INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 CHOLAS’ NAVAL EXPEDITIONS FROM A.D 985 TO A.D 1029: A STUDY S Rajagopal Assistant Professor of History, MannarThirumalai Naicker College, Pasumalai, Madurai, Tamilnadu Email :
[email protected] Abstracts The Chola ruler Rajaraja I was an amazing military leader in History of Tamilagam. He broke the Chera’s naval power and constructed a powerful naval as well as a merchant fleet. With the help of warships, he controlled to capture northern part of Ceylon and 12000 Islands (Maldives). In addition, Rajendra I the son of Rajaraja I, was another an outstanding personality acted as army Commander and Naval Admiral by utilizing naval power, he controlled all over Ceylon. He travelled more than 2500 nautical miles from Tamil country, led a naval expedition, across the deep-sea and defeated the naval power of Sailendra Empire in Pannai, Malaiyur, Mayuridingam, Ilankasoka, Mapappalam, Mevilimbangam, Valaippanduru, Talaittakkolam, Madamalingam, Ilamurudesam, Kadaram and Manakkavaram in South East Asia. Also, he had victory over Sailendra’s land forces by using Cholas cavalry and the Sailendra Emperor, Vijayatungavarman became prisoner in 1025 A.D. The aim of naval battle was to dominate the sea trade routes from India to China. Key Words: 12,000 Islands, Mummudi-Chola-Mandalam, Kadaram, Vijayatungavarman and MunrukaiMahasenai Introduction Military History of Tamilagamis largely an unexplored subject. Scholars have covered mostly the administrative, social, political, cultural, economic and religious aspects of great rulers. but they have been either silent or written little about the military matters. Because of military historical accounts were very rarely available. The Sangam Cholas reached the zenith of power under Karikala in 2nd Century A.D., in Tamilagam.