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. He had a navy, invaded Ceylon (Ilam) ruler VankanasikaTissa (171-173 A.D), defeating the Ceylonese ruler, captured 12,000 prisoners of war and brought them to Tamil country. The Ceylon prisoners were used to construct the dam Kallanai (Grant Anicut) across the river Kaveri and fortification of the Puhar, sea fort town of the KarikalaChola, at the mouth of the Kaveri.[1] After Karikala more than five centuries from 300 A.D., the Kalabras, the Pandyas and the Pallavas ruled over the country. After fall of the 1stPandiya Empire, in middle of 9th Century A.D., VijayalayaChola (850-881 A.D) [2] founded the imperial Chola Empire. The powerful imperial Chola’s emerged steadily in south India and once again the naval power reached its peaks under Rajaraja-I and Rajendra I. After 429 years long journey, the Chola’s dynasty came to end in 3rd quarter of the 13th Century A.D. The aim of this paper “Cholas’ Naval Expeditions From A.D 985 To A.D 1029: A Study”[3]is to encourage our oncoming generation how Rajaraja I and Rajendra I fought naval wars during their campaign. Methodology The study would be both descriptive and fact-finding. By the way of historical research methodology, information’s are collected from different kinds. In this research, both primary sources i.e., South Indian Inscriptions (S.I.I), Epigraphy Indica (E.I); Travancore Archaeological Series (T.A.S.); and secondary sources like eminent researcher published in national and international books and journals are used. Volume 8 Issue 10 2019 458 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 Objectives of the Study The aim and objectives of the paper are: - (a) To review the current literature of the study area. (b) To know the divisions of the Chola Army. (c) To study the excellence of the Cholas Navy. (d) To assess the military potential of the Imperial Cholasof Rajaraja I, and Rajendra I. (e) To illustrate Naval expeditions of Rajaraja I (f) To distinguish Rajendra I, Naval expeditions of South East Asian countries. Imperial Cholas After fall of 1st Pandya Empire, in middle of 9th Century A.D., VijayalayaChola got victory over Muttaraiyar& founded the Imperial Cholas (A.D. 850 to A.D. 1071). The powerful Imperial Chola’s emerged steadily in South India. Aditya I (871-907 A.D.) aided to the Pallava (Aparajita) in the battle of Sripurambiyam and got the control of CholaMandalam and cordial relations with the Ganga rulers. Parantaka-I (907-955 A.D.) defeated Pandya (Rajasima II) & Ceylon troops at the battle of Vellur in 915 A.D. He annexed the Pandya country and assumed the title of MadhuraiyumIllamumKondan. He also defeated Rashtrakuta rulers in the battle of Vallam. But last days, he had many difficulties & lost the northern part of the Chola kingdom. Far ahead Gandaraditya (950-957 A.D.); Arinjaya (956-957 A.D.); Parantaka II (957-973 A.D.) and UttamaChola (973-985 A.D.) ruled the Chola country and made effort to re-establish Chola supremacy in the south. The Imperial Chola’s Army The imperial Cholas have a brilliant standing Army. During the Rajaraja I and Rajendra-I were had three wings of the army or ‘MunrukaiMahasenai’ is found in the inscription.[4] Army consisted of chiefly infantry (Villigal-bow men, sword men and Spears men), cavalry (Kudiraisevakar), elephants (Yanaiyatkal or Kanjaramallar) and all these wings were well disciplined.[5] In Chola army in the early period was called Kaikkolapperumbadai which means a big army of men distinguished by the strength of their arms.[6] The Chola army had as many as 31 regiments and later extended upto 70.[7] Also a new prominent regiment was called Velaikkararpadai and contains 14 regiments. It divided into two type i.eIdangaiVelaikkarar and ValankaiVelaikkarar. They were most permanent and faithful troops in the royal service. Their designation involve that they were every ready to defend the king and his cause with their lives when the occasion arose.[8] The Chola army was spread all over country in the form of local garrisons. The cantonments were called Kadagams.[9] The regiment Viracola-anukkar seems to have been connected with the protection of temples. The whole army had a total strength of 1.5 lakh [10] of which the elephant squad strength of 60,000 every one seven to eight feet high. When fighting these elephants carry on their back’s houses, and the house full of soldiers who shoot arrows at long range and fight with spears at the close quarters.[11] The king was the supreme commander in chief of the entire forces. The princes of the royal family were other important personages who took effective role in the conduct of war. The generals, the Commander in Chief were called by various names ‘Nayaka’, ‘Senapati’ or ‘Mahadendanayaka’[12] and who assisted by subordinate ranks, led the army. Brahmins were also appointed as commander of Army. The Cholas had a well- trained cavalry which was composed of a superior variety of horses. Apart from the professional soldiers, the archers and forest soldiers joined the army to meet any crisis.[13]Parivarattar, the guard men of the palace attached to palace. ‘Uttrapatti’[14]a land grant was given to soldier’s next kin, who wounded and losses their life in battle field. The traders had their own army. Velakkarar were normally the mercenary armed guards for the merchants. In warfare they used swords and shield had their primary weapons of killing. The Cholas purchased horses and elephants from strangers, while horses mostly imported from Arabs,[15] Elephants were obtained from Ceylon, Malabar and Kalinga. Volume 8 Issue 10 2019 459 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 The Navy The Cholas maintained a strong amazing navy led by the either king or princes. The navy chiefly played a vital aggression across the Coromandel and Malabar coasts. Cholas naval ships completely dominated the trade routes from the Indian sub-continent to Malacca Straits. Rajaraja-I and Rajendra-I inflicted defeat on the Cheras, Ceylon, islands of southern seas and Srivijaya. Due to their intense activities, the Bay of Bengal became a “Chola Lake” and Ceylon, Sumatra and the countries of “Greater India” trembled at the name of the Chola navy. For maritime journey generally kalam, mitavai, kappal,odam, padahu, kattumaram,[16]Sangara and Colandia are used. Kattu Maran, meaning small vessels, were most suitable for transporting goods from ships anchored in harbours. Sangara class of ships, built with single logs of wood bound together, were coastal vessels and could carry large amounts of cargo. The Colandia were larger ocean-going vessels that were capable of distant voyages.[17] Butuntil now, no records are available to know about their ship-industry or naval strength of the Cholas. As per epigraphical and archaeological evidence and Travellers’ records also prove that during medieval period from ‘9th to 14th Century A.D., the place like Kayalpattinam, Periapattinam, Devipattinam and Nagapattinam were important port town of cost. These ports had maritime relation with the Arabian, southeast Asia and China countries. It is interesting to note that during this period there was an active horse trade in this coast with the Arabian countries by the merchants of west coast of India.[18] Rajaraja I Break Naval Supremacy of Chera Ruler Rajaraja I (985-1014 A.D), known as RajakesariArumolivarman[19], the great South Indian Chola King, son of Parantaka II (SundaraChola) came to throne on 25th June 985 A.D.[20] Who starting from a small state, conquered most of the south India and was the 1st ruler to have brought south India under a single umbrella. Then he started constructing a physically powerful naval as well as a merchant fleet. He was the 1st Indian King who is known to the have constructed warship for controlling the sea trade along the eastern and western coast. Rajaraja I had the ambition to dominate sea route.