Battle of Sri Purambiyam

Date	879
Location	Sri Purambiyam
Result	Victory of the Pallavas and their confederates Defeat of the Pandyas

Belligerents

Pallavas, Western Gangas, Medieval Cholas

Pandya kingdom

Commanders and leaders

Aparajita, Prithvipati I, Vijayalaya Chola

Varagunavarman II

Strength

unknown

Casualties and losses

Prithvipati I

Battle of Sri Purambiyam was fought between the Pandya king Varagunavarman II and a confederacy of the Pallavas, Western Ganga Dynasty and the Medieval Cholas in about 879 CE. The battle is considered to be a turning point in the history of South India for it precipitated the fall of the Pallava kingdom and triggered the re-emergence of the Chola power in history after centuries of obscurity.

Causes

At the dawn of the 9th century, the Pallava kingdom which had ruled most of South India for three centuries began to decline. Seizing the opportunity provided by weak Pallava rule, the Pandya king Varagunavarman tried to force the Pallava king Aparajitha into submission. The Chola king Vijayalaya, then a feudatory of the Pallavas, came to his assistance. Aparajitha was also assisted by the Western Ganga king Prithvipati I.

Events

The forces of the Pallava kingdom, Western Ganga kingdom and the Chola kingdom met the Pandyan army at Sri Purambiyam or Thiruppurambiyam in the Thanjavur district of present-day state of Tamil Nadu in 879 CE. Though, according to the Udyendiram plates of Prithvipati II, Prithvipati I was killed after a brave fight, the allies were still able to salvage a pyrrhic victory.

Consequences

The Pandyas were completely devastated as a result of the battle and never recovered from the loss for two centuries. The Pallavas, though victorious, were forced to give heavy concessions to their rising Chola feudatories, who declared their independence. The Pallava kingdom was eventually annexed by the Cholas during the reign of Vijayalaya's son Aditya Chola I.

References

Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (2000) [1935]. The Cōlas. Madras: University of Madras. p. 110.

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