Magnates and their honours · The Hoysala kingdom of Veera Ballala II · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Pandyas of Uchchangi

A granite hill south of the Tungabhadra, the strongest natural position the Hoysalas own north of their home country.

The Uchchangi Pandyas held it for two centuries and were beaten by Ballala II (Wikipedia gives about 1171; the campaign board credits Vishnuvardhana). On 1 January 1200 it is a Hoysala fort in Nolambavadi, with a fallen or subordinate Pandya house.

Who he is

Name
Kavadeva (Kamadeva) of the Uchchangi family was beaten by Ballala II about 1171 (Wikipedia); no chief is pinned for 1200
Title
Pandya chief of Uchchangi
Since
not pinned
Born
not known
Family
A minor Pandya line, unrelated to the great Pandyas of Madurai, that held the Uchchangi hill for about two centuries
Confidence
low

Wikipedia (Veera Ballala II): first victory over Pandya king Kavadeva of the Uchchangi family about 1171.

Overlord

Veera Ballala II (since about 1171)

What it holds

  • Uchchangidurga and the country round it

How it was acquired

Hereditary until about 1171.

Allies and rivals

Hoysala overlords.

How things stand that morning

A Hoysala hill fort; the Pandya house subordinate or gone.

Wealth

Hill land.

Military

A hill fort.

Threats

  • None for the moment

Where the sources disagree

  • The campaign board entry says the minor Pandya line was beaten out by Vishnuvardhana; Wikipedia credits Ballala II in about 1171.

Evidence: One Wikipedia sentence.

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

Primary sources for Hoysala kingdom

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.

  • Epigraphia Carnatica: inscriptions of the Mysore country, Various (Hoysala chancery and temple scribes), edited by B. Lewis Rice and R. Narasimhachar (inscriptions of the 4th to 19th centuries; the series ran from 1886 to 1905, revised from 1972). The Hoysala kingdom of Veera Ballala II (reigning 1173 to 1220) is documented almost wholly by the inscriptions in this series, arranged by district and taluk with full English translations. Read online
  • Inscriptions of the Silaharas, Various (Silahara chanceries), edited by V. V. Mirashi (inscriptions of the 9th to 13th centuries; edited 1977). Collects the records of the three Silahara houses: North Konkan (Thana), South Konkan, and Kolhapur.
  • Sanskrit and Old Canarese Inscriptions relating to the Yadava Kings of Devagiri, Various (Yadava chancery), edited by J. F. Fleet (inscriptions of the 12th and 13th centuries; edited 1876). The first collected edition of the Yadava (Seuna) records, with texts and translations, from the Indian Antiquary. Read online
  • South Indian Inscriptions (Archaeological Survey of India), Various (Chola, Pandya and other chanceries and temple scribes), edited by E. Hultzsch, V. Venkayya, H. Krishna Sastri and successors (inscriptions of the 7th to 17th centuries; the series ran from 1890). The temple inscriptions printed here are the primary record of the Tamil country in 1200. Read online

Sources and studies

  1. Veera Ballala II, Wikipedia (read for this sheet)
  2. OMNIA board notes for the place (a lead, checked against the other sources)

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