Chola Expedition of the Ganges

Chola Expedition of the Ganges
Date1019–1021 AD
Location
Result Chola Victory
Territorial
changes
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,Kalinga, Jharkhand,Bengal, Bangladesh, annexed as vassal states of the Chola dynasty
Belligerents
Chola dynasty
Commanders and leaders

Emperor:

Commander-in-Chief:

  • Araiyan Rajarajan

Commanders:

  • Pallavarayan
  • Miladudaiyar

Kings:

  • Indraratha (Kalinga)
  • Odda king (Odda)
  • Dharmapala (Dandabhukti)
  • Ranasura (Radhepura)
  • Govindachandra (Bengal)
Units involved
Chola Army
  • Pala Army
  • Somavamsi Army
  • Odda Army
  • Radhepura Army
  • Kamboja Pala Army
  • Chandra Army
Strength
1,000,000+[citation needed] 100,000[citation needed]
Casualties and losses
Few Many
Gangaikonda Cholapuram was built by Rajendra Chola to celebrate his success in the Ganges Expedition

The Medieval Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I led an Chola Expedition of the Ganges between 1019 and 1021. The expedition traversed the states of Vengi, Kalinga, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh culminating with their arrival at the Ganges river. The Chola victory over the Pala king Mahipala I is considered to be the climax of the expedition. In 1019 CE, Rajendra's forces marched through Kalinga towards the river Ganga. In Kalinga the Chola forces defeated Indraratha the ruler of the Somavamsi dynasty. The Chola army eventually reached the Pala kingdom of Bengal where they defeated Mahipala. The Chola army also defeated the last ruler of the Kamboja Pala dynasty Dharmapala of Dandabhukti.[1] The Chola army went on to raid East Bengal and defeated Govindachandra of the Chandra dynasty and invaded Bastar region.[2][3]

  1. ^ Ancient Indian History and Civilization by Sailendra Nath Sen p.281[ISBN missing]
  2. ^ The Cambridge Shorter History of India p.145[ISBN missing]
  3. ^ Dimensions of Human Cultures in Central India by Professor S.K. Tiwari p.161[ISBN missing]