The Alupa Dynasty and Coins

 

The Alupa dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled from 200 AD to 1444 AD. in Southern India. They were local feudatories at different times under major dynasties such as the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and later Vijayanagar. 

                         

Alupa Dynasty, Gold Gadyana, 11 century AD, in the name of Pandya Dhananjaya. 

The kingdom they ruled was known as Alvakheda Arusasira, and it spanned the coastal districts of the modern Indian State known as Karnataka, including Kasaragod district of present-day Karnataka. The Alupas played a significant role in the political, cultural and religious history of coastal Karnataka.

                       

The Alupas and their neighbouring polities, 600 AD. 

                               

The term Alvakheda could be seen in several ancient inscriptions of the Alupas. The region encompassed modern Tulunadu, northern and central part of Udupi district and parts of north Kannada.

The name of the dynasty is recorded in inscriptions as Alupa, Aluva, Alva, Aluka and Alpa. Ptolemy, the 2nd century geographer and historian identifies the Alvakheda as Olokhoira, widely believed to be a corrupted term Alva Kheda, the land of the Alvas.

                         

The Vaddarse. Old Kannada inscription of King Aluvarasa 1, (650 AD)

 

Their influence over coastal Karnataka lasted for about 1200 years. They ruled initially from Mangalore and at other times from Udyavara in Udipi and later from Barkur. Their first regular full-length inscription, the Vaddarase in Kannada, is dated to early 7th century. They maintained marital relations with their overlords over the centuries. Their royal emblem was the double fish.

                           

Royal Emblem of the Alupas depicting upright double fishes and twin moons under a royal umbrella.

The descendants of this dynasty still survive to this day and have spread in the karavali region and are widely referred to as the Bunt. They can be identified with their surnames such as Shetty, Rai, Hegde, Alva, Chowta etc. Even though most Bunt are Hindus by faith, sections of the community follow Jainism and are called Jain Bunt. 

Coinage. The Alupas, as a feudatory of the Western Chalukyas in coastal Karnataka, issued coins with Kannada legends minted in Mangalorem and those in Nagarai legends at the Udupi mint. Kannada was their language of administration. The Pagodas and Fanams were the common coinage of all the Alupa kings. The obverse of the coins carried the royal emblem " Two Fishes'' and the reverse had the legend '' Sri Pandya Dhanamjaya'' either in Nagari or old Kannada. They were one of the three dynasties that issued gold coins as early as 8th century AD. The gold used to come from trade with Romans, Arabs and the kingdoms of Gangas. 

                          

Alupa Dynasty, Gold gadyana, in the name of Pandya Dhananjaya, early type, 11 century AD, weight 3.7 gm, Obverse: Dynastic emblem of two fishes under a royal umbrella, Reverse: legend '' Sri Pandya Dhananjaya" in Hale Kannada in three lies.

                         

Chalunka Dynasty, Gold Pagoda, 1200-1300AD, Weight 3.58 gm Obverse: Two figures with symbols around, conch, lamp and general design, large umbrella above all, Reverse: writing describing the King. 

 

Crossing the Rubicon and Coin

 

The phrase " crossing the Rubicon " is an idiom meaning "passing the point of no return" or, for making irrevocable decisions or embarking on significant new paths.  The event known as Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon occurred on 10 January, 49 BC, and marked a pivotal moment in Roman history.                       

Julius Caesar, Denarius, 49-48 BC.

                       

A statue of Julius Caesar in Rimini, Italy.

   

At this time, he was a prominent general and statesman who had expanded Roman territories through military campaigns in Gaul and beyond. The Rubicon River served as a legal boundary and crossing it with an army was considered an act of insurrection against the Roman Senate, which had forbidden him from entering Italy with his legions. This river was one of the two rivers that marked the boundary between the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul to the north and areas controlled directly by Rome to the south. This bold move ignited a civil war against his rival, Pompey. 

                          

The Rubicon River (ft Rubico) on an originally 4th Century CE roman map.

                          

A map of the Rubicon (dark blue), believed to be the same river crossed by Caesar.

Alea iacta est (The die is cast) is another Latin phrase attributed to Julius Caesar by Suetonius on 10 January, 49 BC as he crossed the Rubicon. Caesar probably borrowed the phrase from Menander, the famous Greek writer of comedies. Caesar declared in Greek with a loud voice to all those who were present " Let a die be cast" and led the army across.

                          

A painting showing Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon River, 

Following his crossing, Caesar quickly took control of Rome and the wider Italian peninsula, eventually pursuing Pompey to Egypt, where he was assassinated. Caesar's consolidation of power marked a transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire, as he began to adopt titles and roles that defied traditional republican norms. His reign culminated in his appointment as dictator for life, a position that attracted admiration and resentment, leading to his assassination on 15 March, 44 BC, which ended his dramatic rise and significantly impacted the course of Roman history.

                         

An image of Caesar's solitary indecision from a 19th Century French book of education.

"Crossing of Rubicon coin" refers to a Roman silver Denari struck by Julius Caesar around 49-48 BC, notably the iconic "elephant denarius" minted to fund his army as he famously crossed the Rubicon River.        

Julius Caesar Denarius, 49-48 BC, silver, weight 4.16 gm, Obverse: elephant walking right, trampling dragon, or a snake in exergue, inscription, Reverse: Emblems of the pontificate, simpulum, aspergillum, axe and apex (cap).