"CHALUKYA / SOLANKI" DYNASTY:
SHORT HISTORY: The Chalukya (Solanki) were several South Indian dynasties that ruled in the Deccan. They claimed descent from Pulakesin I (reigned 543-566), who established himself at Badami (in Bijapur). The Early Chalukyas (Solankis) held power in northern Karnataka from the 6th cent. until 757, and were rivals to the Palavas. Vengi (in East Andhra Pradesh) became the center of the Eastern Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty, which ruled there from 624 until the 11th cent., surviving the fall of the Early Chalukyas (Solankis) in Badami. The Late Chalukyas (Solankis) gained ascendancy in the Deccan c.973, centered at Kalyani. The history of the Kalyani Chalukya (Solanki) kingdom was largely one of war with the Cholas and defense against the incursions of the Turks and Arabs who were plundering North India. The kingdom broke up in 1189. Rulers were...
EARLY CHALUKYA (SOLANKI): Ruled in Deccan (South India) From 543 to 747
- Raja PULAKESIN I 543/566, founded Vatapi (modern Badami in Bijapur district of Karnataka state) and made it his capital. His sons extended the boundaries of the Chalukya (Solanki) kingdom.
- Raja KIRTIVARMAN I 566/597
- Raja MANGLESH 597/608
- Raja PULAKESIN II 608/642, was the greatest ruler of the Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty. He consolidated his authority in Maharashtra and conquered large parts of the Deccan. He clashed successfully with the Pallava empire in Tamil Nadu, and also conquered the Cheras and the Pandyas. In 609 (624?), he appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana as the Viceroy of Vengi, who subsequently declared his independence and established the Eastern Chalukya (Solanki) Empire. His greatest achievement was his victory against Raja Harshvardhan, Uttarapatheshvara (Lord of the North), in 620, around this time he received the title of Dakshinapatheshvara (Lord of the South), however, he was defeated and killed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman in 642. His capital Vatapi was completely destroyed, he married and had issue. He died 642.
- Raja VIKRAMADITYA I (qv)
- Raja KUBJA VISHNUVARDHANA (see below)
- Raja VIKRAMADITYA I (642) 655/680, also as great a ruler as his father, he renewed the struggle against the Pallavas and recovered the former glory of the Chalukyas (Solankis), although the clashes with the Pallava Empire continued until Vikramaditya II won a comprehensive victory against the Pallavas in 740.
- Raja VINAYADITYA 680/696
- Raja VIJAYADITYA 696/733
- Raja VIKRAMADITYA II (son) 733/745, won a comprehensive victory against the Pallavas in 740.
- Raja KIRTI VARMAN II 745/746 (757), was overthrown by a chief named Dantidurga of the Rashtrakutas.
INTERREGNUM 757 / 848, the Deccan under Muslim rule, Chalukya (Solanki) rule continues at Vengi.
EASTERN CHALUKYA (SOLANKI): Ruled in Vengi 624/1075. This branch of the Chalukyas (Solankis) of Badami is referred to as the "Eastern Chalukyas (Solankis)" to the historians. Pulakesin II, the renowned ruler of Chalukyas (Solankis) conquered Vengi (near Eluru) in 624 and installed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana on the throne. They ruled at first from Pistapura, then from Vengi and later from Rajamahendri (Rajahmundry). In 1189, the Empire succumbed to the Hoysalas of Dvarasamudra and the Yadavas of Yadugiri.
- Raja KUBJA VISHNUVARDHANA 624/641, initially installed as Viceroy by his brother, he declared himself independent and expanded his dominions which now contained Srikakulam in the north and Nellore in the south.
- Raja JAYASIMHA I (son) 641/673
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- Raja MANGI YUVARAJA 681/705, then followed a period of unrest characterised by family feuds and weak rulers. In the meanwhile, the Rashtrakutas of Malkhed ousted Chalukyas (Solankis) of Badami. The weak rulers of Vengi had to meet the challenge of the Rashtrakutas, who overran their kingdom more than once.
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- Raja VIJAYADITYA III 848/892, died 892.
- Raja BHIMA I (nephew) 892/921, built a temple in honour of Siva at Draksharama.
- Raja VIJAYADITYA IV
- Raja AMMA I [VIJAYADITYA V](son), compelled to take refuge in the fort of Pithapuram, where he founded a dynasty.
- Raja AMMA II [VIJAYADITYA VI], fl.945
- Raja DANARNAVA, married and had issue. He died 973.
- Raja SAKTIVARMAN I (qv)
- Raja VIMALADITYA (qv)
- Raja JATA CHODA BHIMA of Pedakallu in Kurnool district, who ruled 973/1000.
- Raja SAKTIVARMAN I
- Raja VIMALADITYA, fled from the Kingdom and took refuge in the court of the Chola King Rajaraja I (985/1016), Rajaraja invaded Vengi on behalf of the sons of Danarnava. In this war, Jata Choda Bhima was killed and Vengi passed into the hands of Rajaraja. This was not liked by Satyasraya, an early ruler of the Western Chalukyas (Solankis) of Kalyani. As a result of this, Vengi became the bone of contention between the Cholas and Chalukyas (Solankis) of Kalyani to the west, married Rani Kundavai, daughter of King RAJARAJA I Chola.
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- Raja VIJAYADITYA VII -/1075, the rule of Vijayaditya VII, the last king of the eastern Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty, witnessed an invasion of the Vengi kingdom by the Chedi King of Dahala, Yasahkarnadeva in 1073. Vijayaditya VII lost his kingdom and with his death in 1075 the eastern Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty came to an end.
WESTERN CHALUKYA (SOLANKI): Ruled in Gujarat from 973 to 1189
- Raja TAILAPA II [Ahavamalla] 973/997, founder of the later Western (Kalyani) Chalukyas (Solankis), he consolidated his realm with the help of the early Chalukya (Solanki) family and with the help of Kadambas and recovered much of the lost territories of earlier Chalukyas (Solankis). He overthrew the Rashtrakutas and recovered most of the Chalukya (Solanki) empire, except for Gujarat. Kalyani was the capital of the empire, and the Chalukyas (Solankis) of this period are known as the Kalyani Chalukyas (Solankis).
- Raja SATYASRAYA [Irivabedanga] (son) 997/1008, he won a victory against King Rajaraja Chola who had invaded Satyasraya's region.
- Raja DASAVARMAN 1008
- Raja VIKRAMADITYA I 1008/1014
- Raja AYYANA 1014/1015
- Raja JAYASIMHA I 1015/1042, he repelled invasions from the North and the southern invasion from the Chola King Rajendra. He moved his capital from Malkhed to Kalyana (in Bidar).
- Raja JAGADHEKAMALLA, he is stated to have defeated Bhoja the ruler of Malava confederacy and Chedi King.
- Raja SOMESVARA I (son) 1042/1068, also known as Ahavamalla, defeated the Chola king Rajadhiraja Chola in 1052,
- Raja SOMESVARA II (son) 1068/1076
- Raja VIKRAMADITYA II (brother), of Kalyana 1076/1127, conquered Cholas, Keralas, Ceylon, ... as an army leader of his brother, he received submission from the ruler of konkan, and soon marched against Vira Rajendra Chola, the latter sued for peace by giving his daughter to marry Vikramaditya. When Vira Rajendra died, Vikramaditya placed his brother-in-law named Adhi-Rajendra on the throne of Cholas. After his brother-in-law was killed, Vikramaditya was defeated by the Eastern Chalukya (Solanki) king Jayasimha and was given with the governship of Bellary. Again in 1076, Vikramaditya took the help of Hoysala and ascended the throne as Vikramaditya VI.
- Raja SOMESVARA III 1127/1138, was more interested in literary matters and allowed Vishnuvardhana Hoysala to take an opportunity to declare independence.
- Raja JAGADHEKAMALLA II 1138/1151, Hoysalas invaded the Chalukya (Solanki) territory.
- Raja TAILAPA III 1151/1164, he was captured by the Kakatiya invader Prola I and his commander-in-chief, Bijjala Kalachuri usurped the throne.
- Raja BIJJALA KALACHURI 1164/1168, strengthened the position of his kingdom, which saw rapid succession after his reign.
- Raja SOMESVARA IV 1168/1177, the Chalukyas (Solankis) were able to recover their territory under the leadership of Somesvara IV, the son of Tailapa III. His suzerainty was acknowledged by the last Kalachuri ruler Singhana. He soon gained allegiance of Kadambas of both Goa and Banavasi, and Pandyas of Uchchangi. With the attack from the Hoysalas under Vira Ballala I and the Yadavas of Devagiri, the later Western Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty came to and end in about 1189.
- Raja SANKAMA II 1177/1180
- Raja AHAVAMALLA 1180/1183
- Raja SINGHANA 1183/1184, ruled peacefully in succession.
SOLANKI (Chalukya): Ruled in Gujarat 942 or 960/1244
- Raja MULRAJA I 960/997, Solanki (Chalukya) prince of Kalyani, founded an independent dynasty, known as Chalukya of Anahilapataka or the Solanki dynasty. He is famous for building the great temple of Rudramahalya at Sidhpur.
- Raja CHAMUNDARAJA (son) 997/1009
- Raja VALLBARAJA (son) 1009 (for six months)
- Raja DURLABHARAJ (brother) 1009/1024
- Raja BHIMDEV I (nephew) 1024/1064
- Raja KARANDEV 1064/1093
- Raja JAISINGH 1093/1142
- Raja KUMARPAL 1142/1172
- Raja AJAYPAL 1172/1176
- Raja MULRAJ II 1176/1178
- Raja BHIMDEV II 1178/1241, married and had issue.
- Raja MANGALDEV (qv)
- Rao Lakshman Prashat, married and had issue.
- Rao Veerhaval, married and had issue.
- Rao Vyaghra Dev, married and had issue.
- Rao Karandev
- Rao Kandhar Dev, founder of Kasota.
- Rao Keerti Dev, founder of Pitapur.
- Rao Surat Dev, married and had issue.
- Rao SHAKTIVAN, founder of the Princely State of Rewah [1499]
- Raja TRIBHUVANPAL 1241/1244, last ruler of Gujarat of the Solanki dynasty, with authority passing to the related Vaghela rulers of Dholka.
- Rao MANGALDEV 1244/1260 in Siddhpur Patan
- Rao GANESH DEV 1260/1290, married and had issue.
- Rao BHANU DEV (qv)
- Rao BHISHAM DEV, founder of the ruling family of the Princely State of Lunawada [1295].
- Rao BHANU DEV 1290
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- Rao DEVRAJ SINGH 1430/1476, married and had issue.
- Rao Jai Singh
- Rao Ram Singh
- Rao Amrat Dev, married the daughter of Raja Bariar Dev, and had issue.
- Rao KESAR DEV, founder of the Mehsana Thikana family of Patan in Gujarat.
VAGHELA (SOLANKI): Ruled in Gujarat 1244/1304, this was a branch of the Solanki Kings, and initially ruled at Dholka.
- Raja VISALA 1244/1262
- Raja ARJUNA 1262/1275
- Raja SARANGADEVA 1275/1297
- Raja KARNADEVA 1297/1304, submitted to the Delhi Empire.
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