Pulakeshin I

Pulakeshin I
Satyashraya, Vallabha, Dharma-maharaja
Chalukya king
Reignc. 543 – c. 566
PredecessorRanaraga
SuccessorKirttivarman I
IssueKirttivarman I
DynastyChalukyas of Vatapi
FatherRanaraga

Pulakeshin (IAST: Pulakeśin, r. 543–566) was the first sovereign ruler of the Chalukya dynasty of Vatapi (modern Badami). He ruled parts of the present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka states in the western Deccan region of India. Pulakeshin established the city of Vatapi, and performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to assert his sovereign status. The dynasty established by him went on to rule a major part of peninsular India in the subsequent years.