The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c29.131

v3.c29.131

The southern power contemporary with the Chālukyas was the great dynasty of the Cholas, coming into notice almost a century earlier than their rivals. They slowly forged their way up despite the crushing weight of the imperial power of the Rāshtrakūtas of the Deccan. When these were overthrown by the Chālukyas about the end of the tenth century the Cholas had put themselves on a footing of some permanence and power. The advent of Rājarāja, the Great, who was to have succeeded almost at the same time as the Rāshtrakūtas were overthrown, introduced a new spirit into the activities of the Cholas. They took advantage of the change of dynasties and consequent neglect of the southern frontier to go forward and occupy the territory of the Gangas by overthrowing them finally. This gave them the southern and by far the greatest division of the territory of what is now the Mysore State, from which, as a salient, they could carry on their war against the Chālukyas with advantage. This accession to the Chola territory took place in A.D. 1000 or 1001.