There was strictly speaking no rigid system of succession to the throne. Primogeniture was generally accepted but violation of that principle was also quite common.

After Aditya I, when Parantaka succeeded him it looked as if the principle was acted upon; when Gandaraditya followed Rajaditya (who died as crown prince) it looked like a change in the order whereby a younger brother succeeds his elder on the throne; but when Arinjaya succeeded Gandaraditya it was surely a case of usurpation since the latter’s son was overlooked.

But when government passed from Arinjaya to Sundara Chola and from the latter to crown prince Aditya II it was a case of confirmation of usurpation. When Rajaraja I assumed rovalty after Uttama Chola and ignored the latter’s son Madurantaka Gandaraditya it was a case of might being recognised as right.

In any case when Adhirajendra was succeeded by Kulottunga I it was a clear case of usurpation since Kulottunga did not conquer the kingdom before his accession nor did he have a civil title to the throne. Tfc; was a practice in the Chola royal family by which the crown prince was anointed crowned as joint ruler; from that moment of coronation the prince who jointly ruled deemed to have become king. His regnal period was calculated from that day so sovereignty was nearly equally divided between the reigning king and his heir apparent!

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The Chola kings assumed a number of titles of which parakesari and rajakesari were’1 more important. It is held that these titles alternated. Vijayalaya, the founder, was a par ok this principle of alternation was also allowed to suffer if an heir apparent succeeded king and if a crown prince had predeceased both.

For example, Rajendra II was a par His son Rajamahendra the crown prince who predeceased his father was a rajakesari. Successor Virarajendra was also a rajakesari. Earlier to this we have the instance of Paran I being a parakesari, Rajaditya the crown prince a rajakesari and his successor Gandara “being a rejakesari again. From this it looks as if when a crown prince assumes one of the titles and predeceases his father the title he assumes will be treated as if it had not b assumed.

The kings assumed other titles also, for example, Arunmoli assumed the ti Rajaraja, Rajendra II Eastern Chalukya assumed the title Kulottunga. Further Parantaka! Was Maduraikonda, Rajaraja was Mummudi Chola, Rajendra I was Gangaikonda ar Kadaramkonda.

Further, titles like Virapandyan Talaikonda. Were also assumed. Rajaraja! Instituted the system of prefixing historical introductions called prasastis to the inscripti of his times. In these introductions the political and military achievements were record though in exaggerated language. These prasastis have been very helpful to modern hisUr! in reconstructing Chola history.