Chozhan I

popularly known as Raja Raja the Great (947-1014), was one of the great emperors of India, who ruled between 985 and 1014. It was during his reign that the Chola Dynasty started to emerge as a great empire. By conquering several kingdoms in India, he expanded the Chola Empire as far as Sri Lanka in the south, and Kalinga (Odisha) in the northeast. Raja Raja Chola was one of the greatest sovereigns of South India, a valiant conqueror, an able administrator, and a patron of arts. He launched several naval campaigns resulting in the capture of Sri Lanka, Maldives and the Malabar Coast.