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India / Sri Lanka: Mural of Rajaraja Chola I (r. 985-1014 CE). Mural at Brihadeeswarar temple, commonly known as 'Periya Kovil', Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 11th century CE

India / Sri Lanka: Mural of Rajaraja Chola I (r. 985-1014 CE). Mural at Brihadeeswarar temple, commonly known as 'Periya Kovil', Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 11th century CE

Raja Raja Chozhan I (Tamil: ராஜ ராஜ சோழன்), popularly known as Raja Raja the Great, is one of the greatest emperors of the Tamil Chola Empire of India who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE.

By conquering several small kingdoms in South India, he expanded the Chola Empire as far as Sri Lanka in the south, and Kalinga (Odisha) in the northeast. He fought many battles with the Chalukyas to the north and the Pandyas to the south. By conquering Vengi, Rajaraja laid the foundation for the Later Chola dynasty. He invaded Sri Lanka and started a century-long Chola occupation of the island.

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