Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty - Dynasty - Chalukyas:
Chalukyas were the
Karnataka rulers and their History can be classified into
three eras:
- The early western era (6th - 8th century), the era which belongs to Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi);
- The later western era (7th - 12th century), the era which belongs to Chalukyas of Kalyani;
- The eastern Chalukya era (7th - 12th century), the era which belongs to Chalukyas of Vengi.
- Pulakeshin I (543-566) was the first indOeppenenindaepnpt 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.
- The rise of the Eastern Chalukyan Era was started by Pulakeshin II brother Kubja Vishnuvardana after conquering the Kosalas and the Kalingas.
- 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.
- Under the leadership Of V]ikramaditya 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.
- 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.
- 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.