Kirtivarman II : Conflict with the Pandyas, Diminishing power Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kirtivarman II

Ruler of the Chalukya dynasty

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

Chalukya dynasties

Vatapi / Badami Chalukyas

Jayasimha	500-520
Ranaraga	520-540
Pulakeshin I	540–566
Kirttivarman I	566–597
Mangalesha	597–609
Pulakeshin II	609–642
Adityavarman	643-645
Abhinavaditya	645-646
Chandraditya	646-649
Vijaya-Bhattarika (regent)	650-655
Vikramaditya I	655–680
Vinayaditya	680–696
Vijayaditya	696–733
Vikramaditya II	733–746
Kirtivarman II	746–753

Vengi / Eastern Chalukyas

Kubja Vishnuvardhana	624–641
Jayasimha I	641–673
Indra Bhattaraka	673
Vishnu Vardhana II	673–682
Mangi Yuvaraja	682–706
Jayasimha II	706–718
Kokkili	719
Vishnuvardhana III	719–755
Vijayaditya I (Eastern Chalukya)	755–772
Vishnuvardhana IV	772–808
Vijayaditya II	808–847
Kali Vishnuvardhana V	847–849
Vijayaditya III	849–892
Chalukya Bhima I	892–921
Vijayaditya IV	921
Amma I	921–927
Beta Vijayaditya V	927
Tala I	927
Vikramaditya II	927–928
Bhima II	928
Yuddhamalla II	928–935
Chalukya Bhima II	935–947
Amma II	947–970
Tala I	970
Danarnava	970–973
Jata Choda Bhima	973–999
Shaktivarman I	1000–1011
Vimaladitya	1011–1018
Rajaraja Narendra	1019–1061
Vijayaditya VII	1061-1075

Kalyani / Western Chalukyas

Tailapa II	957–997
Satyashraya	997–1008
Vikramaditya V	1008–1015
Jayasimha II	1015–1042
Someshvara I	1042–1068
Someshvara II	1068–1076
Vikramaditya VI	1076–1126
Someshvara III	1126–1138
Jagadhekamalla II	1138–1151
Tailapa III	1151–1164
Jagadhekamalla III	1163–1183
Someshvara IV	1184–1200

Kirtivarman II also known as Rahappa (reigned 746 – 753 CE) was the last ruler in the Badami Chalukya dynasty. He succeeded his father Vikramaditya II. His reign was continuously troubled by the growing power of the Rashtrakutas and Pandyas and finally succumbed to them.

Conflict with the Pandyas

Kirtivarman and his Ganga feudatory Sripurusha came into conflict with the Pandya ruler Maravarman Rajasimha I who was extending the Pandya empire on to the Kongu country which was adjacent to the Ganga kingdom. Rajasimha crossed the Kaveri and engaged Kirtivarman and Sripurusha in a big battle at Venbai on the banks of the river Kaveri. The Chalukya king was defeated.

Diminishing power

Kirtivarman was steadily undermined by the activities of Rashtrakuta Dantidurga who was establishing the Rashtrakuta Empire. Dantidurga was a feudatory of the Chalukyas and was beginning to establish an independent kingdom around Ellora.

Dantidurga managed to wrest control of the northern provinces of the Chalukyan kingdom, he also completely surrounded the Chalukya in the east and the south by conquering the Telugu provinces, Kalinga and Kosala kingdoms. Dantidurga also went into an alliance with the Pallava Nandivarman II. Thus isolated, Kirtivarman could not turn to any direction for help.

The final assault on Kirtivarman came in 752 and completely overwhelmed the Chalukyan kingdom.

Kirtivarman II was the last king of the Badami dynasty. There was a period of 220 years in which the western branch of the Chalukyas were in eclipse. Tailapa II revived the dynasty in 973.