Vikramaditya VI
Old Kannada inscription (1077 AD) of Vikramaditya VI in Panchabasti temple atHumcha
Western Chalukya King
Reign	1076–1126
Predecessor	Someshvara II
Successor	Someshvara III
Died	1126 (1127)
Spouse	Chandala Devi Kethala Devi Savala Devi
Issue	Someshvara III
House	Chalukya dynasty
Father	Someshvara I

Vikramaditya VI (r. 1076–1126) became theWestern Chalukya King after deposing his elder brotherSomeshvara II, a political move he made by gaining the support of Chalukya vassals during the Chola invasion of Chalukya territory.^[1][2] Vikramaditya's reign is marked with the abolishment of theSaka era and the start of theChalukya-Vikrama era. He was the greatest of the Western Chalukya kings and had the longest reign in the dynasty. He earned the titlePermadideva andTribhuvanamalla (lit "lord of three worlds").^[3][4][5] He had several queens who ably assisted him in administration. One of his queens, Chandala Devi, a princess from theShilahara ruling family ofKarad was calledAbhinava Saraswati for her skills as an artist. Queen Kethala Devi administered theSiruguppa region and Savala Devi was in charge of anAgrahara inNaregal.^[6] According to the historian Kamath, Vikramaditya VI was a "great king who ruled over South India" and he finds a "pride of place in Karnataka history". More inscriptions in Kannada are attributed to Vikramaditya VI than any other king prior to the Vijayanagara era.^[4][7]

Vikramaditya VI is noted for his patronage of art and letters. His court was adorned with famousKannada andSanskrit poets.^[8] In Kannada, his brother prince Kirtivarma wroteGovaidya on veterinary science and the poet Brahmashiva wroteSamayaparikshe ("Analysis of the doctrine", c. 1125) and received the titleKavi Chakravarti (lit, "Emperor among poets")^[9] Noted Sanskrit scholars such asBilhana who earned the titleVidyapati ("pundit") came to his court from farawayKashmir and wrote apanegyric on the life of his patron king inVikramankadevacharita. The poet compared his rule toRamarajya ("Rama's Kingdom").Vijnaneshwara the noted jurist in his court wroteMitakshara, a commentary onYagnavalkya Smriti (on Hindu family law). Of the king he wrote "A King like Vikramarka is neither to be seen nor heard of".^[10] Vikramaditya VI is known to be aShaiva by faith.^[3] His rule saw prolific temple building activity. Notable constructions include theMallikarjuna temple,^[11] theMahadeva temple^[12] theKaitabheshvara temple^[13] and theKalleshvara temple.^[14] According to historian Sen, the 50-year reign of Vikramaditya VI was overall a peaceful and prosperous one. Sen estimates at his peak Vikramaditya VI controlled a vast empire stretching from theTumkur district andCuddapah in the south to theNarmada River in the north, and up to theKhammam district and the Godavari district in the east and south-east.^[15]

Vikramaditya displayed his military ambitions even as a prince, prior to 1068, during the rule of his father Someshvara I when he led successful military campaigns as far east as modernBihar andBengal.^[16][17][18] After his father's death, as soon as his elder brother prince Someshvara II who administered the Belavola-300 and Puligere-300 provinces came to the throne, Vikramaditya VI started to plan to overthrow him and contend with the growing Chola power. He achieved his ends with skillful opportunism and diplomacy: by making use of the Chola invasion ofGutti andKampili and striking diplomatic relations with Virarajendra Chola, gaining the support his younger brother Jayasimha and of the Chalukya feudatories, the Pandyas of Ucchangi, theSeuna, the Hoysalas of Malnad, theKadambas of Konkan and Hangal. Someshvara II had the support of theKulothunga Chola I (also called Rajendra II of the Eastern Chalukya-Chola royal family of Vengi) and the Kadambas of Goa. This sudden change in diplomatic relations practically bifurcated the Chalukya kingdom into two halves, giving Vikramaditya VI independent rule over the southern half (Gangavadi). Vikramaditya married one of Virarajendra Chola's daughters bringing an age-old feud between the two kingdoms to a temporary end.^[19][20]

The balance of power changed again in 1069 with the death of Virarajendra Chola. Vikramaditya VI proceeded via Kanchi where he quelled a rebellion and installed his younger brother-in-lawAthirajendra Chola on the throne atGangaikonda Cholapuram. But this went against the designs of Kulottunga Chola I who had plans of his own. Kulothunga expelled the Vengi ruler Vijayaditya. In a civil uprising in the Chola capital, Athirajendra was killed making way for Kulothunga Chola I to crown himself the monarch of the Chola empire.^[21][20] In 1070-72, when Vijayabahu revolted to ridCeylon of the Chola rule and succeeded, Vikramaditya VI wasted no time in declaring the new king of Ceylon his "natural ally". By 1076, despite being surrounded by enemies at home (Someshvara II) and in Vengi and Chola country (Kulothunga Chola I), Vikramaditya VI successfully defeated his elder brother and took him captive. He then crowned himself the Chalukya monarch and began a new era, theVikrama Varsha.^[22][5][3]

There was a rebellion by the emperor's younger brother Jayasimha, the viceroy of Banavasi, around c.1080-1082 which was quelled and the rebel pardoned.^[23] The real threat, however, was from the Hoysala dynasty who rose to prominence from theMalnad region in modern Karnataka. Their territory effectively acted as abuffer between the Chalukya and Chola kingdoms. For several decades, the Hoysalas had been faithful vassals of the Chalukyas. King Someshvara I (Vikramaditya's father) had taken a Hoysala princess as his queen. The Hoysala kingsVinayaditya,Ereyanga andVeera Ballala I had maintained cordial relations with Vikramaditya VI. But Ballala I's younger brotherVishnuvardhana, who according to historians Sastri and Kamath was a "great warrior" and an ambitious ruler had expansionist plans. He had the support of the Pandya ruler of Ucchangi and Kadamba king Jayakesi II of Goa. The Hoysalas under Vishnuvardhana began to expand their territory initially by defeating the Cholas in the famous battle of Talakad in 1116 resulting in the Hoysala annexation of Gangavadi (part of modern Southern Karnataka).^{[24][4][25][5]} It was only when Vishnuvardhana turned his attention to the north, conqueredNolambavadi, marched beyond theTungabhadra river and reachedBallary andKummata that Vikramaditya VI saw an imminent threat to his power. The Chalukya emperor dispatched his trusted generals Achugi II and Permadi of the Sinda family of Yerambarge (orYelburga) to deal with the situation. After several pitched battles in Goa, Kannegala, Halasur and Hosavidu between c.1117-1122, Vishnuvardhana and his supporters had to accept Chalukya suzerainty.^{[24][4][25][5]}

From the beginning of his rule, Vikramaditya VI maintained the policy of interference in the affairs of Vengi and Kanchi. He invaded and captured Kanchi in 1085 and held it for a few years. He managed to conquer parts of Vengi in 1088. He held the Kollipakei-7000 province of Vengi for many years. Vengi came under his rule again from 1093 to 1099. The Cholas re-captured it in 1099. In 1115 Kulothunga Chola I recalled his sonVikrama Chola who was the viceroy of Vengi to focus on affairs in Kanchi. Encouraged by the Hoysala success against the Cholas at Talakad and utilising the vacuum in the leadership in Vengi, Vikramaditya VI sent his famous general Anantapala to invade Vengi which was duly conquered and came under his rule from 1118 to 1124. Western Chalukyan commanders are seen controlling some other parts of Telugu country also and the Chola influence over Vengi disappeared for many years. After Vikramaditya's death in 1126, the Cholas began a slow process of encroachment over Vengi. By 1133 Vikrama Chola was able to re-capture Vengi from Vikramaditya VI's mild sonSomeshvara III.^[26][4][27] Before 1088, Vikramaditya VI subdued the recalcitrantShilahara KingBhoja I and the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri. He invadedLata (modern Gujarat), plundered and burnt the royal capital of theGurjara Chalukya King Karna, and stopped the advances ofKalachuri king Jajjaladeva of Ratnapur. He dealt firmly with the revolting Kadamba feudatory of Goa but gave his daughter Maila Devi in marriage to King Jayakeshi II.^[4][15]

• 
  Old Kannada inscription (c.1083) of King Vikramaditya VI, at theKalleshvara Temple, Ambali
• 
  Old Kannada inscription (c.1107 AD) of Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI
• 
  Old Kannada inscription (c.1108 AD) of Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI
• 
  Old Kannada inscription (1112 CE) of King Vikramaditya VI in the Mahadeva temple at Itagi
• 
  Old Kannada inscription (c.1122 AD) of Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI

Chalukya dynasties
Dynasties
Vatapi /Badami Chalukyas Jayasimha 500-520 Ranaraga 520-540 Pulakeshin I 540–566 Kirttivarman I 566–597 Mangalesha 597–609 Pulakeshin II 609–642 Adityavarman 643-645 Abhinavaditya 645-646 Chandraditya 646-649 Vijaya-Bhattarika (regent) 650-655 Vikramaditya I 655–680 Vinayaditya 680–696 Vijayaditya 696–733 Vikramaditya II 733–746 Kirtivarman II 746–753
Vengi /Eastern Chalukyas Kubja Vishnuvardhana 624–641 Jayasimha I 641–673 Indra Bhattaraka 673 Vishnu Vardhana II 673–682 Mangi Yuvaraja 682–706 Jayasimha II 706–718 Kokkili 719 Vishnuvardhana III 719–755 Vijayaditya I (Eastern Chalukya) 755–772 Vishnuvardhana IV 772–808 Vijayaditya II 808–847 Kali Vishnuvardhana V 847–849 Vijayaditya III 849–892 Chalukya Bhima I 892–921 Vijayaditya IV 921 Amma I 921–927 Beta Vijayaditya V 927 Tala I 927 Vikramaditya II 927–928 Bhima II 928 Yuddhamalla II 928–935 Chalukya Bhima II 935–947 Amma II 947–970 Tala I 970 Danarnava 970–973 Jata Choda Bhima 973–999 Shaktivarman I 1000–1011 Vimaladitya 1011–1018 Rajaraja Narendra 1019–1061 Vijayaditya VII 1061-1075
Kalyani /Western Chalukyas Tailapa II 957–997 Satyashraya 997–1008 Vikramaditya V 1008–1015 Jayasimha II 1015–1042 Someshvara I 1042–1068 Someshvara II 1068–1076 Vikramaditya VI 1076–1126 Someshvara III 1126–1138 Jagadhekamalla II 1138–1151 Tailapa III 1151–1162 Jagadhekamalla III 1163–1183 Someshvara IV 1184–1200
Related
Architecture Badami Chalukya architecture Western Chalukya architecture
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• Vikrama Chola
• Vishnuvardhana Hoysala
• The titleVikramaditya

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• 11th-century births
• 1126 deaths
• Western Chalukya kings
• 11th-century Indian monarchs
• 12th-century Indian monarchs

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