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Chera dynasty
Chera dynasty | |
|---|---|
| c. 3rd century BCE–c. 5th century CE | |
.jpg) | |
| Capital | |
| Official languages | |
| Religion | |
| Government | Monarchy |
| History | |
• Established | c. 3rd century BCE |
• Disestablished | c. 5th century CE |
| Today part of | |
| Chera dynasty |
|---|
  |
The Chera dynasty (or Cēra, IPA: [t͡ʃeːɾɐ]) was a dynasty from early historic Tamil-speaking southern India, from the Sangam period, ruling over parts of present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu states.[1][2] The lineage, known as one of the mu-ventar (the Three Kings) of Tamilakam (the Tamil Country) alongside the Chola and Pandya, has been documented as early as c. 3rd century BCE.[3] The Chera country was geographically well placed (at the tip of the Indian peninsula) to profit from maritime trade via the extensive Indian Ocean networks. Exchange of spices, especially black pepper, with Middle Eastern or Graeco-Roman merchants are attested in several sources.[4][5][6] Their influence extended over central Kerala and western Tamil Nadu until the end of the early historic period in southern India.[1]
The Cheras of the early historical period (c. second century BCE – c. third century CE[6]) are known to have had their centre in interior Tamil country (Kongu Nadu) and harbours at Muchiri (Muziris) and Thondi (Tyndis) on the Indian Ocean coast (Kerala). Palakkad Gap, the principal trade route between the Malabar Coast and eastern Tamil Country, was also under the control of the Cheras.[7]
The early historic Tamil literature, known as the Sangam texts, are a major source of information about the (early historic) Cheras.[2] The pre-Pallava[8] polities in southern India are often described as a "kinship-based redistributive economies" largely shaped by "pastoral-cum-agrarian subsistence" and "predatory politics".[6] Yet the sources for the Chera lineage include Tamil Brahmi inscriptions (one notably describing Ilam Kadungo, son of Perum Kadungo, and the grandson of Ko Athan Cheral of the Irumporai clan), [9][10] silver portrait coins with Brahmi legends of a number of Chera rulers,[11] and copper coins with the Chera symbols of the bow and the arrow (depicted in the reverse).[11]
After the end of the early historical period, around the 3rd-5th century CE, there seems to be a period where the Cheras' power declined considerably.[12] Chenkuttuvan, or the good Chera, a hero of the early historic Tamil literature, is famous for the traditions surrounding Kannaki, the principal character of the Tamil epic poem Chilappatikaram.[4][13] Medieval ruling lineages, such as Cheras of the Kongu country and Cheras of Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur), also claimed descent from the pre-Pallava Chera rulers.[14]
- ^ a b Karashima 2014, pp. 49–51.
- ^ a b Zvelebil 1973, pp. 52–53.
- ^ Gurukkal, Rajan (2002). "Did State Exist in the Pre-Pallavan Tamil Region". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 63: 142. ISSN 2249-1937.
- ^ a b Thapar 2018.
- ^ Edward Balfour 1871, p. 584.
- ^ a b c Gurukkal 2015, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Subramanian, T. S (28 January 2007). "Roman connection in Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ^ Gurukkal 2002, pp. 138–150. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFGurukkal2002 (help)
- ^ Pletcher 2018.
- ^ Veluthat 2018, pp. 13–31.
- ^ a b Majumdar 2016.
- ^ Menon 2007, p. 118.
- ^ Narayanan 2013.
- ^ Narayanan 2013, pp. passim.
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