| Someshvara I | |
|---|---|
 Western Chalukyas ofKalyana, coin of King Somesvara I Trailokyamalla (1043-1068). Temple façade / Ornate floral ornament.[1] | |
| King of theWestern Chalukyas | |
| Reign | 1042 – 29 March 1068[2] |
| Predecessor | Jayasimha II |
| Successor | Somesvara II |
| Died | 29 March 1068 Kuruvatti,Tungabhadra River,Western Chalukya Empire |
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Someshvara I (IAST:Someśvara;r. 1042 – 29 March 1068[3]) was a king of theWestern Chalukyas. Also known as "Ahavamalla" or "Trilokamalla", Someshvara succeeded his fatherJayasimha II to the throne.
His several military successes inCentral India made him a formidable ruler of a vast empire. During his rule, the Chalukyan empire extended toGujarat and Central India in the north. TheHoysalas of theMalenadu (hill) regions ofMysore were his vassals in the South.Vinayaditya's daughter or sister called Hoysala Devi was one of his queens. In the west, Someshvara I retained control over theKonkan. In the east he was able to extend his influence up toAnanthapur andKurnool. Despite many defeats during his wars with theCholas of Tanjore, he managed to play king-maker atVengi on several occasions.[4]
According to the historian Ganguli, the Cholas "could not wrest from him any part of his kingdom". According to the historian Sen, Someshvara I's rule was a "brilliant period" in the history of the Western Chalukyas that would reach its zenith underVikramaditya VI.[5] Historian Tripathi claims the Chalukya influence was felt in far-off Eastern India as well. He shifted his capital fromManyakheta to Kalyani (present dayBasavakalyana in modernBidar district).[6][7] He patronized theKannada language scholar Shridharacharya who wroteJatakatilaka (c.1049), the earliest available work on astrology in the language, and the now extinctChandraprabhacharite onBelles-lettres (kavya kavite).[8]
According to the historian Kamath, soon after his coronation, Someshvara I interfered in the affairs of Vengi and invaded the region but faced defeat against the Chola monarchRajadhiraja Chola (crowned in c.1044) at Amaravathi. The Cholas followed this by invading Chalukya territory. According to the historian Sastri, Rajadhiraja defeated Someshvara I in the battle of Dannada ("Dhanyakataka") on the banks of theKrishna River compelling the Western Chalukya armies to retreat, and the fort at Kollipakki (Kulpak) was razed to the ground. This was followed by victories atKampili and Pundur. According to the historians Chopra et al., the details of the sack of Kampili is recorded in the Manimangalam inscription. A victory pillar with the Chola emblem was installed at Yetagiri (modernYadgir in theYadgir district). Finally, the Cholas plundered Kalyani, the Chalukya capital in c.1045. Rajadhiraja performed theVirabhisheka ("victory celebration") in the destroyed enemy capital and assumed the titleVijayarajendra ("victorious Rajendra"). However, according to Sastri and Sen, in a dramatic recovery, Someshvara I drove the Cholas out of Vengi by c.1050 and re-established his influence, not only in Vengi but also inKalinga (modern dayOrissa). Sen further claims Someshvara I took the battle right to the heart of the Chola empire. According to Kamath there was a Chalukya counterattack and a raid onKanchipuram.[5][6][9][10]
For a while the Cholas did not press their cause either in Vengi or Kalinga. However, in c.1054, the Cholas responded by invadingKoppal (Koppam) where KingRajadhiraja Chola was killed and Someshvara I had to mourn the death of his brother Jayasimha. However, according to Sastri, the Cholas were able to convert defeat into victory when their crown prince Rajendra II (brother of Rajadhiraja) mounted a surprise counterattack and pushed the Chalukya armies back. Rajendra II crowned himself on the battlefield, mounted a victory pillar at Kollapura (modernKohlapur) and returned to his capitalGangaikondacholapuram with much booty which including the Chalukya queens Sattiyavvai and Sangappai. Hostilities continued and in c.1059Rajendra Chola II invaded the Chalukya kingdom but was defeated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Someshvara I constructed a temple atAnnigeri in the modernDharwad district to celebrate this success. However, according to Sen, in the battle of Mudakkarru on the banks of the Tungabhadra in c.1059, Someshvara I suffered another defeat.[5][6][9][10]
Politics of succession erupted again over the Vengi throne in c.1061 after the death of theEastern Chalukya KingRajaraja Narendra. Someshvara I installed Saktivarman II, son of Vijayaditya II, on the throne. This went against the wishes of the Cholas who wanted their own blood line from the Vengi family at the helm. The Cholas desired to crown Rajendra, son of the deceased king Rajaraja Narendra. There was a brief respite for Someshvara I over Vengi affairs but the new Chola monarch Rajendra II appears to have defeated Someshvara I in several encounters, including in a major battle at Kudalasangama (modernKoodli in theShimoga district) in c.1062. The historians Chopra et al., claim this Kudalasangama was actually at the confluence of Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers. On this occasion, Someshvara I had sent two armies, one under his general Chamundaraya and another into Gangavadi (southern Mysore territory) under his sons prince Vikramaditya VI and Jayasimha. However, Rajendra II defeated both armies and thus Someshvara I's effort to erase the defeat at Koppal failed. In c.1063, Rajendra II and his son Rajamahendra died leading to the coronation of Virarajendra as the new Chola king.[5][6][9][10]
During a brief lull in hostilities, Someshvara I was busy reinforcing himself, militarily and diplomatically. In the east he counted on the Nagavamsi ruler Dharavarsha and theEastern Ganga dynasty King Vajrahasta II of Kalinga as his allies. InBezwada, he relied on the support of theParamara dynasty prince Janannatha. In the west he stationed a large army under Vijayaditya. After a few brief encounters with the Cholas including a successful Chalukya raid of the Chola capital by prince Vikarmaditya VI, Someshvara I invited Virarajendra Chola to a battle at Kudalasangama. However, because of an incurable illness that afflicted him, Someshvara I's and his army did not show up at the venue. After a month-long wait Virarajendra invaded and was victorious at all fronts: Vengi, Bezwada, Kalinga and Chitrakuta (in the Nagavamsi domains), and a victory pillar was erected on the banks of the Tungabhadra. Unable to recover from his illness, Someshvara I committed ritual suicide (paramayoga) by drowning himself in the Tungabhadra river at Kuruvatti (modernBellary district) on 29 March 1068.[5][10][11][12]
During this time of constant conflict with the Cholas, according to Kamath and Sastri, Someshvara I dealt successfully with theShilaharas of the NorthKonkan, theSeuna (Yadava) dynasty King Bhillama III, theParamara dynasty KingBhoja of Dhara, the Chaulukyas of Gujarat and thePratiharas of central India. Someshvara I plunderedDhar,Ujjain andMandapa in central India and subjugated King Bhoja. The Chindaka Nagas ofBastar (the Nagavamsi dynasty of Chitrakuta) in central India were defeated by the Chalukya vassalKakatiya dynasty King Prolla. According to Chopra et al., Someshvara I got the better of KingLakshmikarna of theKalachuri dynasty of Tripuri (nearJabalpur) as well.[10] Thus Someshvara I's control extended as far north asVidharba and parts of modernMadhya Pradesh.[11][13] According to the historian Tripathi, toward the end of his reign, under the leadership of his brilliant sonVikramaditya VI, Someshvara I's armies marched east with an eye on the Gangetic plains. Unchecked by theChandela rulers and theKacchapaghata rulers of central India, according to the Yewur inscription, Someshvara I's armies raidedKanyakubja whose king appears to have fled based on this line in the inscription: "quickly experiences an abode among the caves". The Chalukya armies marched further east, overwhelming theKalachuri King Lakshmikarna of Madhyadesha and getting the better of the kingdoms ofMithila,Magadha, Anga, Vanga and Gouda. ThePalas appear to have posed no resistance either. Eventually, Someshvara's I armies were stopped by the king ofKamarupa (in modernAssam). The Chalukya armies returned home through SouthernKosla.[7]
| Preceded by | Western Chalukyas 1042–1068 | Succeeded by |