The Imperial Chola dynasty was founded by Vijayalaya Chola in the 9th Century AD over the ruins of the Pallavas and led to the beginning of one of the most splendid empires in Indian history. Through their leadership and vision, Chola kings expanded their territory and influence. After consolidating their power in South India, Chola Kings began a long and ardous campaign of conquering entire south east asia. Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I were the greatest rulers of the Chola dynasty, extending it beyond the traditional limits of a Tamil kingdom.
Rajaraja I was a ruler with inexhaustible energy. He destroyed the neighbouring kingdoms of Cheras and Pandyas and earned the title of Mummudi Chola - the one with three crowns: Chola, Chera and Pandya. It was Rajaraja I who began the Chola campaign to conquer Srilanka. The Thiruvalangadu copper-plate inscriptions mention that Rajaraja’s navy crossed the ocean and destroyed Anuradhapura, the ancient Srilankan capital. Anuradhapura was completely ruined and Cholas made the city of Polonnaruwa as the new capital and renamed it Jananathamangalam. Rajaraja built a Shiva temple in Pollonaruwa to commemorate the victory. Rajaraja I kept northern Srilanka under his direct control, although southern part later became Independent.
Rajaraja's son Rajendra Chola had inherited the military genius of his father. He launched another campaign and completed the conquest of Srilanka. He was the first Chola ruler to began the conquest of South east Asia. During his reign, he extended the influence of the Chola empire to the banks of the river Ganga in North India and across the Indian ocean to the east, making the Chola Empire one of the most powerful empires of India. Rajendra’s conquests included Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Indonesia in South East. The Cholas exacted tribute from Thailand and the Khmer kingdom of Cambodia. All these expeditions proved beyond doubt the greatness of Chola Naval power. During this time the entire Bay of Bengal was turned into a Chola lake.
From 900 AD to 1100 AD, the Chola navy had grown from a small backwater entity to that of a potent power projection and diplomatic symbol in all of Asia. Rajaraja commissioned various foreigners (Prominently, the Arabs and Chinese) in the naval building program. These effort were continued and the benefits were reaped by his successors.
The close diplomatics ties between the Song dynasty of China and the Medieval Cholas facilitated many technological innovations to travel both ways. The more interesting ones to have reached Chinese shores are: The famous Chola ship-designs employing independent water tight compartments in the hull of a ship, The mariner's compass and the continuously shooting Flamethrowers for naval warfare.
The Imperial Navy of the Cholas was composed of a multitude of forces in its command. In addition to the regular navy (Kappal-Padai), there were many auxiliary forces that could be used in naval combat. The Chola Navy was an autonomous service unlike many of its contemporaries. The Army depended on the Naval-fleets for transportation and logistics. The navy also had a core of marines. Even saboteurs, who were trained pearl-fishermen, were used to dive and disable enemy vessels by destroying or damaging the rudder.
The Chola Navy could undertake any of the following combat and non-combat missions : Peacetime patrol and interdiction of piracy, Escort trade conveys , Escort friendly vessels, Naval battle close to home ports and at high-seas, Establish a beachhead and or reinforce the army in times of need, Denial of passage for allies of the state's enemies, Sabotage of enemy vessels. This multi-dimensional force enabled the Cholas to achieve the Military, Political and cultural hegemony over their vast dominion.
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