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Kadamba Kingdom of Banavasi
c.AD 345 - 550
The Kadambas were a royal dynasty that ruled Banavasi
in the region of Uttara Kannada in
India (the central coastal
stretch of the modern state of Karnataka, along with some inland territory).
They bore a legendary descent from the prehistoric
Cholas, while control of their
territory was inherited from the
Satvahanas. Although their
kingdom apparently only emerged into history in the fourth century AD, they
must have existed as a tribe or minor state for several hundred years
beforehand, as the Cheras
under Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan are recorded as having delivered them
(sworn enemies) a crushing defeat in the first century AD.
They eventually escaped dominance by the southern kingdoms following the
second century AD Kalabhra invasion of that region, and in time they
dominated the Cheras, Cholas, and
Pallavas. Their rise to
true regional power may have been the result of disruption caused by the
various fourth century campaigns of Samudragupta
Gupta. He seems to have
caused a ripple effect that may have lead lead to the emergence of several
tribes as minor regional kingdoms in their own right, especially in the
more distant south. It seems likely that the
Western Gangas
in the fairly nearby Mysore region now began to carve out a small but
prominent kingdom of their own, and the Kadambas may have similarly
benefited.
Later, as the Kadambas declined in power, they accepted the suzerainty of
the Chalukyas and even
later the Rashtrakutas,
and managed to rule in Banavasi for a further five hundred years. Subsequent
generations also branched out into the regions of
Goa and Hanagal, or
Hangal. Their language was Kannada, and
early dates are approximate.
(Original information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha, and from External Link:
Government of Kerala
(search for 'history').) |
c.345 - 365 |
Mayurasharman |
Founder of the dynasty. |
c.345 |
It is said that Mayurasharma's origins are as a learned
Brahmin. He is insulted by a
Pallava official and, burning for revenge, he
raises a army, defeats some Pallava officials and takes control of their
territories. He is later reconciled with the Pallava kings and becomes
their vassal at Banavasi.
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c.365 - 390 |
Kangavarman |
Son. |
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Kangavarman changes the family name from Sharman to Varman.
He is probably the Kadamba king who is defeated by the
Vakataka king, Vindhyasena, who occupies Banavasi for a period.
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c.390 - 415 |
Bagitarha |
Son. |
c.390 - 400 |
Bagitarha wrests back the kingdom from the
Vakatakas of the western Deccan. A fifth century Kadamba record in the
Edakkal cave in Wayanad bears witness to the Kadamba presence in the deep
south of India.
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The Madhukeswara Temple was built at Banavasi in this period
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c.415 - 435 |
Raghuson |
Died fighting the
Pallavas. |
c.435 - 455 |
Kakushthavarman |
Brother. |
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Kakushthavarman is a powerful king who makes matrimonial
alliances with the Guptas
and other royal houses. One of his daughters marries Skandagupta, while
another marries the
Vakataka king, Narendrasena. He also has similar relations with the
Bhataris, the Alupas of south Kanara, and the
Western Gangas.
Upon his death, one of his sons splits away from the main kingdom and sets
up the lesser kingdom of the
Tripavarthas at Murod in Belgaum. |
c.455 - 460 |
Santivarma |
Son. |
c.460 - 480 |
Mrigashavarma |
Son. |
c.480 - 485 |
Shivamandhativarma |
Son. |
c.485 - 519 |
Ravivarma |
Son. |
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Ravivarma's reign is marked by a series of clashes within
the family (probably those of the
Tripavarthas), as well as further clashes against the
Gangas. |
c.500 |
Harisena of the
Vatsagulma kingdom
of the Vakatakas is
killed by some of his own vassals while fending off an attack by the
Ashmakas against the Banavasi
kingdom. As a result, Ravivarma is able to extend his kingdom as far north
as the River Narmada. The heartland of the kingdom essentially consists of
most of Karnataka, Goa,
and southern areas of modern Maharashtra.
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The vast empire of the Guptas encompassed much of northern India
at this time, although the south remained a fairly stable
patchwork of smaller but persistent kingdoms which constantly
strove to outdo each other when it came to expanding their own
borders (click on map to view full sized)
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519 - 525 |
Harivarma |
Son. |
525 - c.550 |
Harivarma is a contemporary of the
Chalukyan king Pulakeshi
I, who sets up his kingdom at Badami in 543, But in 525 it is Harivarma's
cousin, Krishnavarma II of the
Tripavartha kingdom of Belgaum, who
defeats him and takes control of the kingdom, re-unifying the two branches of
the family.
However, to the north, Pulakeshi I is already asserting his dominance as the
combined Kadamba and Tripavatha kingdom of Banavasi declines. Krishnavarma's
successor, Ajavarman, is forced to submit as a vassal to Pulakeshi I, even
though that dynasty's control over their kingdom is soon brought to an end.
The descendents of the Kadambas continue to hold local power as regional chiefs,
but only as vassals of other great powers. A branch later re-emerges in
Hangal. |
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Tripavartha Kingdom of Belgaum (& Banavasi)
c.AD 455 - c.550
The Triparvatha branch of the
Kadambas broke away in 455 to
rule from Murod in Belgaum for some time. During Harivarma reign, he was
defeated by the Triparvathas, who then took over and re-unified the kingdom,
but reunification was short-lived as the kingdom soon fell to the Badami
Chalukyas.
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c.430 - 455 |
Krishna Varma I |
Son of Kakushthavarman and vassal of Banavasi. |
c.445 - 475 |
Vishnuvarma |
Son and vassal. |
c.475 - 510 |
Simhavarma |
Son and vassal. |
c.510 - 540 |
Krishnavarma II |
Son. |
c.525 |
Harivarma of the
Banavasi branch is defeated
by Krishnavarma II, who takes control of the kingdom and reunifies the two
branches of the family. |
c.540 - 550 |
Ajavarman |
Son. |
c.550 |
The Badami
Chalukyas began to
assert their independence and rapidly rise to prominence as the combined
Kadamba and Tripavartha kingdom of Banavasi declines. Ajavarman is forced
to submit as a vassal to Pulakeshi I, but that dynasty's control over their
kingdom is soon brought to an end. The descendents of the Kadambas continue
to hold local power as regional chiefs, but only as vassals of other great
powers. A branch later re-emerges in
Hangal. |
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Kadambas of Hangal Chattadeva
c.AD 980 - 1347
The Kadambas once ruled a large kingdom
around Banavasi in the region of Uttara Kannada in
India, but
decline set in and by the sixth century the Kadambas had been eclipsed.
Between then and the tenth century they were little more than local chiefs.
The founder of the Kadamba dynasty of Hangal was a
vassal of the western
Chalukyas. He re-established the Kadambas, and his successors enjoyed
considerable independence, all but becoming sovereign rulers of
Goa and Konkan until the
fourteenth century. The successors of Chatta Deva occupied both Banavasi and
Hangal, while the Kadambas of Goa formed a sub-branch that ruled there for
around three hundred years. Interestingly, while the Hangal Kadambas were
the main power, the titular kings of Banavasi, the true inheritors of the
Kadamba name, were mere vassals at
Uchchangi.
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967 - 980 |
Irivabedanga-deva |
Local ruler and vassal of the
Chalukyas. |
980 - 1031 |
Chattadeva |
Son, and founder of the dynasty. |
c.1000 |
Minor branches of Kadamba rulers emerge at
Bankapur,
Bayalnad,
Belur,
Nagarkhanda, and
Uchchangi,
although they remain small in scale compared to the flourishing Hangal and
Goa kingdoms. |
1031 - 1037 |
Jayasimha |
Son. Killed in one of the battles against the
Cholas. |
1037 - 1048 |
Mayuravarman II |
Son. |
1048 - 1075 |
Taila / Tailapa I |
Brother. Helped to rule by mother, Akkadevi. Fought
against Cholas. |
c.1050 |
The obscure minor branch of Kadamba rulers in
Kalinga emerges.
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A Santivarma coin from Hangal (left) and a Shivachitta gold coin
from Goa (right)
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1075 - 1116 |
Kirtivarma |
Son. Governor and king in Banavasi
only. |
1075 - 1116 |
Kirtivarma serves his father as governor of Banvasi, but
when his uncle gains the throne he declares Banavasi to be his own
independent kingdom. After a period of civil war, the two are reconciled
with Kirtivarma being able to keep his domains for his lifetime as he agrees
to
work together with his uncle. Kirtivarma instead fights against the combined might of the Kadambas of
Goa and the
Chalukyas when he tries to extend his borders. Ultimately defeated, he
ends up becoming a vassal of the Chalukyas. The minor Kadambas of
Belur probably fall at
this time to the Hoysala
dynasty. |
1075 - 1094 |
Santivarma |
Brother of Taila I. |
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Despite the disagreement with Kirtivarma which disrupts
the kingdom, Santivarma maintains his hold on the throne after the
intervention of the Kadamba king
of Goa, Jayakeshi I, who
helps implement the solution that allows Kirtivarma to continue to rule at Banavasi. |
1094 - 1116 |
Taila /Tailapa II |
Son. |
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After the death of Kirtivarman
of Banvasi, Taila II reunifies both the kingdoms of Hangal and Banvasi.
He assists the
Hoysalas
against the
Pandyas,
defeating the latter. This turns out to be a mistake, as the Hoysalas (under Vishnuvardhana)
are able to turn on the Kadambas, capturing Banavasi and later Hangal. Taila II
is
killed. |
1116 - 1130 |
Taila /Tailapa III |
Son. Continued resistance against
Hoysalas. |
1130 - 1132 |
Mayuravarma III |
Son. |
1132 - 1146 |
Mallikarjuna |
Brother. Drove out the
Hoysalas. |
1146 - 1151 |
Tailama |
Brother. |
1151 - 1180 |
Kirtideva |
Son. |
1180 - 1217 |
Kamadeva |
Son. |
1217 - 1252 |
Mallideva |
Son. |
1252 - 1260 |
Ramadeva |
Brother. |
1260 - 1315 |
Kavadeva |
Nephew. Son of Mallideva. |
1315 - 1347 |
Purandara raya |
Son. |
1347 |
The dynasty comes to an end shortly after the Kadambas of
Goa have been annexed by
the
Bahamani empire. |
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