Home > Indian History > History of India > Pulakeshin II
Pulakeshin II
Pulakeshin II was a strong annexationist and was also the greatest king of the Chalukya Dynasty.

Share this Article:

Pulakeshin I established the Chalukya dynasty. Chalukya Dynasty continued to be the supreme power of the Deccan for about two centuries. He installed his capital in Badami and the legacy of the powerful Chalukyas was carried out by the successors of Pulakeshin I. However the greatest king of the Chalukya dynasty was Pulakeshin II though his reign was marked by his defeat in the hands of the Pallavas of the south. Pulakeshin II`s early life was beset with trails and difficulties and he could ascend the Chalukya throne not by an easy inheritance. His title to the throne was disputed by his uncle. According to the historians Pulakeshin II had to overcome the civil war before he ascended the throne in 610 AD. Pulakeshin was a vigilant youth who fought against his uncle for the throne. The civil war, originated owing to the incident of the inheritance of the Chalukya throne had unleashed the forces of anarchy within the kingdom and the Chalukya power was threatened by the foreign invasion. Some of the provincial feudatories revolted against the central authority taking advantage of the civil war. In these circumstances Pulakeshin II ascended the throne by wading through the blood of his kinsmen in the civil war. After ascending the throne, Pulakeshin II first of all consolidated his power by suppressing the forces of discord and disintegration, which are about to disturb the very foundation of the powerful Chalukya Empire. However the reign of Pulakeshin II was marked by enormous campaigns and warfare. The "Aihole Inscription" of Pulakeshin II delineates a comprehensive picture of the conquests of Pulakeshin II and his wars of annexations. "The Haidarabad Grant" also records his victorious campaign over the hostile kings.

Pulakeshin II was a powerful warrior and also a strong and stout annexationist. To satiate his dream of imperial supremacy of the Chalukyas, Pulakeshin followed the policy of aggression against his neighbors. In the south Pulakeshin II defeated the Kadambas of the Baranasi and the Ganges of Mysore and Alupa or Malabar. The Ganga king probably gave his daughter in marriage to Pulakeshin II in order to solidify a friendship with the valiant ruler Pulakeshin II. These victories led to a considerable extension of his dominion in South India. He also overwhelmed the Mauryas of Konkan and captured their capital city Puri, which was identified with the island of Elephanta. Further north the kings of Lata or Gujrat, Malwa and Gurjara were compelled to submit to him. The Aihole inscription records his sway over these provinces. Pulakeshin II after his conquest of the major areas of south and west set out to annex those kingdoms into the Chalukya territory and appointed viceroys in those provinces under his own supremacy.

The conquest of Gujrat by Pulakeshin II was a turning point of his career as a mighty conqueror. It paved the way for his gigantic struggle with Harsha, the lord paramount of northern India. Dr. R.C. Majumdar has suggested that the kingdoms of Lata, Gurjara and Malwa sought Pulakeshin`s protection against the threat of invasion by Harsha. Probably Pulakeshin granted his protection towards them and they in turn allied with Pulakeshin against his campaign against Harsha. Harsha adopted the aggressive policy against the Chalukya king Pulakeshin in order to be the lord of entire India. But Harsha was made to repulse from the banks of Narmada. As a result of the Battle Harsha`s expansion to the western India was checked completely. Moreover the entire South India remained under the control of Pulakeshin II. Pulakeshin adopted the high sounding title "Paramesvara" after his victory against Harshavardhana, the Pushyabhuti king of North and he himself became the lord paramount of entire southern India. Being encouraged with his victorious campaign against Harsha, Pulakeshin II directed his victorious arms towards Eastern Deccan and defeated the kings of Kosala and Kalinga and annexed those kingdoms in his own territory.

After a series of conquest Pulakeshin II turned towards south and marched along the Eastern coast. He invaded the kingdoms of Pithapuram in the Godavari district and the territories of Kunala and Ellore. The newly acquired kingdom in eastern Deccan and those of south India were placed under the governorship of Kubja Vishnuvardhana, the youngest brother of Pulakeshin II. Vishnuvardhana was destined to find the famous line of Eastern Chalukya with his capital at Vengi in the Andhra country. The eastern Chalukyas were ultimately become independent of the parent branch at Vatapi and ruled for about 5 centuries.

Pulakeshin II then marched against the Pallava kingdom and then penetrated in the far south. He started the protracted struggle with the Pallavas. In the initial phase of the Chalukya Pallava war, Mahendravarmana I , the Pallava king was defeated by Pulakeshin II and his capital at Kanchi was threatened. Pulakeshin II crossed the river Kaveri and made alliance with Cholas, Pandyas and Kerelas against the Pallavas. The Pallava power was temporarily crippled as a result of the Chalukya victory. Pulakeshin II returned to his capital Vatapi after the execution of his policy of Digvijay.

Pulakeshin`s invasion of the Pallava kingdom is considered by the historians merely a phase in the long struggle between the two dominant powers on the two sides of the river Tungabhadra, which characterized the history of ancient India for a protracted period of time. His initial success against the Pallava king Mahendravarmana was a short lived one. Narasimhavarmana I, the son of the Pallava king Mahendravarmana I, attacked and crushed Vatapi, the Chalukya capital. It was presumed by the historians that Narasimhavarmana might have killed Pulakeshin II in order to avenge Pulakeshin`s attack on the Pallava capital Kanchi in the time of his father. The success of Narasimhavarmana I against the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II, is also supported by the Pallava records and the "Mahavamsa. Narasimha assumed the title of "Vatapi Konda" to commemorate his victory against the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II. The tragic defeat of Pulakeshin II in the hands of the Pallava king Narasimhavarmana I drew curtain to the victorious career of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II.

Pulakeshin II was not only the greatest among the House of the Western Chalukyas but also is remembered as one of the famous king in the history of ancient India. Not only a great conqueror, Pulakeshin II, was a farsighted statesman. He subdued the civil war and the provincial revolt against the central authority and thereby consolidated the authority of the Chalukya House by checking the forces of the anarchy and chaos. Pulakeshin II, a great and able administrator till date remembered in the history of India as the paramount lord of south India.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.