Kulottunga died in 1150. His son Rajaraja II was associated with the government of the kingdom even in 1146. Like his father’s reign period his also was generally peaceful. He patronised Tamil literature and bore the title Muttamilukku Talaivan. The growth in the power of the feudatories was a clear warning to the monarch.
But the king perhaps could not control this feudal tendency for autonomy and insubordination. Rajaraja Kadavarayan, a contemporary Kadava, styled himself the Lord of Kanchi. One of the generals of his times was Pallavaraya, who played a major military role under Rajadhiraja II.
Rajaraja II ruled from AD 1146 to AD 1173 and this includes the period of his joint rulership. His successor Rajadhiraja Ii began his reign from AD 1163 or AD 1166. This Rajadhiraja was not his predecessor’s son but was a grandson of Vikrama Chola on the distaff side even as Rajaraja II was Vikrama’s grandson on the spear side. The end of Rajaraja’s reign and the beginning of Rajadhiraja’s reign saw a great civil war being waged in the Pandyan country.