The early inhabitants of
Karnataka knew the use of iron far earlier than people in Northern India,
and iron weapons, dating back to 1200 B.C have found at Hallur
in Dhaward district.
Earlier parts of Karnataka were
ruled by the Nandas and the Mauryas. The Shathavahanas
ruled over extensive areas in Northern Karnataka. Karnataka fell into the
hands of Pallavas of Kanchi.Pallavas domination was ended by and
the of Kolar, who divided Karnataka between
themselves.
The Kadamba Dynasty was founded
by Mayurasharman in c. 345 A.D. One of his successors, Kakustha
Varman (c. 435-55) was such a powerful ruler that even the Vakatakas
and the Guptas cultivated martial relationship with this family
during his time. The great poet Kalidasa deems to have visited his court.
The
started their rule from c. 350 from Kolar and later their capital was shifted
to Talakadu (Mysore Dt.). Till the advent of the Badami Chalukyas,
they were almost a sovereign power. It is the Chalukyas of Badami
who brought the whole of Karnataka under a single
rule. They are also remembered for their contributions in the
field of art. Their monuments are found at Badami, Aihole and
Pattadakal. The first great prince of the
dynasty was Pulikeshin I (c. 540-66 A.D) who built the
ashwamedha
(horse sacrifice) after subduing
many rulers including the Kadamabas. The Chalukyan empire included
not only the whole of karnataka and Maharashtra, but
the greater part of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and
Andhra, and also parts of Orissa and Tamilnadu.
In 753, Danthidurga, the
Rastrakuta feudatory of the Chalukyas, overthrew the Chalukya king Keerthivarman
II ,and his family inherited the fortunes of the
Chalukyas. In 753, Danthidurga, the Rastrakuta
feudatory of the Chalukyas, overthrew the Chalukya king Keerthivarman
II ,and his family inherited the fortunes of the Chalukyas.
The Sevunas (or Yadavas)
who were foundatories of the Rastrakutas and the chalukyas of Kalyana,
became a sovereign power from the days of Bhillama V (1173-92) who
founded the new capital Devagiri (modern Daulathabad
in Maharastra). The Hoyasala continued the great traditions of their
art-loving overlords the Kalyana Chalukyas, and their fine temples are
found at Beluru, Helebidu and Somanathapura. Vishnuvardhna (11082141)
freed Gangavadi from the Cholas (who had held it
from 999), and in commemoration of his victory, built the celebrated Vijayanarayana
(Chennakeshva) Temple at Belur.
Krishnadevaraya (15092529)
was the greatest emperor during his time. He was also a great warrior,
scholar and administrator. He secured Raichur Doab in 1512, and later marched
victorious into the capitals of his enemies like Bidar (1512) Bijapur (1523)
and in the East, Cuttack (1518), the capital of the Gajapatis. His rule
saw the reign of peace and prosperity. In the days of Aravidu Ramaraya
(1542-65), Krishnadevaraya's son-in-law, the four Shashi
Sultans attacked the empire,and after killing Ramarya at Rallasathangadi
(Rakkasagi-Tangadagi) in 1565, destroyed the capital Vijayanagara.
With the weakening of the
Mughul
power in the North, the Marathas came to have control over the
northern districts of Karnataka. Haidar Ali, Who used power from
the Wodeyars of Mysore, merged the Keladi Kingdom in Mysore in 1763.
Karnataka came under British rule after the overthrow of Tipu, Haidar's
son in 1799 and the Marathas in 1818 (When the Peshwa was defeated). After
having been subjected to a number of administrations during the British
rule, Karnataka became a single state in 1956.
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