Draft:Devapala's Expedition in South India

Devapala's Expedition in Daksiņāpatha (South India)
Date 810CE - 850 CE Location Tamil Nadu Result Pala empire victory Devapala defeats a hostile confederation consisting of the Pandyans, Gangas, Pallavas, Cholas, Kalingas, Magadhas and others.
Belligerents
Pala Empire Supported by Rashtrakuta dynasty	Pandyan dynasty Chola empire Pallavas Kalinga Ganga
Commanders and leaders
Devapala	Sri Mara Sri Vallabha
Strength
unknown	unknown

In his campaign in Southern India, Devapala the emperor of Pala empire defeated a hostile confederation consisting of the Pandyas, Gangas, Pallavas, Cholas, Kalingas, Magadhas and others.

Background

Identification of the Dravida king

"Dravida" is generally believed to be a reference to the Rashtrakutas (led by Amoghavarsha), but RC Majumdar believes that it may refer to the Pandyan king Sri Mara Sri Vallabha. However, there is no definitive record of any expedition of Devapala to the extreme south. In any case, his victory in the south could only have been a temporary one, and his dominion lay mainly in the north.

Among the adversaries whom Devapala humbled were Bhoja I, the king of the Gurjaras, the traditional rival of the Palas and of the Pandya ruler Srimara-Sriballabha, who has been referred to in the inscription as the king of Dravidas. There is enough indirect evidence to suggest a victorious campaign by Devapala in the extremely southern part of south India and other nations.