Rajendra III who succeeded Rajaraja III was the last of the Cholas. He was recognised as heir apparent in AD 1246 and slowly became the dominant factor in Imperial Chola politics. He was certainly abler than his predecessor.
He invaded the Pandyan country successfully defeating two Pandyas and avenging the defeat and humiliation to which his predecessor was subjected. He set the tradition of Chola emperor’s wearing two crowns, one Chola and the other Pandya. He was the last bright spark of a dying flame. He had to reconcile himself to the’ loss of even Kanchipuram which remained in the Telugu Choda kingdom till Jatavaraman Sundara Pandya reclaimed it.
This Pandya who came to the throne in AD 1251 became the ruler practically of two-thirds of South India. He levied tribute from the Cholas. In a pitched battle near Kannanur he defeated and killed Somesvara, the Hoysala emperor. He defeated the Telugu Chodas and crowned himself in Nellore.
His successor defeated Rajendra in i.e., about AD 1279 which was the last regnal year of that king. He died also around that year. Then the Chola country became part of the Pandyan Empire and we do not hear of a successor to Rajendra m.