Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the pow

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Question

Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C - Rajendra I (Chola)Step-by-step Solution:Rajendra Chola I (r. 1014-1044 CE), the son and successor of the great Rajaraja Chola I, was one of the most powerful rulers of the medieval Chola Empire. His most celebrated military achievement was his naval expedition against the Srivijaya Empire in Southeast Asia, conducted around 1025 CE.Rajendra I launched a massive naval campaign - the Kadaram Campaign - against the Srivijaya kingdom, which controlled the Strait of Malacca and dominated maritime trade routes between India, China, and Southeast Asia. His forces conquered several Srivijayan territories including Kadaram (Kedah in modern Malaysia), Srivijaya's capital in Sumatra, and other ports along the Malay Peninsula and the surrounding islands.This expedition is historically significant as one of the few instances of a major Indian state projecting military power beyond South Asia into maritime Southeast Asia. Rajendra I commemorated this victory in the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates and the Larger Leiden Grant inscription.Why other options are incorrect:Option A (Amoghavarsha, Rashtrakuta): Amoghavarsha I (r. 814-878 CE) was a celebrated Rashtrakuta king, known more as a patron of literature (Kavirajamarga in Kannada) and a Jain devotee. He did not conduct naval campaigns against Srivijaya. Rashtrakutas were primarily a Deccan land power. ✗Option B (Prataparudra, Kakatiya): Prataparudra was the last ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty of Telangana, who was defeated by Malik Kafur (1310 CE) and Ulugh Khan under Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. Kakatiyas were not a maritime power. ✗Option D (Vishnuvardhana, Hoysala): Vishnuvardhana (c. 1108-1152 CE) was a Hoysala king who converted from Jainism to Vaishnava Hinduism under the influence of Ramanujacharya. Hoysalas were an inland Deccan kingdom with no significant naval activity. ✗Key Concept: Chola Naval Power: The Chola dynasty (particularly under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I) built one of the most powerful naval forces of the ancient world. Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE): Conquered Sri Lanka, Maldives, and parts of the Malabar coast. Rajendra I (1014-1044 CE): Extended empire to the Ganges (earning the title 'Gangaikonda' - 'conqueror of the Ganges'), built Gangaikondacholapuram as new capital, led Kadaram campaign against Srivijaya (~1025 CE). Srivijaya: A Buddhist maritime empire (7th-13th century) based in Palembang, Sumatra, controlling Strait of Malacca - the most important maritime trade route of medieval Asia. The Chola-Srivijaya conflict was partly driven by control of trade routes between India and China. The port city renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands commemorates this Chola victory.

Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?

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Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?

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