Veera Ballala II - Initial Years of Rule

Initial Years of Rule

During his early rule in 1178 Ballala II captured Hanagal and tried to reach Belvola where he faced defeat against the Kalachuri. Bijjala Kalachuri had occupied the Kalyani, capital of the Western Chalukyas king, Tailapa III between 1155-1158 AD and was still ruling in 1168 AD before his death. 'Three of his sons ruled in quick succession up to 1183, but none of them had the ability to turn Bijjala's usurpation to good account, though they continued to war against the Hoysalas under Veera Ballala II', 'and met with some initial successes'. The skirmishes and setbacks to Veera Ballala II against the Kalachuris happened during the period 1175-1183 AD. In subsequent years, Veera Ballala II once again pressed his claims over these northern territories. He captured Balligavi from the Kalachuri and defeated Chalukya Somesvara IV in 1187. He won a comprehensive victory against the Seuna Bhillama V at Soraturu in 1190 and gained much material and land gains from the victory. An inscription dated 1196 claims he had reached as far north as Kaliburgi (Gulbarga). He certainly had full control over lands up to the Krishna River. However by 1212 it seems some of his gains were lost due to southern incursions of Senua King Singhana II. Singhana-II resumed the war against Veera Ballala II a few years after his accession in 1210 and was assisted by the Kadambas of Konkan and other feudatories who had been resisting Veera Ballala II already for some years. As a result of Singhana-II's campaigns, by 1216 AD Ballala-II lost almost all the territory he had gained by his wars against Somesvara IV and Bhillama'.