History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c12.16

c12.16

To the extreme south lay the kingdom of the Pandyas. In the 12th century the Pandya kingdom had suffered irreparable damage owing to internal strifes, and the consequent intervention by the Cholas—Rajadhirāj II and his heir apparent Kulottunga III—from the north, and by the Ceylonese king from the south. But then, in the 13th century, the Pandyas began to assert themselves and under Mārāvarman Sundra Pandyas I and II, who reigned from 1216 to 1239 and 1239 to 1255 respectively, the Pandyas recovered much of their lost prestige. The next Pandya king Jatavarman Sundara Pandya, who ruled upto 1274, was a warrior of great repute and reduced the whole of the Chola empire. He invaded the Malabar country and defeated and killed the Chera king. He also fought with the Hoysala king Somesvara. Jatavarman had two or three brothers who ruled as independent sovereigns in different principalities of the Pandya empire but were subordinate to the chief king Jatavarman Sundara.⁸ One of them went by the name of Vikram Pandya, another by that of Vira Pandya. Both of them lay claim to conquests.⁹ A record of Vira Pandya states that he took Ilam (Ceylon), Kongu and the Solamandalam (the Chola country).¹⁰