindom, the army was well organised. It consisted of an infantry, a cavalry, an elephant corps and a powerful navy. The Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsiang wrote that the Chalukyan army had hundreds of elephants which were intoxicated with liquor prior to battle. It was with their navy that they conquered Revatidvipa (Goa), and Puri on east coast of India.
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A portrait of Hiuen-Tsiang |
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