The Castle of Chenonceau

The six women of the palace:

The present castle was built in 1513 has 1521 by Thomas Bohier, recipient of the finances under Charles VIII, Louis XII and François 1st.

Acquisition of Chenonceau by Bohier Balzac is a true tragedy.

The field is owned by the family of Marques whose dilapidations caused the ruin. Land is sold piece per piece. Bohier who threw his reserve Chenonceau, buy each of these pieces. The Lords of the manor feel cobwebs that weave itself around the palace, making a desperate effort to escape from it. After twenty years of struggle, is 1512, they must be recognized overcome Bohier surrender the castle for 12 500 pounds, and the fact shave, except keep. In the following year, in the animal a charming building is starting to increase, that the tourist has today under the eyes.

Chenonceau current thus in its history, an original feature: you could call it "the palace of the six women," points out the crucial role that its ladies manor played over 400 years.

Catherine Briçonnet, the batisse use a (beginning of the 16 S.).

Bohier married Catherine Briçonnet, Touran Gelle belongs to a family of large financial. Intrigued by his heavy and often after the armies of the Milanese, it can not follow the work of Chenonceau. It is Catherine who is the heart.

You feel out of place chosen for the castle in its distribution, a female influence and concerns housewife. Thus acidic first time, the parts are distributed on each side of a central hall which facilitates service widely. Similarly, this second innovation of Chenonceau: the staircase on the right, more practically inclined and better adapted to the entertainment than the spiral staircase.

Bohier dies in 1524 and Catherine two years later.

François 1: e will examine the accounts of his treasurer. It is found that it is indebted to the Treasury strong amounts. To pay this debt, his son abandons Chenonceau with the king then.

Diane de Poitiers, the always beautiful.

In 1547, Henri II, when they go up on the throne, it gives Chenonceau Diane of Poitiers. She is 20 years more than him, but the seduction is famous. "I saw it, writes a contemporary, in the age of 70 years (in fact, she died at age 67), also beautiful face and as comfortable as in the 30 years old. And especially, it was a great whiteness and without Fardig at all. But it is well said that every morning it is used by some bubble and other drugs, which I do not know. "

Widow of Louis de Breze, it made him travel a magnificent tomb in the cathedral in Rouen and always carries the colors black and white mourning. Its empire on Henri II as it does himself. Diane orders a beautiful garden and gives rise to a bridge that connects the palace to the other bank of expensive. She finds abundant resources in the tax on the 20 books per clock, which she receives a good share, which makes the king say to Rabelais hung all the bells of the kingdom to the collar of his jump.

Death of Henri II was killed in 1559 by Lance of Montgomery, a tournament favorite places an opposite Catherine de Medicis become regent. The queen, patient and dissimulated accepted the division, she will have her revenge. Diane is very attached to Chenonceau, Catherine knows she strikes her on the sensitive point by forcing it to bow to her in exchange of Chaumont. Death in the heart, the favorite one leaving edge of the animal, not just go to Chaumont and withdraw into the castle of Anet, where she dies seven years later.

Catherine de Medicis, the opulent one.

With a taste for art, Catherine de Medicis taste of ostentation and Chenonceau satisfied with one thing and another. She makes tracing a park to build a gallery on the bridge at the double floor, the creation of large common run.

Beautiful festivals follow one another, and the contemporary is filled with some surprise. There is that after the imposition of François 1st and Marie Stuart, that of Charles IX, which is even more brilliant. In the ditches bordering the alley of the palace of the young women dressed as sirens accommodate the visitors. Their catchy songs answer the nymphs of leaving the scrub. But the arrival of satyrs did fly away gracious troops. Meals, dances, masquerades, fireworks, naval action in the animal, not forgetting those with delight.

Henri III chairs a pastoral festival, which cost 100 000 pounds and really beautiful feeling "honest and damage of the naked right to be half and having their hair scattered as married, were recruited to serve with the girls from the Queen."

Louise Lorraine, the inconsolable one (late 16th C.).

Catherine bequeathed Chenonceau to her daughter-in-law Louise Lorraine, wife of Henri III. After the assassination of the king by Jacques Clement, prefer Louise with the palace, taking grief in white under the Royal brand and keeps it until the end of his life, from which the name "Queen or White Injury", which was given to her. Her room, her bed, blankets and chairs are tightened black velvet curtains black Damas ceilings wear crowns of the ramifications and "Cordelières" painted in white on a black background. Over eleven years, Louise, faithful to the matrimonial memory divides his time between voice, embroidery and reading.

Madam Dupin, friend of the letters (18th C.).

After Louise Lorraine, Chenonceau into a time is left until the moment when the ordinary farmer Dupin will own it.

Mrs. Dupin has a room to the where all the celebrities of the time Ravel. Jean-Jacques Rousseau is the mentor for her son. It is with the use of the latter that his treaty of training was made up: "Emile". In his "Confessions", he speaks with warmth about this happy time: "We had fun in this very beautiful place, made a very good expensive there, I y obese trolls as a monk."

Mrs. Dupin ages surrounded by the love of the villagers, thanks to what the palace, crossed the revolution without damage. According to her wishes, she was buried in the park.

Mrs. Pelouze, the amateur of old (19th C.).

In 1864 Mrs. buys Pelouze Chenonceau and indeed the restoration of the castle business in her life. She recreates it in the state where Bohier had left. Catherine de Medicis had changed the main facade, with a doubling of the windows, while placing them between the caryatids. The additional openings are stopped and caryatides transported to the park. A building added between the box and book is also removed.

The castle is currently the property of Meniere family.

Arrival at the palace

The arrival occurs at an excellent spawning of plane trees. Tourist who likes the play of imagination will be able to revive the construction of Charles IX in the medium of sirens, the nymphs and satyrs. You see, in retreat to the left, at the end of an alley, the old caryatides the facade. After passing between two sphinges, you see, right, runs common raised in Philihert Delorme.

Cross a drawbridge, one arrives at a terrace surrounded by ditches. On the left, with Italian gardens stretching from Diane of Poitiers in court, that of Catherine de Medicis, surrounded by large trees in the park. Draw on the terrace with the old castle of Marques changed by Bohier. His first here read: "TBK" (Thomas Bohier and Katherine). You will find them in the castle with its currency "If it comes at the right time, will remember". Direction of this currency is still somewhat mysterious. One can understand that if the building is completed, it will bear much of the memory from that which built it.

Castle

The castle consists of a rectangular main building with turrets with angles. It sat on the two piles of the old mill, which rests on the bed of the animal. There is on the left, projecting, bookshop and vault. On the bridge of the animal exceeds the gallery on two floors of Catherine de Medicis. This construction of Philibert Delorme is an already traditional sobriety, which stands in contrast to the aspect of the rich and gay, which gives the older, sculptures of balustrades, roof and ceiling windows.

On the ground floor, it's old room in the Guards paved majoliques them and decorated Flemish tapestries of the 16th C. In the vault, we notices a fine Virgin with Carrara marble Child (16th C.), the chambrede Diane of Poitiers preserves a fire place because of Jean Goujon, the green cabinet of Catherine de Medicis, a tapestry of the workshops of the Loire and various tables. The large gallery on the animal, the 60-meter-long, on the black pavement and white presents, embedded in medium in the ceiling, the old ceiling in the room of Louise of Lorraine. In the room of François Ier, paintings by Van Loo (three Graces) are exposed to Primatice (Diane of Poitiers as a Huntress). Hall triangulated with ribbed vaults. Always on the ground floor you can see a room that has a magnificent ceiling with French husband, works by Rubens (Jesus and Holy Jean), by Mignard, Natti (Mrs. Dupin), and a portrait of Louis XIV in the sumptuous frame.

Coming on 1st floor by the stairs with a right angle, as in France, was then a novelty. Hall, which presents tapestries Audenarde (scenes of hunting) and effigies of Roman emperors out of Carrara marble reported in Florence by Catherine de Medicis, one enters the room of Gabrielle d 'Estrées, in the space of honor (or the five Queens ), in that of Catherine de Medicis and the gallery, her ballroom, and subsequently in the local, César de Vendôme, all furnished and decorated beautiful tapestries.

Under one roof the little convent Nasturtium was installed, with drawbridge, there was concern on the evening of distinguishing nuns from the host of the palace.

Finally, do not forget to visit the park that will offer you on the edge of the animal, the very picturesque sights in the castle.

Sikh Empire

Ranjit Singh, Maharaja (1780 - 1839 AD), native Indian ruler, was born on 2 November 1780, son of Sirdar Mahan Singh, who succeeded him in 1792 as leader of Sukarchakia branch of Sikh Confederation. At birth he was just one of many Sikh barons and owed his rapid rise to full power, character and commitment. At the age of seventeen he took reins of government. He is said to have poisoned his mother, although it is more likely that he merely imprisoned her to keep her out of his way. At the age of twenty he from Zaman Shah, King of Afghanistan, a grant of Lahore, which he took by force of arms in 1799. Then he attacked and annexed Amritsar in 1802, thus becoming master of the two Sikhs capitals. When Jaswant Rao Holkar sought refuge in the Punjab in 1805, Ranjit Singh made a treaty with the British, except Holkar from his territory. Shortly after the acute problems arose between him and the British as to the Cis-Satledschs part of Punjab. It was Ranjit Singh's ambition is to weld the whole Punjab in a single Sikh empire, while the British claimed the territory south of Satledsch by right-clicking on the conquest of Mahrattas. The difference was almost to the point of the war, but at the last minute Ranjit Singh gave way, and for the future of faith-fully fulfilled its commitments with the British, whose growing power he was clever enough to measure. In 1808 Charles Metcalfe was sent to resolve this issue with Ranjit Singh and a treaty was concluded in Amritsar on the 15th april 1809th At this time a band of Sikh fanatics called "akalis attack" Sir Charles Metcalfe's escort, and the tension that disciplined Sepoy beat them, so impressed the Maharaja that he decided to alter the strength of his army from cavalry to infantry.

He organized a strong force that was trained by French and Italian officers as generals Ventura, Allard and Avitabile, and thus created the formidable fighting instrument Khalsa Army, who later gave the British their toughest matches in India in the two Sikh wars. In 1810 he captured Multan after many beatings and a long siege, and in 182o was consolidated throughout the Punjab between the Indus Satledsch and during his reign. In 1823 the city and province of Peshawar became tributary to him. In 1833, when Shah Shuja, flying from Afghanistan, took refuge at his court, he took him from the Koh-i-or diamond, which subsequently came into possession of the British Crown. Although he disapproved of Lord Auckland's policy to replace Shah Shuja of Dost Mahomed, he loyally supported the British in their advance on Afghanistan. Known as "The Lion of Punjab," Ranjit Singh died of paralysis at 27 jun 1839th In his private Ranjit Singh was selfish, greedy, drunken and immoral, but he was a genius for command and was the only man Sikh ever produced strong enough to bind them together. His military genius showed itself not so much in the generalship which to pursue its plans, the selection of his generals and his ministers, the tenacity of his purpose and reason of his conviction. The British were the one power in India, which was too strong for him, and once he realized that he indeed was steadfast and loyal to its commitments with them. His power was military aristocracy based on the personal qualities of its founder, and after his death Sikh Confederation gradually crumbled and fell to pieces through sheer lack of leadership and rule of Sikhs in Punjab gone quite as quickly as it incurred the hostility of the British.

Rajputs

According to Hindu mythology, the Rajput Rajasthan is descendants of the Kshatriyas or warriors of Vedic India. The emergence of Rajput warrior clans was in the 6th and 7 century. Rajput ancestry can be divided into two: the "sun" or suryavanshi-they are descended from Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana, and "Moon" or chandravanshi, who claimed descent from Krishna, the hero of the epic Mahabharata. Subsequent third clan was added that agnikula or fire-born, said to have arisen from the flames in a Offertyr fire at Mt Abu.

It is accepted that Rajput was divided into thirty-six races and twenty-one kingdoms. Rajput clans gave rise to dynasties like Sisodias of Mewar (Udaipur), the Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur), the Rathore of MARWARE (Jodhpur and Bikaner), the Hadas of Jhalwawar, Kota & Bundi, the Bhattis of Jaisalmer, the Shekhawats of Shekhawati and Chauhan of Ajmer.

The decrease in the Gupta empire, which held dominance in northern India for nearly 300 years until the early 5th century, was followed by a period of instability as various local chieftains sought to gain supremacy. Power rose and fell in northern India. Stability was only restored with the emergence of the Gurjara Partiharas, the earliest of the Rajput (from 'Rajputra', or Sons of Princes) dynasties which were later to hold the balance of power throughout Rajasthan.

The Rajput clans gave rise to dynasties such as Chauhan, Sisodias, Kachhwahas and Rathore. Chauhan of Agnikula Race emerged in the 12th century and were known for their heroism. Their territory included Sapadalksha empire that covered a large area, including day Jaipur, Ranthambore, part of Mewar, the western portion of Bundi district, Ajmer Kishangarh and even at a time, Delhi. Branches Chauhan also ruled territories know as Ananta (in present-day Shekhawati) and Saptasatabhumi.

The Sisodias of Suryavansa Tribe, originally from Gujarat, migrated to Rajasthan in the middle of the 7th century and reigned over Mewar, which included Udaipur and Chittorgarh. The Kachhwahas, originally from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, traveled west in the 12th century. They built the massive fort on Amber, and later moved the capital to Jaipur. Like Sisodias, they heard the Suryavansa Tribe. Also belongs Suryavansa Race, the Rathore (earlier known as Rastrakutas) rose from Kanauj, in Uttar Pradesh. Initially they settled in Pali, south of present-day Jodhpur, but later moved to Mandore in 1381 and ruled over MARWARE (Jodhpur). Later they began to build the fantastic Meherangarh (Continued) in Jodhpur. The Bhattis belonging to the Induvansa Race, driven from their homeland in Punjab by the Turks, installed themselves at Jaisalmer in the 1156th They remained more of less entrenched in their desert Kingdom until they were integrated in Rajasthan state after independence.

In spite of the Muslim rule up to the Punjab, the Rajput gained control of the heart of northern India. The Rajput who held the stage of feudal rulers before the coming of the Muslims were a brave and chivalrous race. The Rajput legend traces their ancestry to Bappa Rawal - the legendary founder of the race, which is said to have lived in the 8th century. In reality, although they were Kshatriyas in the Hindu caste system hierarchy, they seem to be genetically descended from Shaka and Hunas who had invaded northern India in the Gupta period and had subsequently settled in northern India, and because of their warlike attitudes and been absorbed as Kshatriyas into Hindu society. It is they who held the banner when the first Muslim invaders reached the Indian Heart Earth in the 12th century, i.e. around 1191 CE

The Rajput there until the 10th century was primarily local feudal lords the status of revenue collectors for their Gurjara-Pratihara lords, made themselves as independent rulers, after Ghaznavids storm had passed, and took over the former kingdoms of Gurjara-Pratiharas. The main Rajput kingdoms in the 11th and the 12th century was that of Cahamanas (Chouhans) in Eastern Punjab, Northern Rajasthan and Delhi. The Gahadwalas (Rathods) ruled the Ganges valley today's DP. The Paramaras ruled Malwa in central India and the Tomaras ruled from Gwaliar. The most powerful kingdoms were hose of Chouhans and Rathods - both of which unfortunately were incessantly at war with each other when the Muslim raiders came again in 1191 CE The Rajput, who was a brave and chivalrous race, held the stage of feudal rulers, before the coming of the Muslims.

The Gahadwalas (Rathods)

In the 11th century, i.e. in the post-Mahmud Ghazni era, the most powerful Hindu Kingdom in northern India was that of the Gahadwalas or Rathods there was a Rajput clan. The founder of the Gahadwala line was Chandradeva whose son Govindchandra Gahadwala was the most famous ruler of this line. Govindchandra was a wise king and ruled from Kannauj. Most of northern India, including the university town of Nalanda was a part of his kingdom. He stoutly defended his kingdom from further Muslims incursions. He instituted a tax for that purpose, which was called Turushka Danda (i.e. tax to combat Turushkas or Turks). His grandson was Jaichandra Gahadwala (Rathod) who played a tragic role in Indian history.

The Rajput Resistance to Muslim rule - Man Singh Tomar

Despite the imposition of Muslim rule in Delhi and UP (Uttar Pradesh) in the former kingdoms Prithiviraj Chauhan and Jaichand Rathod, the Muslim conquerors never exceeded the entire country. The Rajput dynasties as Tomaras of Gwaliar and Ranas of Mewad still continued to rule central India. Such a Rajput ruler you were Singh Tomar king of Gwaliar. Mon Singh put a stout resistance to the Lodis and he succeeded in halting the Muslim ruler Sikandar Lodi's southward in March at Gwaliar. While the Tomaras Gwaliar held back by the Muslims from advancing to Malwa, the Ranas of Mewad held the banner of Indian independence from Mewad in these trying times of Muslim aggression in India. In South Rajasthan especially Rajput had defiantly preserved their writ of summons to resist Delhi sultans. The center of this Rajput resistance was the kingdom at Chittor.

Maharana Pratap

Udai Singh's son was Maharana Pratap as head Rajput against Akbar's armies and preserved Rajput rule in Mewad. Rana Pratap was faced with the formidable challenge of renegade Rajput princes like Raja Todar Mon Mal and Raja Singh, who had joined forces with the Muslim rulers.

Battle of Haldighati

At the Battle of Haldighati fought between Maharana Pratap and Mughal, Rajput it was unable to overcome the combined strength of Mughal and the renegade Rajput princes who had acted as traitors. But Maharana Pratap who was badly wounded in battle, was saved by his wise horse Chetak, who took him in an unconscious state away from the battle scene. Although Maharana Pratap was not able to resist Muslims successfully, the saga of Rajput resistance to Muslim rule continued until the 17th century when the baton of the struggle for Indian Independence from Muslim tyranny was taken up by the next Maratha power, which brought about an end to Muslim domination in India.

According to the Rajput bards the Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or 'fire sprung' tribes who were created by the gods in the anali kund or 'fountain of fire' on Mount Abu to fight Asura or demons. Chauhan is also one of the 36 (Royal) ruling races of the Rajput.

Chauhan dynasty flourished from the 8th to 12 century AD. It was one of the four main Rajput dynasties of that era, the others being Pratiharas, Paramaras and Chalukyas. The Chauhan dominated Delhi, Ajmer, and Ranthambhor. They were also prominent at Sirohi in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Bundi and Kota in the east. Inscriptions also associate them with Sambhar, the Salt Lake area in the Amber (later Jaipur) district. Chauhan policy was largely campaigns against the Chalukyas and the invading Muslim hordes. In the 11th century they founded the city Ajayameru (Ajmer) in the southern part of their empire, and in the 12th century captured Dhilika (the old name of Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some of their territory along the Yamuna River. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted the Muslim attack in the First Battle of TARAIN (1191). Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar assisted him. However, Prithviraj was defeated in another battle at Tarain the following year. This failure ushered Muslim rule in northern India in the form of the slave dynasty, the first of the Delhi Sultanates.

Qutub Shahi Dynasty

In 1463, riots broke out in the Telangana area of Bahamani kingdom of Deccan. Sultan Quli Qutbul Mulk, a Turk who was a senior officer under Muhammad Shah Bahamani, was sent to defeat the trouble. He was a success and was rewarded by being made Subedar of Telangana in 1495, with Golconda as his head-quarters. Later, with the dissolution of Bahamani Kingdom in the early 16th century took the Sultan Quli virtual independence. Thus he founded the Qutub Shahi dynasty, which lasted from 1518 up until 1687, when Aurangzeb's armies swept Deccan.

This dynasty lasted 171 years in the history of South India. The eight kings of this royal line has left a strong impression of their strong personalities on the country and its people. The Qutub Shahi rulers were great builders and patrons of learning. They have not only visited the Persian culture, but also the regional culture in the Deccan, symbolized by the Telugu language and the newly developed Deccani idiom.

Qutub Shah 1: SULTAN QULI QUTBUL Mulk: The founder of the Qutub Shahi kingdom did much to strengthen and improve the capital Golconda. He embellished his fortress capital of mosques, palaces and gardens. Based on the old mud fort Sultan Quli built a massive citadel. This city by the name Muhammad Nagar, soon grew rapidly and gained a reputation as one of the leading cities in the east, known for its trade in diamonds and jewels. Sultan Quli's subjects thought much of him, and he covered a friendly, well. But at age 99, died at the hands of the king's own son Jamsheed Quli.

Qutub Shah 2: JAMSHEED QULI QUTUB SHAH: Jamsheed, the third son, took the reins of government with blood stained hands. His seven year reign was marked by popular anger over his patricide. However, Jamsheed Quli trained and loved poetry. He died in 1550 of the incurable disease.

Qutub Shah 3: Subhan QULI QUTUB SHAH: was 7 years old when he became the sultan of Golconda, after the death of his father Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah in 1550 AD. Saif Khan, also known as "Ainul Mulk" was sent from Ahmednagar to the performance of his duties as regent during the boy's development. Subhan died the same year, and his father's brother Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah ascended the throne.

Qutub Shah 4: IBRAHIM QULI QUTUB SHAH: The youngest son of Sultan Quli Qutub Shah, Ibrahim lived in exile as an honored quest of the Raja of Vijayanagar. It was during this sojourn that he learned to love Telugu and talk almost like his second mother tongue. When he ascended the throne, Ibrahim patronized and encouraged learning and writing Telugu so few Muslim or non-Muslim rulers had done before him. Poets from across the Deccan converged on Ibrahim's court.

During his reign, Golconda was further strengthened. Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah invited his nobles to build buildings within the walls, mosques, schools, alms houses, and dam of the Hussain Sagar, Budwel and Ibrahimpatnam were all in his honor. Besides, Ibrahim was known for his able administration.

Qutub Shah 5: Muhammad QULI QUTUB SHAH: It was during the long, peaceful and prosperous reign of the fifth king Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, the Qutub Shahi dynasty reached its peak. Muhammad Quli was crowned king, then only 15 years. He is best remembered as the great planner and founder of the city of Hyderabad. According to popular myth, was king in love with a dancer called Bhagmati belonging to a small village Chichelam where the famous Charminar now stands. He found Bhagnagar to perpetuate his love for her that the name of the town was changed by the king to Hyderabad. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, and patronized Ibrahim, and urged the Telugu language as much as he did Arabic and Persian. He was himself an accomplished poet in Telugu and promoted local traditions and rituals. He was also the creator of the first Deccani poetry.

Muhammad Quli was almost 48 when he died in 1612 after a fairy long reign of 32 years. He was a humane and just king, besides being a great builder and man of letters. Hayath Bakshi Begum was his only daughter, who was married to his nephew and successor, Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah.

Qutub Shah 6: SULTAN MUHAMMAD SHAH QUTUB: nephew and son-in-law of Muhammad Quli, Sultan Muhammad ascended the throne as the sixth Qutub Shah. A well versed scholar, he was a deeply religious temperament and was a connoisseur of good books. The Qutub Shahi chronicles were completed during his reign. He further contributed to the architectural results of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The basis of the main mosque Mecca Masjid, was placed under his reign in the 1617th He also began construction of the building of Sultan Nagar. These projects were not completed in his lifetime.

Qutub Shah 7: QUTUB ABDULLAH SHAH: Son of Sultan Muhammad, Abdullah ascended the throne at the age of 12, his mother managed the kingdom until he reached maturity. He lived a life of joy and lightness. Although the Kingdom was extended during his reign, it came under Mughal pressure in the 1636th Golconda was attacked in 1656, and consequently had heavy compensation to be paid. He died on 1 maj 1672nd

Qutub Shah 8: Abul Hasan TANA SHAH: Abul Hasan, also known as Tana Shah, was Abdullah Qutub Shah's son-in-law. He proved an able ruler and a proponent of the view of the Mughal maybe. He is remembered as a benign and tolerant king, who placed his people prosperity and welfare above everything else.

Tana Shah was the last king of Golconda. During his rule, Mughal emperor seized the fortress of Golconda Aurangazeb for a period of 8 consecutive months. In 1687, Mughal finally stormed the fortress after the gates were opened by a traitor. Abul Hasan was captured. He was held captive until at Bidar and then Daulatabad (Aurangabad), where he died in prison after 12 years in captivity. January Sapar Khan, one of the nobles of Aurangazeb, accompanied Abul Hasan up to Daulatabad. He was later made governor of the Deccan kingdom Aurangazeb.

Pandyan Kingdom

The Pandya was one of the three small Dhravidian races that occupied the southern end of India. Around 700 BC, the Dhravidians have penetrated in S. India and organized themselves into distinguished society. Titles such as Solan, Pandiyan and Kerala shows the existence of such a society. Early Pandyan Kingdom covered a large part of modern Madura and Tinnevelly district during the 1st century AD. Their original capital was Kolkoi (at Thambraparny River Tinnevelly) and later at Madura. Ashokan edict of 3 BC denominator of Pandya. Kongu Ratta inscription of the early 5th century AD registered with the conflict in Pandya Kongu Ratta. Not much is known about Pandya then onwards until the 7th century AD. Chéra, possibly remained allied with Pandya for a greater period than Chola. Dependence of Chola and Cheras allowed them to continue with the free movement and trade along Sri Lanka. Around 940 AD, the Chola reduced Rajaraja Pandya a condition of tributary dependence and the position continued in the next two centuries. After Chola dominance took Madura Sultans, Vijayanagara Rayas, Nayakas of Madura, Nawab of Arcot's turn to reign when the powerful Pandyan Kingdom. Pandya was limited to minor areas of Tinnevelly district. In the late 16th century, the Pandya dynasty disappeared from the Indian scene once and for all.

Madhurapuri (Madurai) grew and prospered to become the capital Pandyan Kingdom. It is mentioned in Ramayana and Kautily `s Arthashastra. Megasthenes (302 BC), Pliny (77 AD) and Ptolemy (140 AD) wrote of "Madura, Pandian Kingdom." Macro Polo visited Madurai in 1293 AD, and Ibn Batuta in 1333 AD. Madurai lies on the banks

Dynasty extended its power to Kerala (south India) and Sri Lanka during the reigns of kings Kadungon (ruled 590-620), Arikesar Maravarman (670-700), Varagunamaharaja I (765-815), and Srimara Srivallabha (815-862). Pandya influence peaked in Jatavarman Sundara's reign 1251-1268. After Madurai was invaded by troops from the Delhi sultanate in 1311, fell in just Pandya local rulers.

The early Pandyan dynasty Sangam literature went into obscurity during the invasion Kalabhras. Dynasty revived under Kadungon the beginning of the 6th century, pushed Kalabhras out of the Tamil country and ruled from Madurai. They again went into decline with the rise in Chola in the 9th century and was in constant conflict with them. Pandya allied themselves with the Sinhalese and Kerala in harass Chola empire until they found an opportunity to revive their fortunes in the late 13th century. Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (approximately 1251) expanded their empire in the Telugu country and invaded Sri Lanka to conquer the northern half of the island. They also had extensive trade relations with Southeast Asian maritime empires of Srivijaya and their successors.

Pallavas

Pallava, pastoral tribe emerged as a powerful ruler and commanded region of thondaimandalam. its capital located in Pallavapuri (Bhavatri, of Nellore in the Andhra). They were of the sect "Thiraiyar" and the region they said was called "Thondaimandalam". In the capital, washed away by the sea due to natural disaster, they moved down to Kanchipuram and settled there, once and for all to establish amore powerful kingdom with its territory even to consume as northern Orissa, Tanjore and Trichi. Kanchipuram became their new home. Even classical writings talking about Pallava, there is no specific mention of any Pallava rulers's name. But the excavation conducted by the Indian archeological department revealed the earliest possible reign dated back to 1st and 2nd century AD. The earliest known coinagein lead issued by the then Pallav could be dated between 3rd and 4 century AD. Around4th century AD, Pallava Ikshvakus defeated and occupied country as far as the River Krishna. Allahabad inscription throws light on a ruler Hastivarman of Vengi's defeat to Samudraguptain the 4th century. Copper plate in the middle of 4th century, spoke of the Pallava grants in Andhra by Siva Skandavarman.

During the 5th century Pallava expanded very quickly and even crossed the river Krishna and occupied Bellary, Sorth and South Arcot, Trichirapalli, Chengalpet and part of Tanjore too. In late 500 AD, the area came in possession of Simha Vishnu, and he was the founder of the Pallava dynasty. He fought several wars and the empire enjoyed prosperity. After his death, his son succeeded Mahendravarman. He was alearned man, he began working in the cave temple at Mahabalipuram. Chalukya Pulkesi-II taught about wealth Kanchi and attack the kingdom to defeat Mahendravarma. Mahendravarman died a broken man with insult. His son Narasimhavarman was a man of tact and intelligence. Now came the worst part. Pulekisin II, the great ruler chalukya learned about wealth kanchi and wanted to capture it. He came with a large army and defeated Mahendravarman on Pullalur in 620 AD It was a great insult to the Pallava and Mahendravarman in particular. It destroyed his health. His further attempts to take revenge in a series of battles with Pulikesin in the northern part of Tamilnadu were all in vain. All went in vain and he died a broken man in 630 AD

Narasimhavarman ascended the throne in 630 AD, and swore to avenge the insult done tohis father as Chalukyas. With tremendous strength and tact he defeated Pulikesi II inthe Battle of Manimangalam and Pariyalam year 632 AD. He completely burned thecapital city Pulakesi. A man with well built physics was a great wrestler too. He had a title "Mamalla" behind him, and maybe this could be Rasŏn whyMahabalipuram called Mamallapuram?? Badami remained in his control until 655 AD till Vinayaditya restored back to the Chalukya kingdom.

Narasimhavarman closed cave temples of Mahabalipuram and produced immense number of temples. The Pallava dynasty was not to peak under that ruler ever. Butthe successors failed to secure the area until the Chola took their toll in 9thcentury. The greatest dynasty thus saw its end once and for all.

Chalukya Dynasty

The Chalukyas were dominant power in the Deccan in 6th to 8 century AD. And again during the 10th century AD, they regained their power and ruled till 12 century. The Chalukyas who ruled from Badami were the Western Chalukyas. Those who ruled from Kalyani is listed as later Western Chalukyas and the Chalukyas of Vengi is known by historians as the Eastern Chalukyas. The legendary story Chalukyas doing their origin very controversial.

They claimed descent from Pulakesin I (reigned 543-566), who established himself at Badami (in Bijapur) and claimed their independence at the decline of Satavahana empire and quickly became known during the reign Pulakesin II (King 609642). The Early Chalukyas power in northern Karnataka from the 6th century until 757, and were rivals to the Pallava. Vengi (in East Andhra Pradesh) became the center of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, who reigned from 624 to 11th century, survives fall to early Chalukyas of Badami. The Late Chalukyas prevailed in the Deccan about 973, centered at Kalyani. The story of Kalyani Chalukya empire was largely one of war with the Chola and defense against incursions of Turks and Arabs, which was plundered northern India. Empire collapsed in the 1189th

EASTERN CHALUKYAS :

This dynasty was a branch of the Chalukyas of Badami. Pulakesin II, the famous ruler Chalukyas conquered Vengi (near Eluru) in AD624 and installed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana (AD624 - 641) as his regent. His dynasty, known as the Eastern Chalukyas ruled for almost four centuries. Vishnuvardhana extended his possessions up to Srikakulam in the north and Nellore in the south. He was succeeded by his son Jayasimha I (AD641 - 673). Between AD641 and AD705 some kings, except Jayasimha I and Mangi Yuvaraju, (AD681 - 705) ruled for short duration. Then followed a period of turmoil marked by family feuds and weak rulers. Meanwhile, deposed Rashtrakutas dairy Chalukyas of Badami. The weak rulers Vengi had to face the challenge of the Rashtrakutas who exceeded their kingdom more than once. There was no Eastern Chalukya ruler who could control them until Gunaga Vijayaditya came to power in AD848. He also failed to clear the Rashtrakutas and then Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha treated him as his allies. After Amoghavarsha death Vijayaditya proclaimed independence. He started a campaign against the South and achieved some notable success. He reigned for 44 years and passed away in A.D.892. He was succeeded by his brother's son, Chalukya Bhima (AD892 - 921). Rashtrakutas again attacked Vengi kingdom during this period, but were repulsed effectively by Vengi and came to an understanding with Rashtrakutas and treated them as his allies. They were able to maintain their independence until the Chalukyas of Kalyani in AD973 overthrew Rashtrakutas. Simultaneous with the Eastern Chalukyas were the Eastern Ganga in the north and south of Pallava.

Among the minor Chalukya families that ruled parts of Andhra, the Vemulavada (presently in Karimnagar district) are the most important. Their rule extended over today Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts. As subordinate rulers loyal to Rashtrakutas, they ruled with semi-independent status for about two centuries (AD755 - 968). The rule Vemulavada Chalukyas coincided with that of the Rashtrakutas.

British India

The first Europeans to establish roots in India, since the fall of the Roman Empire was Protuguese. Led by Vascoda Gama's landing at Calicut in 1498, they established themselves along the Malabar Coast, trading with the rest of the subcontinent then. (The Portuguese retained some farms in India, as late as in 1961.)

In 1600, the British East India Company was granted the right to a monopoly on trade with India. While its primary goal was to obtain spices from Indonesia (East Indies), the necessary goods to trade for spices. The good they wanted was cotton, and they got it from India. In 1612, the English won a match against the Portuguese. Because of this victory, they were able to win the right to trade and establish factories in India from the Mughal emperor. Because the Dutch controlled the East Indies, the English focused all their attention to India. The company traded for silk, sugar and opium, among other products.

In 1664, launched by the French finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French equivalent of the English East India Trading Company. The French had a few cities like Pondicherry and Chandernagore, and gradually expanded their trade. By 1740, but its sales were only half those of the English East India Company. The Danish, Austrians, Swedes, and Prussians all tried unsuccessfully to get a piece of the action in India.

The British and French Battle for Control of India (1740 - 1761 AD) :

When Frederick II of Prussia seized Silesia in 1740, France with him, the British in Austria. As a result of this, The War of Austrian Succession War, the British decided that France's power in India was too big to stand alone. After the French quickly cornered English in a naval battle, a treaty was signed trade Madras to Cape Breton in North America.

Relations between the British and French deteriorated as each became mired in local Indian politics. After the nizam, a major Mughal noble and power-broker died, the French were using this time to choose sides in a dispute about who would be Karnatic Nawab (Governor). (Karnataka was a dependancy of the nizam. The nizam chose a Nawab in 1743, but rivals for the Nawab-ate were not met. Is that clear? Good.) France chose Chanda Sahib and the Nawab Jang Salabat the nizam. The British, not to be outdone, responded by saying that Muhammad Ali (the Indian, not boxer) should Nawab.

The Nawab-ship was not so important, but it did a good excuse for a war. The British / Muhammad Ali, led by Robert Clive, gained control of Arcot (the capital of Karnataka) in 1751, and the French / Chandra Sahib was forced to encircle the 1752nd

Peace and quiet reigned for. . . four years. Then began the seven Years War in Europe in 1756, and the British and French in India was at it again. The British, with their naval superiority, won victories in Bengal, in Madras, on Pondicherry, and Wandiwash. The French surrendered the second time in the 1761st

The Rise of the British East India Company (1761 - 1857 AD) :

In 1786, Lord Cornwallis was British governor of India. He reinforced the Sepoy armies, the East India Company had raised. Also under Cornwallis and his successor Lord Wellesley, the British slowly extended their holdings. In 1813, was the monopoly of the English East India Company was broken and all British citizens were allowed to trade with India. Over the next 30 years, the British continued to acquire new land and to strengthen their grip on those already under their control.

From 1838 until 1857, but the British were weakened by the failure of their attempt to keep Russia out of Afghanistan. The defeat of the British in the first Afghan war caused the Indians to be aware that the British were not invincible. However, continued British to annex more Indian territory across the 1850th

The British also aggravated the Hindu population in India during this period. They made English instead of Persian, the official language. The prohibited suck (where Hindu widows throwing themselves on their husbands' funeral pyres) and infanticide. They also have the option of Hindu widows to remarry and sanctioned missionary activity.

Sepoy Rebellion (1857 - 1859 AD) :

The growing Indian discontent with British rule broke out on 10 march 1857th The Sepoy, who were Indians trained by the British as soldiers, have heard rumors that the cartridges for their new Enfield rifles were greased with lard and beef fat. Since the cow is sacred to Hindus, and the pig is abhorrent to Muslims, all Sepoy was shocked, and they mutinied. Although initially the mutiny was spontaneous, it quickly became more organized and Sepoy took over the cities Delhi and Kanpur.

This mutiny was brutally crushed by the British. 20. September 1857, the British recaptured Delhi and in the following months, the British recaptured Kanpur and Sepoy withstood a siege of Lucknow. The British victory was accompanied by widespread accusations, and in many cases, were unarmed Sepoy bayonetted, sown up in carcasses of pigs and cows, or fired from cannons.

The British Take Control (1859 -1885 AD) :

On 2 August 1858, adopted the British Parliament the Government of India Act. This action transferred Authority to India from East India Company to Queen Victoria. In 1876 Queen Victoria declared himself "Empress of India." In 1869 the Suez Canal was completed, reducing the time for a sea passage to India from 3 months to 3 weeks. Because of this, British women began to come to India and the British developed their own society in India, apart from the indigenous community. A second effect of the opening of the Suez Canal was that more and more British goods imported into India, which effectively destroys many Indian handicrafts. By the late nineteenth century, around 90% of the Indian population was peasants. This figure was even higher at the beginning of the century. Despite this, however, an increasing number of factories, railways, hospitals, schools, and roads were built.

The incipient Indian Nationalism (1885 - 1919 AD) :

In 1885, it was mainly Hindu Indian National Congress established with the objective to achieve national self-determination. In 1906 it was joined on stage by the Muslim League. Many Indian scientists and journalists began to call for Indians to take more pride in their own history and in their own products. The Congress consisted mainly of upper middle class Indians: lawyers, journalists, businessmen and professors. Congress was generally ignored by the British, but it quickly gained popular support among Indians.

In 1905, the British divided Bengal state. This triggered large protests and attracted many millions more people to the nationalist movement. The Muslim League, on the other hand, continued to support the British. British reform efforts were put on hold during World War I. When the war ended, India fell into a deep depression.

The End of the Empire (1919 - 1947 AD) :

Situations in India took a turn for the worse in 1919, when Britain passed Rowlatt Acts. Both Hindu and Muslim leaders protested these actions. The protests were especially hard in the state of Punjab. On 13 April 1919, around 20 thousand unarmed men, women and children gathered in a public place in Punjab's capital to protest these acts. British general R.E.H. Dyer brought 50 soldiers for a time, and out of place. Without warning, he ordered soldiers to shoot into the crowd. In the next 15 minutes, 1650 shots were fired. Around 400 people were killed and another 1,200 wounded received no medical attention. Dyer said later that if he had had more ammunition, he would have continued to fire.

This massacre caused Mahatma Gandhi and other nationalist leaders to stop all cooperation with the British. The strategy for achieving independence was to boycott all British goods, schools, courts, and elections. Despite Gandhi's efforts, however, he was unable to gain widespread Muslim support for his efforts. By early 1921, it became clear that the Hindu and Muslim groups were on separate paths. During the Second World War, while, for example, the Hindu Congress refused to support the British, war efforts were still supported by the Muslim League. In March 1914 the Muslim League called for a separate Muslim state in India. After the Second World War, the British minister of India formed a committee aimed at resolving the conflict between Congress and the Muslim League and to provide authority for India for a single Indian authorities. In 1947 the British Parliament adopted a law establishing the Hindu majority country, India and the Muslim majority country of Pakistan. At midnight on 14 August 1947, these were two independent countries, ending imperial rule in India.

Bhimbetka

A total of 750 caves scattered over a 10x4 km area. Caves depict paintings belonging to the Paleolithic (10,000 BC), Mesolithic (5,000 BC) and Chalcolithic (2000 BC) periods.

The most famous cave is Rock Zoo, where you can see the paintings back to 10,000 BC made with limestone and also some paintings made between 5000 years and 7000 years ago with vegetable colors and iron. Zoo Rock shows a selection of animals from horses, elephants and buffalo from the antelopes. There is a clear difference in paintings made of 10,000 BC, and those made in 5000 BC. It makes one wonders if the animals themselves developed or was it that man has just been a better artist. There are also caves that depict paintings by mans daily life thousands of years ago. You have paintings showing dancing and other group showing hunting scenes.
Some caves are paintings dating back to 2000 BC. Here is the man displayed clothes and weapons are more sophisticated. The paintings have also improved. For example, while the horse was viewed as nothing more than line drawings in 10,000 BC paintings, a horse, painted in 2000 BC.The superimposition of paintings shows that the same canvas was used by different people at different times. The drawings and paintings can be classified under seven different periods:

Period I - (Upper Paleolithic): These are linear representations, in green and dark red, with large numbers of animals such as bisons, tigers and rhinos.

Period II - (Mesolithic): Relatively small in size, the stylized figures in this group show linear decoration on the body. Besides animals, there are human figures and hunting scenes, giving a clear picture of the weapons they used: barbed spears, pointed sticks, bows and arrows. Portrayal of communal dances, birds, musical instruments, mother and child, pregnant women, women with animal carcasses, drinking and burials appear in rhythmic movement.

Period III - (Chaleolithic): Like the paintings of Chaleolithic pottery, these drawings show that during the period the cave residents in this area had come into contact with the farming communities of the Malwa plains and started an exchange of their claims against each other.

Period IV & V - (Early Historic): The figures in this group have a schematic and decorative style, and are painted mainly in red, white and yellow. The association is of riders, depiction of religious symbols, tunic-like dresses and the existence of scripts of different periods. The religious affiliations are represented by numbers from yakshas, tree gods and magical sky chariots.

Period Vl & VLL - (Medieval): These paintings are geometric, linear and more schematic, but they show degeneration and crudeness in their artistic style.

The colors used by the cave dwellers were prepared by manganese, hematite, soft red stone and wooden coal. Sometimes the fat of animals and extracts of leaves were also used in mixture. The colors have remained intact for many centuries because of the chemical reaction resulting from the oxide on the surface of rocks.

Aryans Peoples History

Around 1500 BC, groups of warlike people left their homes in central Asia, perhaps in the vicinity of the Caucasus mountains, and came to India. These people called themselves Arya (or noble kinsmen). They are now known as Aryans. Aryans are said to have entered India through the fabled Khyber Pass, around 1500 BC. They mixed with the local population, and assimilated themselves into the social framework. They adopted the standard agricultural lifestyle of their predecessors, and established small farming communities communities across the state of Punjab. When the Aryans arrived in India, they found people with an advanced civilization living there. These people called Dravidians, lived in cities and grew crops. Aryans eventually conquered the Dravidians and drove some of them south. Finally, the Aryans extended their domination over India, except the south.

Arias tend sheep, goats, cows and horses. They measured their wealth in herds of cattle. Over time, the Aryans settled in villages. Each village or group of villages led by a bully and advice. Aryans are believed to have brought with them the horse, developed sanskrit language and made significant inroads into the religious fold. All three factors were to play a crucial role in shaping Indian culture. Cavalry warfare facilitated the rapid spread of Aryan culture across northern India, and allowed the emergence of large empires. Sanskrit is the basis and the unifying factor in the vast majority of Indian languages.

Aryans were not a script, but they developed a rich tradition. They consist of hymns of the four VEDAS, the great philosophical poems that are the core of Hindu thought. As Nobel Prize winner, Rabindranath Tagore expressed it, "hymns are a poetic testament of a people's collective reaction to the wonder and awe of existence .... A nation of vigorous and unsophisticated imagination awakened by the dawn of civilization to a sense of inexhaustible mystery which is implicit in life. "

A solid lifestyle brought in its wake more complex forms of public and social patterns. This period was the evolution of the caste system, and the emergence of kingdoms and republics. The events described in the two great Indian epic, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, is believed to have happened around this period. (From 1000 to 800 BC).

Aryans were divided into tribes that had settled in different areas of northwestern India. Tribal chiefmanship became hereditary, though the chief usually operated by means of advice from either a committee or the entire tribe. With job specialization, the internal division of the Aryan society evolved caste lines. Their social framework was composed mainly of the following groups: the Brahmana (priests), Kshatriya (warriors), Vaishya (corn growers) and Shudra (workers). It was early, a division of the business, and as such it was open and flexible. Much later, caste status and the corresponding occupation came to depend on birth, and switch from one caste or occupation to another became far more difficult.