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Chola Navy

Type Object Region South Asia Time 801–1201

The Chola navy was the Indian Ocean maritime force of the 9th-13th century Chola dynasty of South India, famed for warships, port bases, and transoce…

Timeline

  1. 801–985Coromandel Coast · Tamil NaduChola rulers integrated coastal ports and shipbuilding resources to form a navy centered on oared warships, controlling shipping in the southern Bay of Bengal and preparing for later expansion.
  2. c. 985–1101Bay of Bengal-Malacca waters · Bay of BengalRajaraja I conquered Sri Lanka and defeated the Chola fleet; Rajendra I's 1025 expedition against Srivijaya saw the Chola navy dominate security on eastern Indian Ocean trade routes in the first half of the 11th century.
  3. 1101–1201South Indian coast · IndiaThe rise of the Pandyas and internal Chola turmoil weakened blue-water power-projection; the navy still held home ports but no longer launched large-scale transoceanic campaigns, and the eastern Indian Ocean naval order was reorganized.

Sources