Kopperunchinga II
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Kopperunchinga II (reigned c.1243 - 1279 CE) was a Kadava chieftain, who succeeded his father Kopperunchinga I and continued his successes against the Cholas and the Hoysalas. Kopperunchinga II practically acted as the Chola king's protector and helped him maintain his position on the Chola throne. Kopperunchinga II assumed such titles as Maharajasimha, Khadgamalla, Kadava Pallava, Alappirandan and Avaniyalappirandan. He has left numerous inscriptions mainly in the South Arcot and Chingleput districts and the northern portion of Thanjavur, and a few have also been found in the North Arcot and Chittoor districts.
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[edit] Expansion of Kadava power
The political situation of the Tamil country during the reign of Rajendra Chola III was very favourable for Kopperunchinga II to continue the rapid consolidation of the Kadava power and expand it even beyond the extent it was during his father's reign. Kadava's main adversary was the Hoysalas who engaged the Kadava army in many battles during Kopperunchinga I's reign. During Kopperunchinga II, his Hoysala contemporary Somesvara II was absent from the Tamil country as he was busy consolidting his own precarious position at home. Kopperunchinga actively assisted Rajendra Chola III ascend the Chola throne and acted as his protector.
Kopperunchinga II followed his father to the throne sometime during the early months of 1243 CE. His residence was at Sendamangalam, where his father had established the Kadava capital. His territories extended from Kanchipuram in the north to near Kumbakonam in the south. The territories north of Kanchipuram was occupied by the Telugu Chola king Vijaya Gandagopala.
[edit] Relationship with Cholas and Pandyas
The Chola territories were confined to the area around Thanjavur and portions of Tiruchi and Kopperunching was the most immediate stronger ruler. As a result the Cholas was practically a feudatory to Kopperunchinga. Chidambaram, the temple town favoured by the Cholas now lay within the Kadava territies. As some of Rajendra Chola III's inscriptions are found in places under Kopperunchinga's control, we may assume that these two rulers were acting as allies against the Kakatiya dynasty.
Kopperunchinga's relationship with the Pandya king Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan was also of a cordial nature after an initial enemity. The Pandya king defeated the Kadava chieftain in battle and sacked the Kadava capital Sendamangalam in 1258 CE. Kopperunchinga was arrested, and released after agreeing to pay annual tribute to the Pandyas. He also fought on the side of the Pandyas in their battle against the Hoysala.
[edit] End of Kadavas
Kopperunchinga continued to pay tribute to the Pandyas throughout Sundara Pandya's reign. In 1268 Kulasekara Pandya ascended the throne and the Pandyas swept across the Tamil country and eliminated the remnants of the Cholas. The Pandya territories covered the entire South Indian peninsula up to the River Krishna in the north. During this process the Kadavas along with their Chola allies perished. We hear no more of Kpooerunchinga II or the Kadavas after 1279 CE.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
- South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/
