The medieval kingdom of Venad, which later expanded to form the core of the Travancore royal house, originally operated under the suzerainty of which imperial South Indian power during the 11th and 12th centuries?

💡 Solution & Explanation

During the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the medieval kingdom of Venad experienced direct military campaigns and intermittent subordination under the imperial Chola dynasty, notably during the reigns of powerful monarchs like Rajaraja I. Other regional powers like the Western Chalukyas were traditional rivals of the Cholas in the Deccan rather than overlords of southernmost Kerala. Chola administrative reach over distant principalities is a frequently tested area in South Indian history.