Historical Overview Section
The Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE left by Ashoka, of the Maurya Empire. As one of the Three Crowned Kings of Tamilakam, the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until the 13th century CE.
The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the Kaveri River, but they ruled a significantly larger area at the height of their power from the later half of the 9th century till the beginning of the 13th century. The whole country south of the Tungabhadra was united and held as one state for a period of two centuries and more. Under Rajaraja Chola I and his successors Rajendra Chola I, Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola and Kulothunga Chola I the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power in South Asia and South-East Asia.
Using the army in ADLG
- Hard to see why you'd not go with Chola - you get more options and better command and control, but lose the chance of having 0-2 LCh.
- Chola gives you non-impetuous swordsmen Death Stars with your elephants
- No compulsory unit of crap cavalry again too, although maybe one is useful as a floating reserve
- Otherwise a very textbook Indian army.
- The Hoysala allies are, sadly, not Rajputs.
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army. Add links in this format:
- name of link description of link
as an example
- Arab Conquest Arab Conquest army on Fanaticus
15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army
An interesting one for figures. A mix of later Arabs, Kushans and classical Indians tends to get used for this army, lurking into Moghul ranges later in the period.
You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site
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- Essex Miniatures Classical Indians, Moghuls in their Renaissance ranges
- Old Glory Classical Indians
- http://www.blackhat.co.uk/\Black hat Classical Indians
- Magister Militum Classical Indians
- Museum Indians, and their Islamic and other Persians are often used
- Minifigs UK Root around the Eastern ranges
- Irregular Minis - all sorts of figures that might do.
- Tin Soldier Classical Indians
- Xyston Classical Indian range
- East Riding Miniatures Indians, Persians/Moghuls/Afghans
- Isarus (more former TTG figures)
- Outpost - Hindu and Tamil Indians
- Khurasan All sorts of Eastern Cavalry figures could be good, especially the Kushans
- MY Miniatures Indians, Persians
Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
121 Beltway Tamil Indian USTT 2020
Brillaint
2 Elephants Elephant ------
2 Guardsmen Medium swordsmen impact Elite
2 Bowmen Bowmen ------
2 LI bow Light infantry bow ------
2 Chariots Light chariot bow ------
==
Ordinary Included
2 Elephants Elephant
2 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 LI Javelins Light infantry javelin
==
Ordinary
2 Elephant Elephant
2 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 LI Javelins Light infantry javelin
2 Bowmen Bowmen
121 Tamil w/Hindu Ally, Noodlers
Competent
2 Elephant Elephant ------
2 Guardsmen Medium swordsmen impact Elite
2 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
2 Tribal auxilaries Light infantry javelin ------
2 Bowmen Bowmen ----
==
Ordinary, included, Unreliable
1 Elephant (gen) Elephant ------
2 Chariots w/ 2 horses Light chariot bow ------
2 Bowmen Bowmen Mediocre
1 Tribal auxiliaries Light infantry javelin ----
1 Indian horsemen Medium cavalry Mediocre
==
Competent Hindu Ally
2 Elephant Elephant Elite
2 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
2 Auxiliaries Light infantry javelin ------
1 Indian horsemen Medium cavalry ------
2 Bowmen Bowmen Mediocre
121 Tamill (Aynsley - Britcon 2019)
Ordinary Unreliable
2 War Elephant Elephant
2 Swordsmen Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 LF Javelins
2 Bowmen Bowmen Mediocre
1 Chariots Light Chariot Bow ------
==
Ordinary unreliable
2 War Elephant Elephant ------
2 Swordsmen Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
2 Light Infantry Javelin Light Infantry Javelin ------
1 Archers Bowmen
1 Chariots Light Chariot Bow ------
==
Ordinary Unreliable
2 War Elephant Elephant ------
3 Swordsmen Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
2 Light Infantry Bow ------
3 Peasants and Servants Levy
121 Tamil Chola (Finnigan - Britcon 2019)
Brilliant
2 War Elephant Elephant
4 Swordsmen Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 Bowmen
2 Light infantry Javelin
1 Mediocre Cavalry
==
Competent Included
2 War Elephant Elephant ------
3 Swordsmen Medium swordsmen impact ------
2 Light Infantry Bow ------
2 Bowmen Bowmen Mediocre
==
Ordinary Included
1 War Elephant Elephant ------
2 Swordsmen Guards Medium swordsmen impact ------
2 Light Infantry Javelin Light infantry javelin ------
1 Levy
USTT Bandits list 2019
3 Elephants Elephant
4 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 Bowmen Bowmen
3 Javelinmen Light infantry javelin
Brilliant
==
2 Elephants Elephant ------
2 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
1 Bowmen Bowmen ------
2 Light Infantry bow Light infantry bow ------
1 Bowmen Bowmen Mediocre
Ordinary
==
1 Elephant Elephant ------
2 Guardsmen Medium swordsmen impact Elite
1 Javelinmen Light infantry javelin ------
1 Bowmen Bowmen ------
Ordinary Included
Tamils 350pts / 45 units Burton 2018
Command 1
Competent commander
2x Med Cav Mediocre
2x Elephants
3x Med swordsmen impetuous
3x Bowmen
2x Lt Inf javelins
Command 2
Ordinary commander
2x Elephants
3x Med swordsmen impetuous
2x Levy
2x Lt Inf javelins
Command 3
Competent commander
3x Med swordsmen impact elite
3x Elephants
3x Med swordsmen impetuous
3x Lt Inf bow
Command 4
Competent commander
2x Med Cav Mediocre
2x Elephants
3x Med swordsmen impetuous
3x Bowmen
2x Lt Inf javelins