Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History
The Chola Empire's Greatest Naval Disaster: The Battle of Kandalur Salai
In the early 11th century, the Chola Empire was the dominant naval power in the Indian Ocean, with a fleet that had raided Srivijaya and controlled the Bay of Bengal. But one battle — the Battle of Kandalur Salai — nearly ended it all. This episode dives into the disastrous naval engagement off the coast of Kerala around 994 CE, where the Chera fleet ambushed a Chola invasion force. We explore the strategic miscalculations, the role of the Chera king Bhaskara Ravi Varman, the loss of elite Chola marines, and how Rajaraja Chola I rebuilt his navy from the ashes. The battle reveals the limits…
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