Three Crowned Kings

A close depiction of the flags of Three Crowned Kings.

Areas of influence of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas in 300 BC
Three Crowned Kings ruled Tamilakam which comprised that part of India south of the Maurya Empire in c. 250 BCE.

The Three Crowned Kings,[a] were the triumvirate of Chera, Chola and Pandya who dominated the politics of the ancient Tamil country, Tamilakam, from their three Nadu (countries) of Chola Nadu, Pandya Nadu (present day Madurai and Tirunelveli) and Chera Nadu (present day Kerala and some parts of Tamilnadu) in southern India.[3][page needed] They signalled a time of integration and political identity for the Tamil people.[4][full citation needed] They frequently waged war against one another under a period of instability[5] and between each other, held control over Greater Tamilakam from 6th century BCE to the 13th century. After being defeated by the Pandyas, the Cholas fled to Devicottah and are later mentioned in various texts that participated in wars in the 16th century.

  1. ^ A. Kiruṭṭin̲an̲ (2000). Tamil culture: religion, culture, and literature. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. p. 17.
  2. ^ Peter Schalk, A. Veluppillai (2002). Buddhism among Tamils in pre-colonial Tamilakam and Ilam: Prologue. The pre-Pallava and the Pallava period. Uppsala University Library.
  3. ^ van Bakel, M.; Hagesteijn, Renée; van de Velde, Piet (1994). Pivot politics: changing cultural identities in early state formation processes. Het Spinhuis.
  4. ^ Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 1997.
  5. ^ Pollock, Sheldon (2003). reconstructions from South Asia. University of California Press. p. 298.


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