According to Tiruvalangadu plates Parakesari Uththama Chola ruled the Chola kingdom from 969 to 985. In the Mahalingasvamin temple at Tiruvidaimarudur, there is an inscription which couples the 13th year of Uttama-Chola with Kaliyuga 4083 which computes to 969 A.D. as the initial date of his reign. Uttama-Chola seems to have reigned for at least 16 years, which is the date quoted in the Madras Museum plates of this king. The Cholas were the most famous of the three dynasties that ruled ancient Tamil Nadu. ... Events December 11 - John I becomes Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. ... Events Barcelona sacked by Al-Mansur Greenland colonized by Icelandic Viking Erik the Red (the date is according to legend but has been established as at least approximately correct – see History of Greenland) Lady Wulfruna founded the town that later became the city of Wolverhampton Births Al-Hakim bi-Amr...

He succeeded his cousin Parantaka Chola II as the Chola king under dramatic circumstances. When Aditya Karikalan, the eldest son of Parantaka Chola II was all set to succeed his father as the king of Cholas, he was assassinated in a place called Kadambur. Soon, Parantaka Chola II was dead, and the kingdom was in chaos. Popular opinion was to give the throne to Rajaraja Chola I, but Rajaraja sacrificed the throne to in favour of his uncle Uththama Chola as Uththama was the elder than himself, and also as Uththama was the son of Kandarathitha Chola, who ruled the Chola kingdom from 950 to 957. Aditya Karikalan was a legendary warrior from South India. ... A statue of Rajaraja Chola I at Thanjavur Rajaraja Chola I is considered the greatest of all Cholas. ...

Uththama Chola was not known to be a great warrior, but with the assistance of Rajaraja Chola, the Chola kingdom flourished under his rule.

However, it is known through inscriptions that at least from Uttama Chola's time, warriors were provided with waist coats of armor. Hence, one regiment was called Niyayam-Uttama-Chola-tterinda-andalakattalar. The so-called Uttama-Chola Madras Museum Plates, partly in Sanskrit and partly in Tamil, calls him madurai-konda which means that he won a war against the rulers of Madurai (Pandyas). Another interesting regiment near Thiruvotriyur (near modern Chennai) was called Senni-yeri-padai (fierce warlike army of Senni) giving reason to believe that Chennai existed even during that time. Chennai (சென்னை in Tamil), formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest metropolitan city. ...

Paluvettaraiyar Maravan Kandanar is noted as an important general during his reign-- he also served under Sundara Chola. Inscriptions say that he built the temple at Tiruttottam-Udaiyar at Mannupperumpaluvur in Kunrakkurram. His son Kumaran Maravan also served Uttama Chola.

Yet another chief Ambalavan Paluvurnakkan alias Vikramasola-Maharajan of Kuvalalam features during Uttama Chola's rule and continues into Rajaraja I's reign. An inscription says that he built the Srivimana of the temple in Govindaputtur.

Uttama Chola's queen were Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar, Kaduvettigal Nandippottairaiyar (probably a Pallava princess), and Siddhavadavan Suttiyar (related to Vikramasola-Miladudaiyar a prominent feudal king who ruled over Miladu part of present South Arcot District). An inscription notes that Sorabbaiyar Tribhuvana-Mahadeviyar contributed a gift for spiritual benefit of her servant Ilaichchiyan Malapadi.

As with most ancient Indian kings, Uttama Chola was religiously tolerant. Although a Saivaite (worshipper of Shiva), he also donated to temples dedicated for Vishnu especially to the Ullagaladar temple. He also granted large degrees of autonomy to his districts. He brought in best talent from other kingdoms. Kachipeedu (mordern Kanchipuram) is also mentioned as one of his prominent cities. He is known to have contributed money, cattle, sheep to temples in modern Kumbakonam, Thirunallam (modern Konnerirajapuram), Thiruvallarai, Thirupatturai, Thirunedugalam, Thiruvisalur, Thirunaraiyur, Thiruvalangadu, Thirukkodika, etc. Thiruvallarai, also spelled as Thiruvellarai, is a small temple town in Tamil Nadu, India. ...

Uttama Chola's mother was the illustrious Sembiyan Mahadeviyar. She was the pioneer who started the process of kalpani-- converting brick, mortar, and wooden structures into granite. She survived this king and lived on for another 16 years into the reign of Rajaraja I.

References

• Inscriptions of South India