Hoysaḷa Dynasty, Hoysala dynastyfamily that ruled in India from about 1006 to about 1346 CE in the southern Deccan and for a time in the Kaveri (Cauvery Valley) River valley. The first kings came from the hills northwest of Dōrasamudra (modern HalebīdDorasamudra (present-day Halebid), which became their capital about 1060. With their hardy, hill-dwelling, KanareseKannada-speaking followers, they gradually absorbed Gaṅgavāḍi Gangavadi (Mysore state) and the rich lands beyond the Tungabhadra toward Dhārwār Dharwar and RaichūrRaichur. The imperialistic programs of the Cālukyas Chalukyas of Kalyāṇī Kalyani helped them, for under the Hoysaḷa Hoysala rulers Vinayāditya Vinayaditya (reigned c. 1047–98) and his grandson Viṣṇuvardhana Vishnuvardhana (reigned c. 1110–41) they gained wide experience as feudatory generals.

Viṣṇuvardhana Vishnuvardhana won much territory from the tough Kadambas of HāngalHangal, but his weak son Narasiṃha Narasimha I lost much of it. Yet Viṣṇuvardhana’s Vishnuvardhana’s expulsion of the Coḷas Cholas from the plateau succeeded. His grandson Ballāla Ballala II (reigned 1173–1220) was invited into the plains to help the CoḷasCholas. He agreed because his northern gains in 1189–1211 from the Cālukya Chalukya dynasty beyond the Malprabha and Krishna rivers proper had diminished under pressure from the Yādava Yadava dynasty of Devagiri. He extended his dominions to the north of Mysore and defeated the YādavasYadavas, making the Hoysaḷa Hoysala dynasty the dominant power in southern India.

Ballāla Ballala II’s grandson Someśvara Someshvara (reigned c. 1235–54) resided in the principality on the Cauvery Kaveri given by the CoḷasCholas, and his son Rāmanātha Ramanatha (reigned 1254–95) was allowed to remain there by the Pāṇḍya Pandya emperor. On his eviction, however, his attempt to take the plateau kingdom from his brother Narasiṃha Narasimha III weakened Hoysaḷa Hoysala resources. Ballāla Ballala III (reigned c. 1292–1342), who helped the sultan of Delhi against the PāṇḍyasPandyas, brought about the dynasty’s downfall by his futile ambitions. The Vijayanagar dynasty succeeded the HoysaḷasHoysalas.

Hoysaḷa Hoysala architecture and sculpture, especially ornate and intricate, are best seen at HalebīdHalebid, BelūrBelur, and SomnāthpurSomnathpur. The family liberally patronized Kanarese Kannada and Sanskrit lettersliterary artists.