KING OF KINGS

Manohar Shetty 304pp, ~799, Aleph

Rajaraja Chola was one of the greatest rulers of medieval India. During his reign, the Chola empire expanded through virtually all of the southern reaches of the peninsula and beyond, from the Krishna-godavari delta in northern Andhra Pradesh to large parts of northern Sri Lanka. Born Arulmozhi Varman in 947 CE, he trained under his father and uncle for over a quarter of a century and then ruled for 29 years.

King of Kings is a fitting title for this multifaceted man, a brilliant, ambitious, ruthless visionary. He fortified the foundations of what had until then been a ragtag kingdom, put in place a meticulously organised system of administration, and led the kingdom to supreme military might. He crafted an empire that was also an economic powerhouse and a hub of art, architecture, literature, music and dance.

During his reign, which began in 985 CE, the Chola empire reached its zenith. In this book, Kamini Dandapani explores the man behind the legend.