Rajaraja Chola I

Rajaraja Chola I (b. n.d.; d. 1014) was king of the Chola Empire in southern India from 985 to 1014 CE. His accession and reign marked a period of Chola dominance in southern India. Having inherited a small state at the time of his accession, he expanded its dominance through conquests of Pandya and Chera territory in present-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Ganga territory in present-day southern Karnataka, and Western Chalukya territory in present-day northern Karnataka. He also carried out a military incursion into northern Sri Lanka, as well a naval conquest of the Maldive Islands. He was the patron of the Rajarajesvara Temple, also known as the Brihadisvara Temple, in Thanjavur, which was built in 1010 CE.