Satyasraya
Encyclopedia
Satyasraya also known as Sattiga or Irivabedanga, was the king of the revived Western Chalukyas
. Towards the end of his rule with the great Chola Rajaraja Chola I
and had to face disastrous consequences of entering into a war with the Cholas which greatly endangered his own survival as well as the territorial integrity of the Western Chalukyas
as a consequence of the Chola twin counter-onslaught into his kingdom. Satyasraya, like his predecessor partonised Kannada poet Ranna
who compared the king to Bhima of Mahabharatha.
. He quickly identified the growing Chola power as his nemesis and resented their increasing influence in the Vengi
region and with the Eastern Chalukyas
. He sent an army led by one of his generals Baya Nambi to invade the Eastern Chalukyan kingdom in 1006 CE to overthrow the Chola-Eastern Chalukya alliance and bring the east coast under his control. The general entered Vengi from the south, reduced the forts of Dharanikota
and Yanamandala to ashes and established himself at Chebrolu
(Guntur
district). Rajaraja Chola distracted the attention of Satyasraya by sending his son Rajendra Chola I
to invade Rattapadi in the west and thus compelled him to withdraw his army from Vengi for the defence of his realm.
According to Chalukya records, Satyasraya gained success in war against the Cholas, though this is not supported by any epigraphical or inscriptional evidence, especially considering that for several years, the inscriptions of Satyasraya himself are issued from places far away from his capital Manyakheta, like Kogali and Kadambalige in Chitradurga
district of modern Karnataka
, after his war in 1007-08 AD against the Cholas under Raja Raja Chola I, whose forces were led by his son Rajendra Chola I
.
During his reign the Paramara
s and Chedi
reconquered the territory that they had lost to the Chalukyas earlier. Satyashraya, however, subdued the Shilahara king Aparijitha ruler of North Konkana. He was drawn into a war with the Cholas under Raja Raja Chola I because of their close association with the Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi, which was cemented through marriage. Perceiving this to be an increased interference of Cholas in his sphere of influence, Satyasraya invaded Vengi in 1006.
. According to Chalukya version, Rajendra marched up to Donur, deep inside the Chalukya country, near what is modern Bijapur. He subsequently raided and captured Banavasi (apparently capturing the Kadamba feudatory of the Satyashraya) and also conquered large parts of the Raichur Doab. In a subsequent lightning raid by another Chola regiment consisting of ace cavalrymen and a fleet of over 6000 well-armed elephants with four men with swords and arches above them, the Cholas sacked the Chalukyan capital of Manyakheta itself and Satyashraya had to flee the battlefield in dire haste. Raja Raja Chola I entered into war with the Chalukyas following the maxim that attack is the best form of defence, by attacking Chalukya positions right in their capital Manyakheta, while deploying several other divisions to attack Chalukya positions in Vengi, and chased the Chalukya forces from Vengi to the lower Deccan plateau, near Kulpak (Kollippakkei in Chola records), which is around 45 miles north of modern Hyderabad. These tough measures compelled Satyashraya to withdraw his forces from Vengi because his own capital Manyakheta had been seized by the Chola Crown Prince Rajendra Chola I
. The vanquished Satyashraya, thereafter, was forced to shift south of Manyakheta, his kingdom and issued inscriptions for several years, as 'Satyashraya ruling from Kogali' (or from Kadambalige) (near Chitradurga district in Modern Karnataka). Rajendra Chola returned the territories to him and his forces returned to the Chola country with many riches accumulated from this grand victory. Apparently, he was decapitated in his war with Rajendra Chola for he was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya V
within two years. The Cholas, presumably because of this, also preferred to strengthen their position in Vengi rather than focus on the Chalukya country, for there were no clashes between the Cholas and the Western Chalukyas
during the reign of Vikramaditya V
.
Satyasraya was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya V
in 1008.
Western Chalukyas
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...
. Towards the end of his rule with the great Chola Rajaraja Chola I
Rajaraja Chola I
Raja Raja Chola I born Arunmozhi Thevar , popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE...
and had to face disastrous consequences of entering into a war with the Cholas which greatly endangered his own survival as well as the territorial integrity of the Western Chalukyas
Western Chalukyas
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...
as a consequence of the Chola twin counter-onslaught into his kingdom. Satyasraya, like his predecessor partonised Kannada poet Ranna
Ranna
Ranna was one of the earliest poets of Kannada language.Ranna, Adikavi Pampa and Sri Ponna together are called "three gems of Kannada literature".-Early days:Ranna was born on 949 C.E. in Muduvolalu Bagalkot district, Karnataka....
who compared the king to Bhima of Mahabharatha.
Invasion of Vengi
Satyasraya continued the aggressive policies of his father Tailapa IITailapa II
Tailapa II had titles Nurmadi Taliapa and Satyashraya Kulatilaka. He re-established the Western Chalukya dynasty after a period of 220 years during which time they had been in eclipse. The revived Chalukya kingdom rose to its height of power under Vikramaditya VI. The revived dynasty came to be...
. He quickly identified the growing Chola power as his nemesis and resented their increasing influence in the Vengi
Vengi
The Vengi kingdom extended from the Godavari River in the north to Mount Mahendragiri in the southeast and to just south of the banks of River Krishna in the south of India. This area was part of Kalinga until that kingdom was conquered by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in the mid 3rd century...
region and with the Eastern Chalukyas
Eastern Chalukyas
Eastern Chalukyas were a South Indian dynasty whose kingdom was located in the present day Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was Vengi and their dynasty lasted for around 500 years from the 7th century until c. 1130 C.E. when the Vengi kingdom merged with the Chola empire...
. He sent an army led by one of his generals Baya Nambi to invade the Eastern Chalukyan kingdom in 1006 CE to overthrow the Chola-Eastern Chalukya alliance and bring the east coast under his control. The general entered Vengi from the south, reduced the forts of Dharanikota
Dharanikota
Dharanikota or Dhanyakatakam or Palden Drepung is a town near Amaravati in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh in India, which means a town of rice or paddy.- Location :...
and Yanamandala to ashes and established himself at Chebrolu
Chebrolu
Chebrolu, or Chebrole , is a town and a Mandal in Guntur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, located at . It is a major panchayat comprising three villages, Chebrolu, Pathareddypalem and Kothareddypalem and is the mandal headquarters. It was a regional fort for the Pallava, Chalukyas...
(Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
district). Rajaraja Chola distracted the attention of Satyasraya by sending his son Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...
to invade Rattapadi in the west and thus compelled him to withdraw his army from Vengi for the defence of his realm.
According to Chalukya records, Satyasraya gained success in war against the Cholas, though this is not supported by any epigraphical or inscriptional evidence, especially considering that for several years, the inscriptions of Satyasraya himself are issued from places far away from his capital Manyakheta, like Kogali and Kadambalige in Chitradurga
Chitradurga
Chitradurga is a town in the southern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.-Geography:Chitradurga is...
district of modern Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, after his war in 1007-08 AD against the Cholas under Raja Raja Chola I, whose forces were led by his son Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...
.
During his reign the Paramara
Paramara
Paramara is a Maratha, Gurjar,& Rajput clan of India.The Paramara clan belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs ancient Kshatriyas...
s and Chedi
Chedi Kingdom
Chedi kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled during early periods by Paurava kings and later by Yaduvanshi Rajput kings in the central and western India. It falls roughly in the Bundelkhand division of Madhya Pradesh regions to the south of river Yamuna and along river Betwa or Vetravati...
reconquered the territory that they had lost to the Chalukyas earlier. Satyashraya, however, subdued the Shilahara king Aparijitha ruler of North Konkana. He was drawn into a war with the Cholas under Raja Raja Chola I because of their close association with the Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi, which was cemented through marriage. Perceiving this to be an increased interference of Cholas in his sphere of influence, Satyasraya invaded Vengi in 1006.
Wars with the Cholas
The Cholas responded with a two-pronged attack on the Vengi kingdom and on the Western Chalukya territory itself. The Chola armies were led by Rajendra Chola IRajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...
. According to Chalukya version, Rajendra marched up to Donur, deep inside the Chalukya country, near what is modern Bijapur. He subsequently raided and captured Banavasi (apparently capturing the Kadamba feudatory of the Satyashraya) and also conquered large parts of the Raichur Doab. In a subsequent lightning raid by another Chola regiment consisting of ace cavalrymen and a fleet of over 6000 well-armed elephants with four men with swords and arches above them, the Cholas sacked the Chalukyan capital of Manyakheta itself and Satyashraya had to flee the battlefield in dire haste. Raja Raja Chola I entered into war with the Chalukyas following the maxim that attack is the best form of defence, by attacking Chalukya positions right in their capital Manyakheta, while deploying several other divisions to attack Chalukya positions in Vengi, and chased the Chalukya forces from Vengi to the lower Deccan plateau, near Kulpak (Kollippakkei in Chola records), which is around 45 miles north of modern Hyderabad. These tough measures compelled Satyashraya to withdraw his forces from Vengi because his own capital Manyakheta had been seized by the Chola Crown Prince Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I and was one of the greatest rulers of Tamil Chola dynasty of India. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor...
. The vanquished Satyashraya, thereafter, was forced to shift south of Manyakheta, his kingdom and issued inscriptions for several years, as 'Satyashraya ruling from Kogali' (or from Kadambalige) (near Chitradurga district in Modern Karnataka). Rajendra Chola returned the territories to him and his forces returned to the Chola country with many riches accumulated from this grand victory. Apparently, he was decapitated in his war with Rajendra Chola for he was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya V
Vikramaditya V
Vikaramaditya V succeeded Satyasraya on the Western Chalukya throne. Vikramaditya was Satyasraya's nephew and had a very uneventful short reign.Vikramaditya is the son of Dashavarman,the brother of Satyasraya.Dashavarman had three son Vikramaditya V,Jayasimha I and Ayanna II and a daughter...
within two years. The Cholas, presumably because of this, also preferred to strengthen their position in Vengi rather than focus on the Chalukya country, for there were no clashes between the Cholas and the Western Chalukyas
Western Chalukyas
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...
during the reign of Vikramaditya V
Vikramaditya V
Vikaramaditya V succeeded Satyasraya on the Western Chalukya throne. Vikramaditya was Satyasraya's nephew and had a very uneventful short reign.Vikramaditya is the son of Dashavarman,the brother of Satyasraya.Dashavarman had three son Vikramaditya V,Jayasimha I and Ayanna II and a daughter...
.
Satyasraya was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya V
Vikramaditya V
Vikaramaditya V succeeded Satyasraya on the Western Chalukya throne. Vikramaditya was Satyasraya's nephew and had a very uneventful short reign.Vikramaditya is the son of Dashavarman,the brother of Satyasraya.Dashavarman had three son Vikramaditya V,Jayasimha I and Ayanna II and a daughter...
in 1008.