The Pallavas migrated to Tamil Country from the southern parts of Satavahana empire. The Pallavas used Prakrit and Sanskrit, in their inscriptions. Some historians say they are a branch of the Parthian people (a tribe from Iran) who gradually migrated to South India.
Pallavas were a clan belonging to the highest administrative level in the Andhra region, to the north. Sometime around 275 CE, they attained royal rank when one of their line married a local princess.
By the fourth century, the capital of the Pallavas had been established further south at Kanchipuram in the Tamil country.
Pallava king, Simhavarma defeated the Ikshvaku king Rudrapurushadatta in 300 CE and established Pallava rule in Coastal Andhra, which was known at that time as “Karmarashtra‟ and started as a political power in south India.
Pallava kings were powerful between 330 CE and 550 CE and the-noteworthy rulers during this period were Simhavarma I, Sikandavarma I, Veerakurcha, Skandavarma II, Kumaravishnu I, Sinihavarma III and Vishnugopa. After Vishnugopa’s defeat to Samudragupta, the Pallavas became weaker and the Cholas and the Kalabhras repeatedly attacked the Pallava kingdom and robbed it of wealth and territories.
They built great cities, centers of learning, temples, and sculptures and influenced a large part of Southeast Asia in culture.
Vikramaditya II’s attack and the temporary occupation of Kanchi may be regarded as the beginning of the end of the Pallava supremacy over South India. The Pandyas, the western Gangas and the Rashtrakutas also attacked the Pallava kingdom.
The Pallava rule lasted till the end of the 9th Century CE.
Pallava dynasty: From 275 CE to 897 CE
