Bijjala II (1130–1167 CE) kn, ಇಮ್ಮಡಿ ಬಿಜ್ಜಳ was the Mahamandaleshwara of the Kalyani Chalukyas. He was the most famous of the
southern Kalachuri kings who ruled initially as a vassal of Chalukya
Vikramaditya VI. He ruled as the ''Mahamandalesvara'' (chief or governor) over Karhada-4000 and Tardavadi-1000 provinces, designations given to territories within the larger Western Chalukya kingdom.
He revolted against the
Western Chalukya Empire, assumed imperial titles in 1157, and ruled along with his successors, the
Deccan Plateau
The large Deccan Plateau in southern India is located between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, and is loosely defined as the peninsular region between these ranges that is south of the Narmada river. To the north, it is bounded by t ...
for a quarter of a century.
Bijjala's opportunism
After the death of Vikramaditya VI, seeing the weakening empire, Bijjala II declared independence.
The ''Chikkalagi'' inscription refers to Bijjala as ''Mahabhujabalachakravarti'', which in Sanskrit
literally means ''the great great (maha) unopposed ruler (cakravartin) with strong (bala) arms (bhuja)''. By the time of Chalukya
Taila III
Tailapa III (r. 1151–1164 CE) succeeded Jagadhekamalla II to the Western Chalukya throne. His rule saw the beginning of the end of the Chalukya empire. Kakatiya dynasty's Prola II warred with him, defeated and took the Chalukya king captive. ...
, Bijjala's attempts towards independence seems to have spread to other feudatories as well. Kakatiya
Prola II
Prola II (r. c. 1116-1157 CE) was a Kakatiya chief who ruled the area around Anumakomda (modern Hanamkonda) as a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas. He was the father of Rudra-deva, the first sovereign ruler of the Kakatiya family.
Prola II was a so ...
broke free of Chalukya rule in the middle of the 12th century. By 1162 CE. Bijjala II had managed to drive Taila III out of Kalyani, the Chalukya capital. He assumed Chalukyan titles like ''Sriprithvivallabha'' and ''Parameshvara''. He shifted his capital from Mangalavada to
Kalyani Kalyani may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Kalyani'' (1940 film), a Hindi film
* ''Kalyani'' (1952 film), a Tamil film
* ''Kalyani'' (1971 film), a Kannada film
* ''Kalyani'' (1979 film), a Telugu film
* ''Kalyani'' (1983 film), an Oriya ...
also known as
Basavakalyan.
Bloody end
His rule was marked with turbulence, both domestic and social. According to the historian Dr. P.B. Desai,
Bijjala II became very unpopular with the followers of Basavanna and was assassinated by them. Dr. Desai
however does confirm that
Basavanna himself was not responsible for this incident. He was succeeded by his younger son
Sovideva
Rayamurari Sovideva was a king of the Kalyana Kalachuris or Southern Kalachuris, who ruled over parts of present-day northern Karnataka and Maharashtra. Sovideva's rule was a "reign of terror", persecuted insurgents and the followers of Basavan ...
to the throne.
References
Bibliography
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat (2001). ''Concise History of Karnataka'', MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
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12th-century Indian monarchs
History of Karnataka