Vira Narasimha II

Vira Narasimha II (Kannada: ಇಮ್ಮಡಿ ವೀರ ನರಸಿಂಹ) (1220 - 1235). During his rule as king of Hoysala Empire, the Hoysalas gained much influence in the affairs of Tamil Country. He defeated the Kadavas and Pandyas and levied tribute. He acted as a support to Chola king Rajaraja III against Pandya incursions. The Chola king was possibly his son-in-law. During his rule, he made Kannanur Kuppam near Srirangam his second capital, with an intent to maintain close watch and control over affairs in Tamil country. Later he fought for the Chola cause again and marched all the way to Rameswaram. Kannada poet Sumanobana was the court poet of King Vira Narasimha II

Wars with Pandyas

During the rule of Vera Narasimha II, a Hoysala army was stationed at Kanchi possibly to avert anyincursion from the Telugu Chodas of Nellore, the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal and the Pandyas of Madurai. The Chola monarch Rajaraja III defied the Pandyas by not paying their annual tribute. Sundara Pandya went on the offensive and routed the Cholas in the battle of Tellaru. Vira Narasimha II rushed to the aid of the Cholas, defeated the South Arcot chiefs and captured Srirangam. Magadai Mandalam was invaded again in 1220 - 1238. The Hoysala commanders Appanna and Gopayya then reached Chidambaram, routing on their way the Kopperunjinga chiefs who were a Pandya ally in the battle of Perumbalur. Finally, receiving news that the Kopperunjinga chiefs were willing to set free the Chola monarch Rajaraja III and consider the Cholas a free kingdom, the Hoysalas escorted the Chola monarch back to Kanchi in 1231. At the same time, Vira Narasimha II himself had defeated Sundara Pandya in the battle of Mahendramangalam.

References

* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041
* K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002), ISBN 019560686-8

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