Role Pulakeshin I's son Died 610 AD Name Mangalesha Mangalesha | Parents Pulakeshin I Grandparents Ranaranga | |
Mangalesha (C. 596 – 610 CE) succeeded Kirtivarman I to the Chalukya throne. He ruled as regent as the heir to the throne Pulakeshin II was considered too young to rule.
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Capable warrior
An energetic and ambitious ruler, Mangalesha won several laurels in war. Mangalesha continued the policy of expansion, he invaded the territory of the Kalachuri ruler Buddhiraja who ruled over Gujarat, Khandesh and Malwa. This campaign was more a raid than a conquest as it brought in much booty and no addition to the territories. He suppressed a rebellion on the part of Swamiraja, the Governor of Revatidvipa (Goa) and re-established the Chalukyan power in Konkan. From the Mahakuta pillar inscription of 595 it is known that he subdued the Gangas, Pallava, Chola, Alupas and Kadambas rulers.
Titles
Mangalesha assumed the titles like Ururanaparakrama, Ranavikrama and Paramabhagavata, and excavated the Vaishnava temple at Badami.
Desire for the throne
As Mangalesha was ruling as a regent, he should have surrendered the throne to Pulakeshin II when the latter came of age. Instead he sought to prolong his reign with the view of handing the throne to his own son Sundaravarma in due course.
This forced Pulakeshin to rebel against his uncle. Pulakeshin left the court and by his own martial prowess, waged a war on Mangalesha with the help of few of his friends. Mangalesha was routed and killed in the battlefield of Elapattu-Simbige (in Anantapur District). This incident is mentioned in the Peddavadu-guru inscription, and the incident must have happened about 610.