Jatavarman Vira Pandyan I (also spelled Veera) was a Pandyan Prince and co-King, who ruled regions of Tamilakkam between 1253–1275 CE.

Shared Rule

Jatavarman Vira Pandiyan I was coronated between the 22nd and 27th June 1253. He was one of many Pandyan princes who ruled the Pandyan imperial kingdom in the middle part of the 13th Century, adhering to a common practice of shared rule involving Princes in the Pandyan government and one King asserting primacy in the Pandyan Kingdom. Vira Pandyan was a brother, leuitenant and contemporary prince of the Lord Emperor Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I of the imperial Pandyas and Maravarman Vikkiraman II

Maravarman Vikkiraman II

Maravarman Vikkiraman II was a Pandyan king, who ruled regions of South India between 1250–1251 CE.- Shared Rule :Maravarman Vikkiraman II was one of many Pandyan princes who ruled Pandyan kingdom in the middle part of the 13th Century. This practice of shared rule with one prince asserting...

 in his early years. He was also a contemporary of his nephew, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I (1268–1308 CE), Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan I's successor as Lord Emperor (Ellarkku Nayanar - Lord of All).

Conquests

In 1263, Vira Pandyan lead Sundara Pandyan I's armies conquered the Jaffna kingdom

Jaffna Kingdom

The Jaffna kingdom , also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka was a historic monarchy that came into existence around the town of Jaffna on the Jaffna peninsula after the invasion of Magha, who is said to have been from Kalinga, in India...

, repeating the victory of Sundara Pandyan I in 1258. Here he decisively defeated Chandrabhanu

Chandrabhanu

Chandrabhanu or Chandrabhanu Sridhamaraja was the King of the Malay state of Tambralinga in present day Thailand. A Savakan, he was known to have ruled from during the period of 1230 until 1263. He was also known for building a well-known Buddhist stupa in southern Thailand. He spent more than 30...

 of Tambralinga

Tambralinga

Tambralinga was an ancient kingdom located on the Malay Peninsula that at one time came under the influence of Srivijaya. The name had been forgotten until scholars recognized Tambralinga as Nagara Sri Dharmaraja. Early records are scarce while estimations range from the seventh to fourteenth...

, a usurper of the island's northern Tamil throne, subjugated the other king of the island and proceeded to plant the Pandyan bull victory flag and Pandyan double fish carp insignia at Koneswaram temple

Koneswaram temple

Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee is an Hindu temple in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka venerated by Saivites throughout the continent...

, Konamalai

Trincomalee

Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...

 and Trikutagiri

Trikuta

Trikuta is a three peaked mountain in Hindu Mythology. We find its references in the Sundarkand chapter of the Ramayana and its location is believed to be in Lanka. Sreemad Bhagwatam further tells us that it contains a nice garden called Rumak, constructed by Varuna, and it also contains a...

. Chandrabhanu's son Savakanmaindan

Savakanmaindan

Savakanmaindan was a monarch of the kingdoms of Tambralinga and Jaffna. He was the son of the Savakan king Chandrabhanu of Tambralinga who usurped the Tamil throne in 1255...

 submitted to Pandyan rule in the Tamil country and was rewarded. He was allowed to retain control of the Jaffna kingdom while Sundara Pandyan I remained supreme Lord Emperor of Pandyan. Marco Polo

Marco Polo

Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...

, upon his visit to Pandyan and Jaffna, described Sundara Pandyan's empire as the richest in the world, and Vira Pandyan as "one of five brother kings" in which Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I was the eldest.