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Chalukyas and Pallava Dynasty
THE CHALUKYAS
• Chalukyas were the Karnataka rulers and their History can be classified into
three eras:
1. The early western era (6th - 8th century), the era which belonged to
Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi);
2. The later western era (7th - 12th century), the era which belonged to
Chalukyas of Kalyani;
3. The eastern Chalukya era (7th - 12th century), the era which belonged to
Chalukyas of Vengi.
Pulakeshin I (543-566) was the first independent ruler of Badami dynasty.
The capital of his kingdom was Vatapi in Bijapur.
Pulakeshin I was succeeded by Kirthivarma I (566-596). After his untimely
death, his brother Mangalesha (597-610) was made the caretaker ruler as
the son of Kirthivarma I - Prince Pulakesin II was a baby. Mangalesha made
several failed attempts to kill the prince but was killed himself by the prince
and his friends.
The most famous king of the Chalukyan dynasty was Pulakeshin II (610-
642), the son of Pulakeshin I. Pulakeshin II was a contemporary of
Harshavardhana. He defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the
Narmada and his reign is remembered as the greatest period in the history of
Karnataka.
4. The rise of the Eastern Chalukyan Era was started by Pulakeshin II
brother Kubja Vishnuvardana after conquering the Kosalas and
the Kalingas.
5. By 631, the Chalukyan Empire was at its peak. It extended from sea to sea.
Their fall began when Pulkeshin II was defeated and killed by the Pallavas
under the able leadership of Narsimhavarma I. The Pallavas attacked their
capital Badami & captured it.
6. Under the leadership Of Vikramaditya I (655-681) the Chalukyas rose to
power once again. Vikramaditya I defeated his contemporaries Pandya,
Pallava, Cholas and Kerala rulers to establish his supremacy over the
Chalukyan Empire in the southern region.
7. Vikramaditya I was succeeded by Vikramaditya II (733-745) who also
defeated the Pallava king Nandivarma II to capture a major portion of the
Pallava kingdom.
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8. The fall of the Chalukyan Empire started with Vikramaditya II‘s
son, Kirtivarma II (745), who was defeated by the Rashtrakuta
ruler, Dhantidurga, who went on to establish the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
PALLAVA DYNASTY
1. After the decline of the Satavahana dynasty, the Pallava dynasty, founded
by Shivaskandavarman emerged in South India.
2. Kanchi was the capital of the Pallava dynasty.
3. Some of the leaders who are worth mentioning are Simhavarama I
Sivaskandavarma I, Veerakurcha, Shandavarma II, Kumaravishnu I,
Simhavarma II, and Vishnugopa.
4. The decline of the Pallavas started after Samudragupta defeated Vishugopa.
5. The Pallavas kingdom was re-established by Simhavishnu, the son
of Simhavarma II, who ended the Kalabhras‘ dominance in 575 AD and re-
established his kingdom.
6. Vikramaditya I was defeated by Parameshwaravarma I in 670 and restricted
the advance of the Chlukyan king. Eventually, Parameshwaravarma I was
defeated by the combined armies of the Chalukyas, the Pandyas ( lead by their
ruler Arikesari Maravarma) and another prominent enemy of the Pallavas.
7. Narasimhavarma II, a peace-loving ruler, succeeded Parameshwaravarma
I after he died in 695. The famous Kailashanatha temple at Kanchi is built
by Narasimhavarma II. After the accidental death of his elder sons in
722, Narasimhavarma II too died grieving.
8. Parameshwaravarma II the youngest son of Narasimhavarma II, came to
power in 722 after the death of his father. The Pallava kingdom was in a state
of disarray after the death of Parameshwaravarma II in 730 as he had no
heirs to the throne.
9. After some brief infighting for the throne among the family, Nandivarma
II came to power. Nandivarma then went on to marry the Rashtrakuta
princess Reeta Devi and re-established the Pallava kingdom.
10. Dantivarma (796-846) succeeded Nandivarma II who ruled for 54 long
years. Rastrakuta king Dantidurga defeated Dantvarma and was succeeded by
Nandivarma III in 846.
