History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c12.20

c12.20

The greatest king among the Pandyas, however, was Mārāvarmana Kulasekhara (Kales Devar of Muhammadan historians) who ascended in 1268¹¹ and ruled almost upto 1311 when the Musalmans invaded the Pandya kingdom. During his long and prosperous rule Marco Polo visited the port of Kayal lying in his dominions. He dwells at length on the wealth and prosperity of the country and calls Kulasekhara by the name of Asciar. Mārāvarmana Kulasekhara is also known by the title of Konerinmaikondan, or the king who had no equal, and is recorded to have ruled both over Chola and Pandya countries. He is also described as ruling from Madura, which was formerly a capital of the Hoysalas. This fact shows that the conquests of Kulasekhara were wide and extensive.¹² It was he who sent an expedition to the island of Ceylon and defeated the Ceylonese king Prakarma Bāhū. There are also references found of diplomatic intercourse between China and M'abar (Ma-pa-rh).¹³