Western Ganga dynasty: Difference between revisions

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<!--[[Image:Western-ganga-empire-map.svg|250px|thumb|right|Western Ganag Dynasty Territories]]-->

The '''Western Ganga Dynasty''' ([[350]] – [[1000]] CE) ([[Kannada]]:ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಗಂಗ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ) was an important ruling dynasty of ancient [[Karnataka]] in [[India]]. They are known as '''Western Gangas''' to distinguish them from the '''Eastern Gangas''' who in later centuries ruled over modern [[Orissa]]. The general belief is the Western Ganga kingdom began their rule during a time when multiple native clans asserted their freedom due to the weakingweakening of the [[Pallava]] empire in [[South India]], a geo-political event sometimes attributed to the southern conquests of [[Samudra Gupta]]. The Western Ganga sovereignty lasted from about 350 to 550 CE, initially ruling from [[Kolar]] and later moving their capital to [[Talakad]] on the banks of the [[Kaveri River]] in modern [[Mysore district]].

After the rise of the imperial [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas of Badami]], the Gangas accepted Chalukya overlordship and fought for the cause of their overlords against the [[Pallavas]] of [[Kanchi]]. The Chalukyas were replaced by the [[Rashtrakuta Dynasty|Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta]] in 753 CE as the dominant power in the [[Deccan]]. After a century of struggle for autonomy, the Western Gangas finally accepted Rashtrakuta overlordship and successfully fought along side them against their foes, the [[Chola Dynasty]] of [[Tanjavur]]. In the late 10th century, north of Tungabhadra river, the Rashtrakutas were replaced by the emerging Western Chalukya Empire and the Chola Dynasty saw renewed power south of the [[Kaveri]] river. The defeat of the Western Gangas by Cholas around 1000 resulted in the end of the Ganga influence over the region.