HISTORY
INDIA Between 750-1200 AD
The period between AD 750 and AD 1200 is referred to as an
early medieval period of Indian History.
Introduction
We divide the period from AD 750 to AD 1200 in two parts
(a) AD 750–AD 1000; (b) AD 1000– AD 1200.
The first phase was marked by the growth of three important
political powers in India. These were Gurjara Pratiharas in north
India, Palas in eastern India and Rashtrakutas in South India.
These powers were constantly fighting with each other with an
aim to set up their control on Gangetic region in northern India.
This armed conflict among these three powers is known as
‗Tripartite struggle‘.
In the second phase (1000-1200 ad) we notice the breakup of
these powers. It resulted in the rise of many smaller kingdoms
all over the country. These were the states which fought and
resisted the Turkish attacks from northwest India led by
Mahmood Ghaznavi and Mohammad Ghori in the 11th and 12th
centuries, but had to yield ultimately as they failed to stand
united against the invaders.
PALLAVA DYNASTY
1) The Pallava dynasty emerged in South India at a time when
the Satavhana dynasty was on the decline.
2) Shivaskandavarman is said to have been the founder of the
Pallava dynasty.
3) During their reign, the Pallava rulers made Kanchi their
capital.
4) The noteworthy rulers during this period were: Simhavarama
I, Sivaskkandavarma I, Veerakurcha, Shandavarma II,
Kumaravishnu I, Simhavarma II, and Vishnugopa.
Vishugopa is said to have been defeated in battle by
Samudragupta after which the Pallavas become weaker.
5) It was Simhavishnu, the son of Simhavarma II, who
eventually crushed the Kalabhras‘ dominance in 575 AD and reestablished his kingdom.
6) In 670, Parameshwaravarma I came to the throne and
restricted the advance of the Chlukyan king Vikramaditya I.
However, the Chalukyas joined hands with the Pandya king
Arikesari Maravarma, another promients enemy of the Pallavas,
and defeated Parameshwaravarma I.
7) Parameshwaravarma I died in 695 and was succeeded by
Narasimhavarma II, a peace living ruler.He is also remembered
for building the famous Kailashanatha temple at Kanchi. He
died grieving his elder son‘s accidental death in 722.
8) His youngest son, Parameshwaravarma II, came to power in
722.He died in 730 with no heirs to the throne, which left the
Pallava kingdom in a state of disarray.
9) Nandivarma II came to power after some infighting for the
throne among relatives and officials of the kingdom.
Nandivarma married the Rashtrakuta princess Reetadevi, and
re-established the Pallava kingdom.
10) He was succeeded by Dantivarma (796-846) who ruled for
54 long years. Dantivarma was defeated by the Rastrakuta king,
Dantidurga, and subsequently by the Pandyas. He was
succeeded by Nandivarma III in 846.
11) Nandivarma III was succeeded by Nrupatungavarma, who
had two brothers, Aparajitavarma and Kampavarma.
The Chola king provoked Aprajitavarman into waging a civil war
in the Pallava kingdom. Subsequently, Aprajita Varma captured
the throne
