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Pallava-Chalukya Conflict
In the post-Gupta period, South India played a crucial role in political history. While the Vardhana dynasty ruled North India, South India was divided into several smaller kingdoms. However, two major powers emerged: the Pallavas of Kanchipuram and the Chalukyas of Badami. Their rivalry over the control of the Krishna-Tungabhadra Doab lasted for nearly 200 years.
The Chalukyas first emerged as a powerful dynasty centered around Badami, located in present-day Bijapur district of Karnataka. The dynasty was founded by Pulakeshin I (536-566 CE). The fourth ruler, Pulakeshin II (611-642 CE), is considered the greatest Chalukya ruler, and it was during his reign that the conflict with the Pallavas began.
The origins of the Pallavas remain somewhat mysterious. In the late 6th century, Simhavishnu established the Pallava dynasty. His son, Mahendravarman I (600-630 CE), came into conflict with Pulakeshin II. After conquering Vengi, Pulakeshin II launched an attack on Mahendravarman I, marking the beginning of the Pallava-Chalukya conflict. The Pallava king sought refuge in the Kanchipuram fort. Pallava inscriptions suggest that Mahendravarman I was defeated at the Battle of Pallalur, losing control over the northern part of his kingdom.
However, Mahendravarman I’s successor, Narasimhavarman I Mahamalla, regarded as the greatest Pallava ruler, decisively defeated Pulakeshin II in three battles. In 642 CE, he captured the Chalukya capital, Badami, earning the title "Vatapikonda" (the conqueror of Badami). After Pulakeshin II’s death, the Pallavas extended their influence over the southern territories of the Chalukya kingdom. Thirteen years later, Vikramaditya I was crowned and focused on reclaiming lost Chalukya territories. He had to fight against Pallava rulers Narasimhavarman I, Mahendravarman II, and Parameshvaravarman I to restore Chalukya dominance.
The hostilities between the Pallavas and Chalukyas continued without respite. Mahendravarman II (668-670 CE), son of Narasimhavarman I, ruled for only two years. His primary rival was Chalukya king Vikramaditya I (655-681 CE), who, according to Chalukya records, captured the Pallava capital, Kanchipuram. During this time, the Pallava ruler was Parameshvaravarman I (670-695 CE). The Chalukyas forced him to pay tribute, but Pallava inscriptions claim that he defeated Vikramaditya I at the Battle of Tiruchirapalli. These conflicting claims suggest that Vikramaditya I advanced as far as Tiruchirapalli, possibly even capturing Kanchipuram to avenge the humiliation suffered by his dynasty.
Nandivarman Pallavamalla (730-800 CE) was a powerful Pallava ruler. During his reign, Chalukya king Vikramaditya II invaded Pallava territory and captured Kanchipuram while the Pallavas were engaged in battles against the Pandyas. However, Nandivarman successfully repelled the Chalukya invasion and regained Kanchipuram. Notably, Vikramaditya II returned the looted treasures of Pallava temples after his conquest.
Under Vikramaditya II’s successor, Kirtivarman II, the Chalukyas gradually weakened. During this time, the Rashtrakutas emerged as a dominant power in northern Deccan. Once vassals of the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas defeated Kirtivarman II and several other Chalukya rulers, forcing the Chalukyas to acknowledge Rashtrakuta supremacy. Meanwhile, in the south, the Chola dynasty rose to prominence in Thanjavur, eventually becoming the dominant force in South Indian politics.
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