Rajaraja Chola III succeeded
Kulothunga Chola III on the
Chola throne in July 1216 CE. Rajaraja came to the throne of a kingdom much reduced in size as well as influence. With the rise of the
Pandya power in the south, the Cholas had lost most of their control of the territories south of the river
Kaveri and their hold on the Vengi territories in the north was slipping with the emergence of the
Hoysala power.