Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History
Chola Royal Women and the Power of the Queen Mother
While Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra Chola I dominate the historical record, the Chola Empire’s stability often rested on the shoulders of its royal women. This episode explores the political agency of queens like Sembiyan Mahadevi and the powerful role of the Queen Mother, or Valiyammal. We examine how these women managed vast temple endowments, influenced succession disputes, and served as key diplomatic links between the empire and neighboring kingdoms like Srivijaya. Through inscriptions from the Brihadeeswarar Temple and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram complex, we uncover a network of female…
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