Second Pandyan Empire (13th and 14th centuries) Pandyan dynasty

a pandya style sculpture

the 13th century greatest period in history of pandyan empire. period saw rise of 7 prime lord emperors (ellarkku nayanar – lord of all) of pandyan, ruled kingdom alongside pandyan princes. power reached zenith under jatavarman sundara pandyan in middle of 13th century. foundation such great empire laid maravarman sundara pandyan in 13th century.

parakrama pandyan ii (king of polonnaruwa) (1212–1215)
maravarman sundara pandyan(1216–1238)[34]
sundaravarman kulasekaran ii (1238–1240)
maravarman sundara pandyan ii (1238–1251)
jatavarman sundara pandyan (1251–1268)[34]
maravarman kulasekara pandyan (1268–1310)[34]
sundara pandyan iv (1309–1327)
vira pandyan iv (1309–1345)

the pandyan kingdom replaced chola princes assumed title chola pandyas in 11th century. after being overshadowed pallavas , cholas centuries, pandyan glory briefly revived maravarman sundara pandyan , (probably younger brother or son) celebrated jatavarman sundara pandyan in 1251. pandya power extended telugu countries on banks of godavari river northern half of sri lanka, invaded sundara pandyan in 1258 , on behalf younger brother jatavarman vira pandyan 1262–1264. later jatavarman sundara pandyan appointed brother rule kongu country, chola nadu , hoysala country. jatavarman vira pandyan s clan later called kongu pandiyar , first kongu pandiya king.

the revival of pandyan dynasty coincide gradual steady decline of chola empire. last 2 or 3 chola kings followed kulothunga iii either weak or incompetent. cholas of course did not lack valour had been unable stop revival of pandyan empire times of maravarman sundara pandyan, revival of kadava pallavas @ kanchi under kopperinchunga , indeed growing power , status of telugu cholas, renanti , irungola cholas of telugu country; last three-named had been trusted allies of cholas kulothunga iii, having helped him in conquering kalinga. marital alliance of kulothunga iii , 1 of successors, raja raja iii, hoysalas did not yield advantage, though (initially, @ least) kulothunga iii took of hoysalas in countering pandyan resurgence. kulothunga iii had conquered karur, cheras in addition madurai, ilam , kalinga. however, strength rested on support hoysalas, king veera ballala ii son-in-law. however, veera ballala ii himself had lost quite bit of territories between 1208–1212 local adversaries in kannada country, kalachuris, seunas etc.

the resurgent pandyans under maravarman sundara pandyan went war against kulothunga , first @ kandai , near manaparai on outskirts of modern tiruchirappalli, pandyans routed chola army , entered tiruchy, thiruvarangam , thanjavur victorious in war. appears in tiruchy , thiruvarangam areas, there renewed control of cholas, presumably of hoysalas under vira someswara hoysalas later shifting allegiance pandyans either during last years of maravarman sundara pandyan or years of successor jatavarman sundara pandyan.

jatavarman sundara pandyan brave, ambitious warrior king, wanted subjugate cholas. tolerated presence of hoysalas under vira someshwara son visvanatha or ramanatha ruling kuppam near samayapuram on outskirts of thiruvarangam. because other feudatories of hoysalas growing in power , threatening hoysala kingdom itself. besides, delhi sultanate invasion of deccan had started under malik kafur. challenged hoysalas did have foothold in , around tiruchy , thiruvarangam few years , seemed have indulged in temple building activity @ thiruvarangam also. jatavarman sundara pandyan, subdued rajendra chola iii in around 1258–1260 equal antagonist of hoysalas presence absolutely disliked in tamil country. first vanquished kadava pallavas under kopperinchungan-ii, had challenged hoysala army stationed in , around kanchi , killed few of commanders.

though rajendra iii suffered defeat @ hands of vira someshwara, because of growing power of pandyans being felt both cholas , hoysalas, there political affinity between 2 cemented marital relations. @ time pandyans , kadava pallavas,with earlier chola, raja raja iii, having been held in captivity kopperinchunga ii , release being secured hoysalas. ultimately, kadava pallavas, hoysalas , telugu choda timma invaded kanchi 1 one vanquished jatavarman sundara pandyan cholas becoming extinct after defeat of hoysala ramanatha ally rajendra iii around 1279 maravarman kulasekhara pandyan.

pandya power in south india

jatavarman sundara pandyan seized opportunity hoysalas being in tiruchy , not having ally, rapidly weakening cholas seeking alliance kadava pallavas being threatened telugu cholas. in 1254 (or 1260) jatavarman first dragged hoysalas war routing son ramanatha out of tiruchy. vira someshwara hoysala, had given control of empire sons, had come out of slumber , tried challenge jatavarman. between samayapuram , tiruchy, armies of vira someshwara routed vira someshwara losing life in battle. ended presence of hoysalas in tamil country.

next pandyan prince jatavarman concentrated on wiping out chola empire. rajadhiraja iii had interfered in earlier pandyan war of succession , defeated confederation of pandyan princes. predecessors of jatavarman sundara pandyan had suffered @ time of chola invasion , wanted take revenge. opportunity. rajendra iii had been counting on hoysala assistance in case challenged pandyans, keeping in mind earlier marital alliance of cholas hoysalas. initially, jatavarman consolidated pandyan hold on tiruchy , thiruvarangam , marched towards tanjore , kumbakonam. chola capital of gangaikondacholapuram, too, not far reach. during years 1270–1276 appeared rajendra iii ruled in , around gangaikondacholapuram , tanjore. tiruchy , thiruvarangam had been lost cholas pandyas forever, @ least 1254. though rajendra iii had been opposed hoysalas due alliance pandyans, new hostilities emerging between hoysalas , pandyans, rajendra iii had hoped renewed friendship , military alliance hoysalas.

when challenged jatavarman sundara pandyan, brave tactically naive rajendra iii marched against pandyans between tanjore , tiruchy, hoping assistance , participation in war hoysalas. however, vanquished hoysalas in defensive position. did not want go war , risk yet defeat resurgent pandyans. rajendra iii, hopelessly isolated, thoroughly routed , humiliated in war, variously dated between 1268–1270. known rule of jatavarman sundara pandyan of course, 1268 only. rajendra iii fled battlefield , had continued in obscurity 1279 without of erstwhile chola territories. 1280, chola empire no more.

pandyan civil war (ad 1308 1311)

after death of king maravarman kulashekhara, sons vira , sundara fought war of succession control of kingdom. taking advantage of situation, neighbouring hoysala king ballala iii invaded pandya territory. however, ballala had retreat capital, when malik kafur, general of muslim delhi sultanate, invaded kingdom @ same time. after subjugating ballala, malik kafur marched pandya territory in march 1311. army raided number of places in kingdom, massacring people , destroying temples. pandya brothers fled headquarters, , kafur pursued them unsuccessfully, hoping make 1 of them tributary delhi sultan alauddin khalji. nevertheless, invaders obtained large number of treasures, elephants , horses.

according 14th century sanskrit treatise leelathilakam, general named vikrama pandya defeated muslims. historians have identified vikrama uncle of vira , sundara, , believe defeated malik kafur. however, identification not supported historical evidence: vikrama pandya mentioned in leelathilakam appears have defeated later muslim army during 1365-70. late april 1311, rains had obstructed operations of delhi forces, , invading generals received news defenders had assembled large army against them. kafur gave plans pursue pandya brothers, , returned delhi plunder.

after kafur s departure, vira , sundara resumed conflict. sundara pandya defeated, , sought delhi sultanate. help, regained control of south arcot region 1314.

an aerial view of madurai city atop meenakshi amman temple



decline , fall

subsequently, there 2 other expeditions khalji sultanate in 1314 led khusro khan (later sultan nasir-ud-din) , in 1323 ulugh khan (muhammad bin tughluq) under sultan ghiyath al-din tughluq. these invasions shattered pandyan empire beyond revival. while previous invasions content plunder, ulugh khan annexed former pandyan dominions delhi sultanate province of ma bar. of south india came under delhi s rule , divided 5 provinces – devagiri, tiling, kampili, dorasamudra , ma bar. jalaluddin ahsan khan appointed governor of newly created southern-most ma bar province of delhi sultanate muhammad bin tughluq. in 1333, sayyid jalaluddin ahsan khan declared independence , created madurai sultanate, short lived independent muslim kingdom based in city of madurai. hoysala king veera ballala iii, capital in tiruvannamalai, challenged madurai sultans @ kannanur kuppam near srirangam , died fighting them in 1343. bukkaraya of vijayanagara empire conquered city of madurai in 1371, imprisoned sultan, released , restored arcot s tamil prince sambuva raya throne. bukka appointed son veera kumara kampana viceroy of tamil region. later, nayaka governors appointed. continue ruling till 1736.