Silharas of Kolhapur (Karad / South Maharashtra)
AD 940 - 1212
The Silharas (or Shilharas) ruled the modern regions of
Konkan, Satara, Kolhapur and Belgaum in
India, and
were divided from an early stage into three branches. One ruled
North Konkan (near Mumbai, former Bombay),
the other South Konkan (AD 765-1029), while the third ruled regions of
Satara, Kolhapur and Belgaum between AD 940-1215 until they were displaced
by the
Chalukyas.
This, the third branch of the Silharas, was under the
rule of
Rashtrakuta king Krishna III (and governed in south Maharashtra). Their capital was Karad (later Kolhapur, with the hill fort of Panhala as their royal
residence), and they worshipped the Goddess Mahalaxmi. Their loyalty
initially lay with the Rashtrakutas, but this was later transferred to the
increasingly dominant Chalukyas. Their official language was Kannada, anf
they were mainly Shaivites (worshippers of Lord
Shiva).
(Information by Abhijit Rajadhyaksha.) |
1020 - 1029 |
The
Chalukya king, Jayasimha, takes direct control of the
South Konkan kingdom and
re-takes Kolhapur. Gonka accepts Chalukya suzerainty and retains his
kingdom. He later captures Karad, Miraj, and
parts of Konkan which are under Chalukyan overlordship. |
|
Vijayaditya defeats King Jayakesin II of
Goa who had earlier
defeated his Silhara
counterpart of Thane. He assists Bijjala, the minister
of his
Chalukyan overlord, Taila II, to usurp power. But only after the death
of Bijala is he able to become the undisputed king of Konkan. |