Krishna III whose Kannada name was Kannara (r. 939 – 967 C.E.) was the last great warrior and able monarch of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta. He was a shrewd administrator and skillful military campaigner. He waged many wars to bring back the glory of the Rashtrakutas and played an important role in rebuilding the Rashtrakuta empire. He patronised the famous Kannada poets Sri Ponna, who wrote Shanti purana, Gajankusha, also known as Narayana, who wrote on erotics, and the Apabhramsha poet Pushpadanta who wrote Mahapurana and other works.[1][2][3] His queen was a Chedi princess and his daughter Bijjabbe was married to a Western Ganga prince. During his rule he held titles such as Akalavarsha, Maharajadhiraja, Parameshvara, Paramamaheshvara, Shri Prithvivallabha etc.[4] At his peak, he ruled a vast empire stretching from the Narmada river in the north to the Kaveri river delta in the south. A copper grant of 993 issued by the Shilahara king of Thana claims the Rashtrakuta control extended from the Himalayas in the north to Ceylon in the south and from the eastern sea to the western seas. The grant states that when King Krishna III mobilised his armies, the kings of Chola, Bengal, Kannauj, Andhra and Pandya regions used to quiver.[5]
He killed the Western Ganga ruler Rachamalla II and made his brother-in-law Butuga II the king of the Gangavadi territory. He invaded the territory of Gurjara Prathihara and captured Chitrakuta and Kalinjara regions. He even defeated his own family relations, the Kalachuris of Tripuri (Chedi) who had turned against the Rashtrakutas.[6] Later he invaded the southern Deccan and recaptured Kolar and Dharmapuri from the Banas and Vaidumbas who had given shelter to Govinda IV due to his matrimonial relations with the Cholas. Though he initially may have experienced setbacks, Tondaimandalam (northern Tamil regions) was secured by 944. He defeated the Cholas and captured Kanchi and Tanjore, according to the Siddalingamadam plates of 944.[7]
In c. 949, he defeated the Cholas decisively in a battle of Takkolam in the North Arcot district.[8] Krishna III was helped by his Western Ganga feudatory Butuga II in these campaign. Chola prince Rajaditya Chola was killed "while seated on his elephant with a well-aimed arrow". From the famous Atakur inscription it is known that Krishna III gave Buthuga II extensive Ratta territories near Banavasi in return for this victory.[4][9][10][11] With the fall of the Cholas, he was able to extract tribute from the Pandyas and the Chera ruler of Kerala.[12] He also obtained the submission of the King of Ceylon, extracted tributes from the Manadlika rulers, and erected a pillar of victory at Ramesvaram.[8][13] This victory is narrated in Somadeva's writing Yashatilaka Champu of 959 as well.[14]
However, from location of the inscriptions it is argued that Krishna III had full control only of Tondaimandalam (northern Tamil Nadu) as his inscriptions are not found further south in modern Tamil Nadu.[15] After these victories he proclaimed himself "Conqueror of Kacci and Tanjai" (Kanchi and Tanjore).[16] He exerted influence on Vengi (modern Andhra Pradesh) by helping Badapa secure the throne against his competitor Amma II. Later, Danarnava of Vengi became his feudatory.
Northern expedition
While Krishna III focussed on southern Deccan, the Chandelas had captured Chitrakuta and Kalinjar. This prompted Krishna III to send his Western Ganga feudatory Marasimha, son of Buthuga II, to retrieve the lost areas. Marasimha defeated the Gurjara Prathiharas. The northernmost Kannada inscription of the Rashtrakutas, dated about 964 is the Jura record (near Jabalpur) in present-day Madhya Pradesh. The details of these victories are inscribed in this inscription.[7] Two inscriptions of Marasimha, dated 965 CE and 968 CE, state that his forces destroyed Ujjayani (which lies in the Paramara territory of Malwa). Based on this, some historians such as A. S. Altekar conclude that the Paramara king Siyaka must have rebelled against the Rashtrakuta suzerainty, resulting in a military campaign against him. Thus, Marasimha must have also defeated the Paramaras. However, K. N. Sethi believes that Krishna III only targeted the Gurjara-Pratiharas: there is no evidence to show that Siyaka rebelled against Krishna III or faced a battle against his forces.[17]
At his peak, Krishna III ruled an empire that extended from Narmada river in the north and stretched south covering large parts of present-day northern Tamil Nadu in the south. The Prathihara, the Paramara, the Seuna (ruled by Vaddiga) and the northern Kalachuris were his feudatories in the northern Deccan and central India.[18]
This enmity with the northern Kalachuris of Tripuri proved fatal to the empire towards the end of his rule. Krishna III was also perhaps reckless in giving large fiefs (land grants) to his commanders. He gave the province of Tardavadi (present day Bijapur district) sometime before 965 to Tailapa II his Chalukya feudatory right in the heart of his empire. This later turned out to be to the Rashtrakutas' undoing.
^Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy: Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cēra Perumāḷs of Makōtai (c. AD 800 - AD 1124). Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 100-101.
^From the Sholapur copper plate inscriptions of 958 (Reu 1933, p84, p85)
^Krishna III is described as the conqueror of Chola, Chera, Pandya and Simhala (Ceylon) (Reu 1933, p86)
^However the Deoli inscriptions claim the Rashtrakuta control extended from the Himalayas in the north to Ceylon in the south and from the eastern sea to the western sea (Reu 1933, p83, p84)
References
Sastri, Nilakanta K.A. (2002) [1955]. A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-560686-8.
Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
Narasimhacharya, R (1988) [1988]. History of Kannada Literature. New Delhi, Madras: Asian Educational Services. ISBN81-206-0303-6.
Reu, Pandit Bisheshwar Nath (1997) [1933]. History of The Rashtrakutas (Rathodas). Jaipur: Publication scheme. ISBN81-86782-12-5.
Adiga, Malini (2006) [2006]. The Making of Southern Karnataka: Society, Polity and Culture in the early medieval period, AD 400–1030. Chennai: Orient Longman. ISBN81-250-2912-5.
Sarma, I.K. (1992) [1992]. Temples of the Gangas of Karnataka. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. ISBN0-19-560686-8.
Seth, Krishna Narain (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress.
krishna, whose, kannada, name, kannara, last, great, warrior, able, monarch, rashtrakuta, dynasty, manyakheta, shrewd, administrator, skillful, military, campaigner, waged, many, wars, bring, back, glory, rashtrakutas, played, important, role, rebuilding, rash. Krishna III whose Kannada name was Kannara r 939 967 C E was the last great warrior and able monarch of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta He was a shrewd administrator and skillful military campaigner He waged many wars to bring back the glory of the Rashtrakutas and played an important role in rebuilding the Rashtrakuta empire He patronised the famous Kannada poets Sri Ponna who wrote Shanti purana Gajankusha also known as Narayana who wrote on erotics and the Apabhramsha poet Pushpadanta who wrote Mahapurana and other works 1 2 3 His queen was a Chedi princess and his daughter Bijjabbe was married to a Western Ganga prince During his rule he held titles such as Akalavarsha Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Paramamaheshvara Shri Prithvivallabha etc 4 At his peak he ruled a vast empire stretching from the Narmada river in the north to the Kaveri river delta in the south A copper grant of 993 issued by the Shilahara king of Thana claims the Rashtrakuta control extended from the Himalayas in the north to Ceylon in the south and from the eastern sea to the western seas The grant states that when King Krishna III mobilised his armies the kings of Chola Bengal Kannauj Andhra and Pandya regions used to quiver 5 Krishna IIIReign939 967 CEPredecessorAmoghavarsha IIISuccessorKhottigaOld Kannada inscription dated c 944 45 AD of Rashtrakuta empire King Krishna III Contents 1 Southern invasion 2 Northern expedition 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksSouthern invasion EditHe killed the Western Ganga ruler Rachamalla II and made his brother in law Butuga II the king of the Gangavadi territory He invaded the territory of Gurjara Prathihara and captured Chitrakuta and Kalinjara regions He even defeated his own family relations the Kalachuris of Tripuri Chedi who had turned against the Rashtrakutas 6 Later he invaded the southern Deccan and recaptured Kolar and Dharmapuri from the Banas and Vaidumbas who had given shelter to Govinda IV due to his matrimonial relations with the Cholas Though he initially may have experienced setbacks Tondaimandalam northern Tamil regions was secured by 944 He defeated the Cholas and captured Kanchi and Tanjore according to the Siddalingamadam plates of 944 7 In c 949 he defeated the Cholas decisively in a battle of Takkolam in the North Arcot district 8 Krishna III was helped by his Western Ganga feudatory Butuga II in these campaign Chola prince Rajaditya Chola was killed while seated on his elephant with a well aimed arrow From the famous Atakur inscription it is known that Krishna III gave Buthuga II extensive Ratta territories near Banavasi in return for this victory 4 9 10 11 With the fall of the Cholas he was able to extract tribute from the Pandyas and the Chera ruler of Kerala 12 He also obtained the submission of the King of Ceylon extracted tributes from the Manadlika rulers and erected a pillar of victory at Ramesvaram 8 13 This victory is narrated in Somadeva s writing Yashatilaka Champu of 959 as well 14 However from location of the inscriptions it is argued that Krishna III had full control only of Tondaimandalam northern Tamil Nadu as his inscriptions are not found further south in modern Tamil Nadu 15 After these victories he proclaimed himself Conqueror of Kacci and Tanjai Kanchi and Tanjore 16 He exerted influence on Vengi modern Andhra Pradesh by helping Badapa secure the throne against his competitor Amma II Later Danarnava of Vengi became his feudatory Northern expedition EditWhile Krishna III focussed on southern Deccan the Chandelas had captured Chitrakuta and Kalinjar This prompted Krishna III to send his Western Ganga feudatory Marasimha son of Buthuga II to retrieve the lost areas Marasimha defeated the Gurjara Prathiharas The northernmost Kannada inscription of the Rashtrakutas dated about 964 is the Jura record near Jabalpur in present day Madhya Pradesh The details of these victories are inscribed in this inscription 7 Two inscriptions of Marasimha dated 965 CE and 968 CE state that his forces destroyed Ujjayani which lies in the Paramara territory of Malwa Based on this some historians such as A S Altekar conclude that the Paramara king Siyaka must have rebelled against the Rashtrakuta suzerainty resulting in a military campaign against him Thus Marasimha must have also defeated the Paramaras However K N Sethi believes that Krishna III only targeted the Gurjara Pratiharas there is no evidence to show that Siyaka rebelled against Krishna III or faced a battle against his forces 17 At his peak Krishna III ruled an empire that extended from Narmada river in the north and stretched south covering large parts of present day northern Tamil Nadu in the south The Prathihara the Paramara the Seuna ruled by Vaddiga and the northern Kalachuris were his feudatories in the northern Deccan and central India 18 This enmity with the northern Kalachuris of Tripuri proved fatal to the empire towards the end of his rule Krishna III was also perhaps reckless in giving large fiefs land grants to his commanders He gave the province of Tardavadi present day Bijapur district sometime before 965 to Tailapa II his Chalukya feudatory right in the heart of his empire This later turned out to be to the Rashtrakutas undoing Notes Edit Kamath 2001 p84 p90 Sastri 1955 p356 Reu 1933 p86 a b Reu 1933 p82 Reu 1933 p43 Kamath 2001 p82 a b Kamath 2001 p83 a b From the Karhad record of 949 Kamath 2001 p83 From the Atakur inscription Kamath 2001 p83 Sarma 1992 p20 p28 p133 Adiga 2006 p120 p307 Narayanan M G S Perumaḷs of Kerala Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cera Perumaḷs of Makōtai c AD 800 AD 1124 Thrissur Kerala CosmoBooks 2013 100 101 From the Sholapur copper plate inscriptions of 958 Reu 1933 p84 p85 Krishna III is described as the conqueror of Chola Chera Pandya and Simhala Ceylon Reu 1933 p86 Sathianath Ayer in Kamath 2001 p83 from the Tirukkalukkunram and Lakshmeshvara inscriptions Reu 1933 p83 p85 Seth 1978 pp 80 81 However the Deoli inscriptions claim the Rashtrakuta control extended from the Himalayas in the north to Ceylon in the south and from the eastern sea to the western sea Reu 1933 p83 p84 References EditSastri Nilakanta K A 2002 1955 A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar New Delhi Indian Branch Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 560686 8 Kamath Suryanath U 2001 1980 A concise history of Karnataka from pre historic times to the present Bangalore Jupiter books LCCN 80905179 OCLC 7796041 Narasimhacharya R 1988 1988 History of Kannada Literature New Delhi Madras Asian Educational Services ISBN 81 206 0303 6 Reu Pandit Bisheshwar Nath 1997 1933 History of The Rashtrakutas Rathodas Jaipur Publication scheme ISBN 81 86782 12 5 Adiga Malini 2006 2006 The Making of Southern Karnataka Society Polity and Culture in the early medieval period AD 400 1030 Chennai Orient Longman ISBN 81 250 2912 5 Sarma I K 1992 1992 Temples of the Gangas of Karnataka New Delhi Archaeological Survey of India ISBN 0 19 560686 8 Seth Krishna Narain 1978 The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa Progress External links EditHistory of Karnataka Mr ArthikajePreceded byAmoghavarsha III King of theRashtrakuta dynasty939 967 Succeeded byKhottiga Amoghavarsha Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Krishna III amp oldid 1165604482, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
