One of the ambitious subject of the Kalyana Chalukyas namely Vinayaditya Hoysala conquered Gangavadi from the Cholas in 1047 AD and started reigning from the western region of Gangavadi. Thus formed dynasty was named after the Hoysala. Vinayaditya ruled the kingdom for more than fifty years under the suzerainty of Chalukyas. His grandson Ballala-I continued to reign after his father, but still under the suzerainty of the Chalukyas from his capital Belur.The next successor Vishnuvardhana Hoysala (1106 - 1152) ruled as a independent ruler and soon gained the title Nolambavadi Gonda by conquering the Nolamba region. Further conquest of Talakad gained him the title Talakadu-Gonda, the Cholas were completely driven out of the south eastern Karnataka. He built the celebrated Vijayanarayana (Chennakeshwara) temple at Belur and his commander Katamalla built the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu. Halebidu soon became the capital of Hoysala. Though Vishnuvardhana consolidated his position well, he did not succeed in his effort of overthrowing the Chalukyas and their feudatories such as Kadambas of Goa and Hangal.
Chalukyas intervened the period after Vishnuvardhana's death and the accession of his grandson Ballala-II. Ballala-II became not only free, but defeated Sevuna Bhillana-V at Soranthur in 1190 after having defeated Chalukya Someswara-IV in 1187. He campaigned in the north overcoming Kadambas of Hangal and Goa and founded his secondary capital town at Lakkundi. When the Cholas were attacked by the Pandyas in Tamilnadu, Ballala-II helped Cholas by driving out the Pandyas. This gave an opportunity to his son Narasimha-II to establish a foothold in Tamilnadu later and Srirangam became his second capital.
Ballala-III (1292-1343), the last Hoysala had to struggle hard against the attack of Sultanate of Delhi. He died fighting against Madura Sultan in 1311. Later, the two commanders of him namely Harihara and Bukka proved in establishing themselves at Hampi !
COINAGE
Hoysalas issued varieties of gold pagodas bearing an Elephant or Shardula on the obverse and King's title on the reverse. Of the pagodas, Vishnuvardhana's issues seems to have many varieties. They were issued during different period of his reign signifying his conquest of different regions. Varieties of legends on different coins like "Sri Ganga vadha Bala", Sri Nolambavadi Gonda", "Sri Talakad Gonda", "Sri mad, Gangai Konda", "Sri Chalukya Gonda", "Sri Vanavadi Konda" and "Sri Valla bhana" are to be mainly noted. Fanams varied from unit to quarter denomination and carried the lion (Shardhula) throughout. The mints from which they emerged are well documented in most of the Hoysala fanams. The same fanam took the form of Viraraya fanam and became a standard prototype for the subsequent rulers of princely kingdoms. Catalogue shows quite a few dominant varieties of Hoysala fanams and its fractions ranging from the early age till its influence faded down the lane.
LAST UPDATED 1st Nov 2001
There's no place like HOME.Coins Page-1 Map Time-Line