Kulottunga I
Topic: Southern Dynasties: Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Kulottunga I was a Chola king who ruled c. 1070–1120. He came from two royal families. His father was an Eastern Chalukya prince of Vengi in Andhra, and his mother was a Chola princess. Through him, Vengi and the Chola kingdom came under one ruler. This was the end result of years of marriage links between the two houses.
Example
Kulottunga I removed some tolls on trade. A toll is a tax paid by traders on their goods. For this, his inscriptions call him Sungam tavirtta Cholan, "the Chola who abolished tolls". He also sent an embassy (an official group of envoys) to China in 1077, which shows the Cholas' close interest in the China trade.
Don't confuse with
- Kulottunga II: a later Chola king (12th century). His minister Sekkilar wrote the Periya Puranam.
- Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi: Kulottunga's father's family. Kulottunga himself ruled as a Chola king from the Chola heartland.
Related concepts
- Rajaraja Chola I
- Brihadishvara temple
- Larger Leiden plates
- Chudamani Vihara
- Rajendra Chola I
- Gangaikondacholapuram
- Shrivijaya
- Chola naval expedition to Shrivijaya