Rajendra Choda I was a Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

 king and the second of Velanati Chodas

Velanati Chodas

Velanati Chodas were one of the Telugu Choda families who ruled over parts of the Andhra Pradesh in 12th century...

 who ruled from 1108 to 1132 AD.

Rajendra Choda I succeeded his father Gonka I

Gonka I

Gonka I was a Telugu king and the first of Velanati Chodas who ruled from 1076 to 1108.Gonka I ruled as a vassal to Kulottunga I of Chalukya Cholas of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and his son Mammadi Varma, viceroy of Vengi. He fought as general in the battles against Kalyani Chalukyas and also against...

 as the chieftain and continued his allegiance to Chalukya Cholas

Chalukya Cholas

The Later Chola dynasty ruled the Chola Empire from 1070 C.E. until the demise of the empire in the second half of the 13th century. This dynasty was the product of decades of alliances based on marriages between the Cholas and the Eastern Chalukyas based in Vengi and produced some of the greatest...

. He was defeated by Anantapalaya, the general of Vikramaditya VI

Vikramaditya VI

Vikramaditya VI became the Western Chalukya King after deposing his elder brother Somesvara II. Vikramaditya's reign is marked by the start of the Chalukya-Vikrama era. Vikramaditya VI was the greatest of the Western Chalukya kings and had the longest reign in the dynasty. He earned the title...

 of Kalyani Chalukyas in 1115 AD. Rajendra Choda I was forced to accept the suzarinty of Kalyani Chalukyas. Kalyani Chalukyas continued their victory and started winning most of the Telugu country including Bezawada, Kondapalli and Jananatapura and they marched till Kanchi and ransacked it.

Someswara III

Somesvara III

Somesvara III was a Western Chalukya king and son of Vikramaditya VI and Queen Chandaladevi. A king more inclined towards literature, Someshvara III had to face the invasion of the Hoysala Vishnuvardhana but was able to suppress him...

 succeeded his father Vikramaditya VI in Kalyani in 1126 AD and Rajendra Choda I continued their legience to Kalyani Chalukyas. Malla Bhupati of Vengi recovered some regions on the banks of Krishna, but Velanti Chodas remained as subjects of Someswara II in these battles. However in 1132 AD, he fought along the side of Chalukya Cholas. Vikrama Chola sent his army under his son Kulottunga II

Kulothunga Chola II

Kulothunga Chola II was a 12th century king of the Chola Dynasty of the Tamil people of South India. He succeeded his father Vikrama Chola to the throne in 1135 CE. Vikrama Chola made Kulothunga his heir apparent and coregent in 1133 CE, so the inscriptions of Kulothunga II count his reign from...

 to 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...

. Many chieftains including Velandu Chodas joined hands with him and helped in driving out Kalyani Chalukyas in the battle of Manneru.