A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c14.48

c14.48

More serious danger threatened Vikramāditya from the Hoysalas. Hoysala Vinayāditya and his son Ereyanga, as we have seen, served Vikramāditya in the war against Kulottunga. After Vinayāditya, Ereyanga ruled for less than two years and was succeeded by Ballāla I (1100-10). These rulers professed allegiance to Chālukya rule but steadily built up their power and extended their territory. The results of this policy declared themselves in the reign of Ballāla's younger brother, Biṭṭiga, better known as Vishnuvardhana. He was a great soldier and an ambitious monarch. He attacked the Chola province of Gangavādi and after defeating Adigaimān, the Chola governor of Taḷakād, annexed the province (1116). He then turned against Vikramāditya himself and at first attained much success. He won over to his side the Pāṇḍya ruler of Uccangi and Kadamba Jayakeśi II of Goa and advanced to the Krishna in the north. But Vikramāditya dealt firmly with the situation with the assistance of loyal feudatories, particularly Sinda Ācugi II of Yelburga. Vishnuvardhana was expelled from the Chālukyan territory he had attempted to occupy, Goa was sacked and burnt, and the Pāṇḍya was pursued and pressed with great vigour. The Hoysala had to seek safety in the mountain fortresses of his home-country, and thither he was pursued in strength by the imperial forces. There were many battles and the campaign was a long one, but in the end (1122-3) Vishnuvardhana made his submission and returned to his allegiance.