Dukes · The Silaharas of Thana and Kolhapur · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Bhoja II (Kolhapur)

The independent-minded king of the upper Krishna valley, a Jain-friendly and Mahalakshmi-devout house that has outlived the Chalukya overlords it once acknowledged.

By about 1189, on the Veera Ballala II article, Bhillama V had failed to win recognition from Chalukya vassals such as the Silaharas; the Hoysala-Yadava war passes them by. He holds Kolhapur and the Mahalakshmi temple, the hill fort Panhala (where he is in court in 1191-92), Karad (the first Silahara seat), Miraj and the Panchganga country. Yadava overlordship is a claim, not a fact.

On the likely course he is overthrown by Simhana (readings: 1209-10, about 1216 or 1219-20).

Who he is

Name
Bhoja II
Title
Mahamandaleshvara of the Kolhapur Silaharas; lord of Tagarapura and Kolhapur
Since
1175 (Wikipedia's list gives 1175-1212; other readings in the same article run to 1220)
Born
not known
Family
Kolhapur branch of the Silaharas; Mahalakshmi is the family deity; the list's sequence makes him son of Vijayaditya I (1138-1175)
Confidence
medium

A Satara copper plate shows him holding court at Panhala in 1191-92 (Wikipedia, Panhala Fort). Tradition credits him with Panhala (built 1178-1209) and the Khidrapur temples (with Gandaraditya I).

What it holds

  • Kolhapur (Kshullakapura) with the Mahalakshmi temple, treasury and mint
  • Panhala hill fort (court in 1191-92)
  • Karad, first seat of the line (contested)
  • Miraj, Khidrapur and the Panchganga valley
  • The road from the Krishna valley down to the Konkan

How it was acquired

Succeeded Vijayaditya I in 1175 (Wikipedia list).

Allies and rivals

Rival: the Yadavas of Devagiri (claim over him); neighbours: the Rattas, the Kadambas of Goa, the Silaharas of Thana; the Hoysalas to the south.

How things stand that morning

A king in his own right; the Yadava claim is not enforced; his fall is twenty years off.

Military

Panhala and the scarp forts of the Ghat edge; no numbers.

Threats

  • Simhana's later Yadava armies
  • Hoysala movements on the Krishna

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 1209-10 (Panhala article), 1216 (Singhana II article: Bhoja flees to Panhala; annexation complete before 1217) or 1219-20 (Silhara article)Simhana defeats Bhoja II and annexes Kolhapur; the Yadava Tailana puts up a gate at the Ambabai temple in 1218.Depends on: Yadava success on the Krishna. Stopped by: A Hoysala or Goa alliance with Bhoja.

Places of note

  • Panhala: Hill fort; court of 1191-92.
  • Karad: First Silahara seat.

Where the sources disagree

  • Board 'kolhapur-kshullakapura' says Simhana dispossesses him 'about 1219 and 1220'; Wikipedia's three articles give 1209-10, 1216 and 1219-20. All later.
  • Board 'panhala-fort' says built between about 1178 and 1209 with a Satara plate of 1191-92: matches Wikipedia. The campaign board also has Bhoja's reign 'since about 1175': matches.

Evidence: Wikipedia's Silhara dynasty and Panhala Fort articles (read); the three dates for his fall disagree.

"The campaign board" is OMNIA's working map. These notes record where its earlier claims were checked against the sources.

Primary sources for Silaharas

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

Sources and studies

  1. Wikipedia: Silhara dynasty, Kolhapur branch (read this session)
  2. Wikipedia: Panhala Fort (read this session)
  3. Wikipedia: Simhana / Singhana II (read this session)
  4. Wikipedia: Veera Ballala II (read this session)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.