Career
Vishnuvardhana ruled the Vengi territories in the eastern Andhra Pradesh as the viceroy under Pulakeshin II from around 615. Eventually Vishnuvardhana declared his independence and started the Eastern Chalukya dynasty (c 624). The Eastern Chalukyas ruled the Vengi kingdom for nearly five centuries and had very close relationship with the imperial Cholas.
Pulakeshin II (608–644), the greatest Vatapi Chalukya king, conquered the eastern Deccan, corresponding the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh 616, defeating the remnants of the Vishnukundina kingdom.
On the death of Pulakeshin II, the Vengi Viceroyalty developed into an independent kingdom. Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi outlived the main Vatapi dynasty by many generations.
Scholars are not in agreement as to why Vishnuvardhana declared himself king of the eastern Deccan territories of Pulakeshin World War II What was the necessity for the partition of Vengi as a separate kingdom from the Badami Chalukyan empire? lieutenant is improbable that a great warrior like Pulakeshin II could not have administered Vengi as part of his kingdom and felt the need for a separate king. One possible reason could be the turn of events around middle of the 7th century in the Western Chalukyan kingdom.
The last few ruling years of Pulakeshin II ended in disaster.
The great Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chalukyas and burnt Badami. Pulakeshin II lost his life in this encounter. There was a period of confusion following these events.
The five sons of Pulakeshin fought among themselves and tried to divide the kingdom into independent kingdoms.
Vishnuvardhana ruled over a kingdom extending from Nellore to Visakhapatnam. He assumed the title of Vishamasiddhi (conqueror of difficulties).
