Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c9.57

c9.57

This embassy also proves the continued existence of San-fo-tsi as a separate political unit.¹⁰ It probably acknowledged suzerainty of the Cholas, but how far or how long it was really effective and not merely nominal, it is difficult to say. Two inscriptions of the Chola king Vīrarājendra inform us that some time before A.D. 1069-70 he conquered Kaḍāram on behalf of a king who had come in search of his aid and protection, and afterwards handed over the conquered kingdom to his protégé who acknowledged him as suzerain. Curiously enough a Chinese Chronicle represents Chola as a vassal state of San-fo-tsi during the period 1068-77. Either this was a deliberate misrepresentation to the Chinese court made by San-fo-tsi, or there might be a basis for it in some temperary success gained by the latter over the Cholas in course of the war with Vīrarājendra or Kulottuṅga (1070-1118 A.D.). For the latter also claims to have destroyed Kaḍāram. It would thus appear that for nearly half a century after the conquest of Rājendra Chola his successors tried to keep their hold on the distant oversea conquests, though with varying degrees of success.