Part 1 - The Chalukyas of Pithapur (A.D. 925-1226)

The Chalukyas of Pithapur ruled the country from Pithapur to Simhachalam with capital at Pithapur for nearly three centuries from A.D. 925 to 1226. The dynasty which branched off from the Vengi chalukyas with Betavijayaditya V, produced many rules who were capable warriors and administrators. They maintained political relations with the Gangas, the cholas, and the Haihayas besides the minor kingdoms in Vengi, and other Chalukyas in Vengi and south Kalinga.

The condition of Vengi in the 10th Contury A.D.

Amma I on the Chalukyas throne was succeeded by his son Betavijayaditya V in 925 A.D. who reigned for fifteen days when the throne was seized by Tadapa, of the junior branch. After a month Tadapa was assassinated by Vikrama-ditya II whose reign lasted for eleven months. Then a civil was ensued, the king was defeated and the throne was occupied by his grand nephew Bhima II who had the best claim to the throne in the absence of Vijayaditya V. Bhima II, after a rule for eight months, was killed by Yuddhamalla, son of Tadapa who reigned for seven years (A.D. 927-934) and was ousted by Bhima III who ruled from 934 to 945 A.D. His successor Amma II ruled from 945 to 968 A.D. After the reign of Danamava from A.D. 968 to 971, the period of Anarchy of twenty-seven years followed which ended with the accession of Saktivar-man in 999 A.D.

Origin and rise of the dynasty

The Chalukya records give the complete genealogy of the Chalukyas from the moon to Vikramachoda. Between the moon and Panduraja were thirty seven names, then the five Pandavas ruled and Udayaka, the last of the seven descendants of Arjuna was followed by the eleven emperors in Ayodhya. King Vijayaditya of this family came to the south and lost his life in the hands of Trilochanapallava. Then follows the account of the rise of the Chalukas, Among the Chalukya king Vijayaditya I (749-768 A.D.) fought 108 battles, Gunagavijayaditya was surnamed Tribhuvanamkusa and Chalukyas Bhima was the victor of 360 battles. Beta Vijayaditya V, the seventeenth ruler was the originator of the Chalukyas of Pithapur.