Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

THE MEDIEVAL CHOLA EMPIRE
AND IT'S RELATIONS WITH THE MIYANMAR COUNTRY FORMER BURMA)
{A.D.985-1163}


"Period of Rajaraja Chola - 1 {A.D.985 – 1014}"

With the beginning of the tenth century the Cholas with their capital
in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, emerged as a powerful ruling dynasty
after a long spell in partial obscurity in the political scene of
South India.

In the year A.D.985 king Rajaraja Chola -1 ascended the throne as the
next successor to the Chola kingdom in Tamil Nadu. He gradually
conquered the neighbouring and far lying territories within the
Indian continent, forming a great Chola empire.

He laid a firm foundation to this empire by the wits of his political
ingenuity and well streamlined administrative system backed by a
powerful army and naval power which made it to grow steadily into an
overseas empire.

During this period in Miyanmar (the former Burma) there existed two
main kingdoms, namely the Arimaddanapura kingdom of the region called
Marammadesa (the present central Miyanmar) having the capital at
Arimaddanapura (the present Pagan), and the Talaing (Mon) kingdom of
the region called Rammanadesa (the present southern Miyanmar also
known as Arumanam in Tamil) having its capital at Sudhammavati (the
present Thaton). The capital city of Arimaddanapura of the medieval
period was also known as Pugarama and Pukkan.

While emperor Rajaraja Chola -1 was on the Chola throne, king
Kyaungbyu (A.D.984 -1006) was on the throne of Arimaddanapura kingdom
of Marammadesa, and was followed by his son king Kyizo {A.D.1006-
1012} on throne. But we are aware of the king who was ruling the
Talaing kingdom of Rammanadesa during the period of Rajaraja - 1.

During this period the traders from these two kingdoms traded with
Tamil Nadu in their commodities, and the teak wood from Rammanadesa
being one of their trading items, was known as "Arumanavan" in the
Tamil Nadu


"Period of Rajendra Chola – 1 {A.D.1012-1044}"

With the succession of emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 on Chola throne
after Rajaraja Chola - 1, king Sokkate (A.D.1012-1037) started rule
in the Arimaddanapura kingdom after his elder brother king Kyizo, and
in this same period we also note a king named Manuha (A.D.?? – 1057)
ruling the Talaing kingdom of Rammanadesa.

During this time there had been much sea traffic between these two
countries. The traders from Tamil Nadu engaged themselves in trade
with the Miyanmar kingdoms of Rammanadesa (also known as Arumanam)
and the Mirammadesa.

In the meantime the Sri Vijaya kingdom of Sumatra was spreading it's
authority over whole of Sumatra and Java - of the present Indonesia
and over whole of Malaysia, forming an empire which was at one time a
great hinderance to the flourishing trade of the Cholas in South-East
Asia. It also seems that there had been similer hinderences to the
traders from Tamil Nadu in Rammanadesa in present Miyanmar.

Rajendra Chola – 1 sent one of his grandson with great force in
A.D.1024 in many ships under a Chola prince who later bore the title
as "Kadaremkonda Cholan", which on their way to South-East Asia after
capturing the Manakkavaram (Great Nicobar Island), reached the
country of Rammanadesa in southern Miyanmar.

They devastated the seaport city of Mapappalam (most possibly the
present Dagon or Rangoon), and the interior capital city of
Sudammavathi (Thaton) with "protected fortress walls" - of the
Talaing (Mon) kingdom of Rammanadesa (Arumanam), and defeated it's
ruling king Manuha. It seems king Manuha submitted to the Rajendra
Chola's forces in this war and agreed to pay tributes.

At the Arimaddanapur kingdom king Sokkate was followed by his younger
brother Anuruddha also known as Anawratha (A.D.1037-1079) on the
throne.


"Period of Rajadhiraja Chola – 1 {A.D.1018-1054}"

In the year A.D.1044 Rajendra Chola -1 died and followed by his
eldest son emperor Rajadhiraja Chola – 1 {A.D.1018-1054} on Chola
throne. It appears the king Manuha continued to pay tributes to the
Cholas and the trade between two countries continued.


"Period of Rajendra Chola -2 {A.D.1051-1063}"

Rajadhiraja Chola – 1 was followed by his younger brother emperor
Rajendra Chola – 2 on Chola throne.

Some years later a Buddhist dignitary named Shin Arahan who came to
the Arimaddana kingdom from the Talaing kingdom in south Miyanma,r
and converted king Anuruddha to Theravada Buddhism. Shin Arahan also
informed him that in the capital city Sudammavati of the Talaing
kingdom, there were thirty sets of three Buddhist Pitakas and also
many sacred relics.

King Anuruddha deeply engrossed in Theravada Buddhism sent his wise
minister with much gifts and presents to king Manuha requesting some
copies of Pitaka and relics which was refused by him with much ill
reply.

This ended up with enraged king Anuruddha waging war with king Manuha
of the Talaing kingdom in the year A.D.1057, in which king Manuha was
defeated and taken captive with his entire family to Arimaddanapura.

empire under the rule of king Anuruddha, and a viceroy was appointed
to overlook the affairs of this region. King Anuruddha chose
Tharehkiltara (present Prome) in the Pegu region as his new capital
of Rammanadesa in place of Thaton, which has now lost it's importance
with it's destruction by his forces and with the capture of it's king
Manuha.

It appears emperor Anuruddha with the fall of Rammanadesa, and it
coming under his empire possibly appointed one of his own viceroy to
rule over same, and also refused to pay tributes to the Cholas.

There seems to have been no immediate response and retaliation from
the Cholas on the fall of Rammanadesa to Anuruddha's forces, and
which was now in the hands of the Arimaddanapur empire.


"Period of Virarajendra Chola {A.D.1062-1070}"

Rajendra Chola – 2 was followed by his younger brother emperor
Virarajendra Chola on Chola throne. It appear during this time the
viceroy of Anuruddha interfered with the privilages enjoyed by the
Chola traders already trading in Rammanadesa.

In this same period the king of Kadarem (present Kedah region of
Malaysia) with the re-capture of this kingdom by the ruling king of
Sri Vijaya of that period, sought the assistance of Virarajendra
Chola in regaining his kingdom.

The emperor Virarajendra Chola sent an expedition in the year
A.D.1068 under his nephew (sister's son) Kulothunga to help the king
of Kadarem in winning back his kingdom. Kulothunga Chola lead his
great forces i