Rajendra I

Chola king who sent a fleet on an expedition against Srivijaya, the ruler of the Chola Empire at its zenith.

Life

Son of Rajaraja

Rajendra I was the son of Rajaraja I. He succeeded to the throne in 1014 and brought the Chola dynasty to its peak.

North to the Ganges

He conquered all of Sri Lanka and pushed north with his army as far as the Ganges, celebrating his triumph at his new capital, Gangaikonda Cholapuram. In 1025 he sent a fleet on an expedition against Srivijaya in Southeast Asia, raiding ports on the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra and gaining control of the key routes of East-West maritime trade.

Expedition against Srivijaya

The Cholas also had contacts with the Song dynasty and sent envoys to the Song. He died in 1044.

Legacy

Rajendra I was one of the few monarchs in Indian history to establish overseas hegemony, and the Chola naval expeditions influenced the history of Southeast Asia.

Did you know? The great temple he built at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is inscribed as World Heritage together with the great temple of Thanjavur.

Key dates

• 1014Succession
• 1017Conquered Sri Lanka (approx.)
• 1023Northern expedition to the Ganges (approx.)
• 1025Expedition against Srivijaya
• 1044Died