Kubja Vishnuvardhana
Encyclopedia
Kubja Vishnuvardhana was the brother of Chalukya Pulakesi II
. Vishnuvardhana ruled the Vengi
territories in the eastern Andhra Pradesh
as the viceroy under Pulakesi II from around 615 CE. Eventually Vishnuvardhana declared his independence and started the Eastern Chalukya dynasty (c. 624 CE).
The Eastern Chalukyas ruled the Vengi kingdom for nearly five centuries and had very close relationship with the imperial Cholas.
Chalukya king, conquered the eastern Deccan, corresponding the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh
616 CE, defeating the remnants of the Vishnukundina
kingdom. He appointed his brother Kubja Vishnu Vardhana as Viceroy
. On the death of Pulakesin II, the Vengi Viceroyalty developed into an independent kingdom. Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi outlived the main Vatapi dynasty by many generations.
. What was the necessity for the partition of Vengi as a separate kingdom from the Western Chalukyan empire? Hitherto it has been tacitly assumed that this was a formal division and Pulakesi II conferred independent sovereignty of Vengi on his younger brother. It is improbable that a great warrior like Pulakesin II could not have administered Vengi as part of his kingdom and felt the need for a separate king. Kopparam plates make it clear that Kubja Vishnuvardhana was ruling only as a subordinate to his brother Pulakesin II in the Vengi area. A revolution of Kubja Vishnuvardhana can be ruled out of account since he seems to have been very loyal and affectionate towards his brother.
One possible reason could be the turn of events around middle of the seventh century CE in the Western Chalukyan kingdom. The last few ruling years of Pulakesin II ended in disaster. The great Pallava
king Narasimhavarman I
, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chalukyas and burnt Badami. Pulakesin II lost his life in this encounter. There was a period of confusion following these events. The five sons of Pulakesi fought among themselves and tried to divide the kingdom into independent kingdoms. Pulakesin's third son Vikramaditya I became the Chalukya king c. 642 CE and eventually restored order after defeating his brothers.
to Visakhapatnam
. He assumed
the title of Vishamasiddhi (conqueror of difficulties). Vishnuvardhana participated in the wars between his brother Putekesin II and the Pallava Narasimhavarma I and probably lost his life in battle in 641
CE.
His son Jayasimha I
succeeded him.
Pulakesi II
Pulakesin II is the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In his reign the Chalukyas of Badami saw their kingdom extend over most of the Deccan.-Early life and accession:...
. Vishnuvardhana ruled the Vengi
Vengi
The Vengi kingdom extended from the Godavari River in the north to Mount Mahendragiri in the southeast and to just south of the banks of River Krishna in the south of India. This area was part of Kalinga until that kingdom was conquered by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in the mid 3rd century...
territories in the eastern Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
as the viceroy under Pulakesi II from around 615 CE. Eventually Vishnuvardhana declared his independence and started the Eastern Chalukya dynasty (c. 624 CE).
The Eastern Chalukyas ruled the Vengi kingdom for nearly five centuries and had very close relationship with the imperial Cholas.
Origin of Eastern Chalukyas
Pulakesin II (608–644 CE), the greatest VatapiBadami
Badami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
Chalukya king, conquered the eastern Deccan, corresponding the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
616 CE, defeating the remnants of the Vishnukundina
Vishnukundina
The Vishnukundina Empire was an Indian imperial power controlling the Deccan, Orissa and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries CE...
kingdom. He appointed his brother Kubja Vishnu Vardhana as Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
. On the death of Pulakesin II, the Vengi Viceroyalty developed into an independent kingdom. Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi outlived the main Vatapi dynasty by many generations.
Possible reason for the partition
Scholars are not in agreement as to why Vishnuvardhana declared himself king of the eastern Deccan territories of Pulakesi IIPulakesi II
Pulakesin II is the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In his reign the Chalukyas of Badami saw their kingdom extend over most of the Deccan.-Early life and accession:...
. What was the necessity for the partition of Vengi as a separate kingdom from the Western Chalukyan empire? Hitherto it has been tacitly assumed that this was a formal division and Pulakesi II conferred independent sovereignty of Vengi on his younger brother. It is improbable that a great warrior like Pulakesin II could not have administered Vengi as part of his kingdom and felt the need for a separate king. Kopparam plates make it clear that Kubja Vishnuvardhana was ruling only as a subordinate to his brother Pulakesin II in the Vengi area. A revolution of Kubja Vishnuvardhana can be ruled out of account since he seems to have been very loyal and affectionate towards his brother.
One possible reason could be the turn of events around middle of the seventh century CE in the Western Chalukyan kingdom. The last few ruling years of Pulakesin II ended in disaster. The great Pallava
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
king Narasimhavarman I
Narasimhavarman I
Narasimhavarman I was a Tamil king of the Pallava dynasty who ruled South India from 630–668 CE. He shared his father Mahendravarman I's love of art and completed the work started by Mahendravarman in Mahabalipuram....
, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chalukyas and burnt Badami. Pulakesin II lost his life in this encounter. There was a period of confusion following these events. The five sons of Pulakesi fought among themselves and tried to divide the kingdom into independent kingdoms. Pulakesin's third son Vikramaditya I became the Chalukya king c. 642 CE and eventually restored order after defeating his brothers.
Vishnuvardhana's reign
Vishnuvardhana ruled over a kingdom extending from NelloreNellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
to Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
. He assumed
the title of Vishamasiddhi (conqueror of difficulties). Vishnuvardhana participated in the wars between his brother Putekesin II and the Pallava Narasimhavarma I and probably lost his life in battle in 641
641
Year 641 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 641 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* February 11 – Byzantine...
CE.
His son Jayasimha I
Jayasimha I
Jayasimha II succeeded Vishnuvardhana as the king of Eastern Chalukyas. He had a long reign of 32 years, however we know of nothing important happening in his reign.His younger brother Indra Bhattaraka succeeded him.- References :...
succeeded him.