Uttama Chola also known as Madhurantaka, was a Chola Emperor who ruled from 980 CE to 985 CE in present-day Tamil Nadu, India. According to Tiruvalangadu plates of Rajendra Chola, Madhurantaka Uttama Chola's reign is placed after Aditya II. The latter may have been a co-regent of Parantaka II and seems to have died before he could formally ascend the throne. Uttama was the cousin of Parantaka II and was the son of the illustrious Sembiyan Mahadevi and Gandaraditya. Controversial ascension The circumstances under which Uttama ascended the Chola throne is surrounded by controversy and mystery. At the time of Gandaraditya's death Uttama must have been a very young child. Due to his young age, his rights to the Chola throne were probably set aside and Gandaraditya's younger brother Arinjaya was crowned king. Arinjaya ruled for a very short time – possibly for less than a year and on his death, his son Parantaka II (Sundara Chola) succeeded him. By the time Madhurantaka was old enough to claim the crown, Sundara Chola had two sons – Aditya Karikalan (the one who took the head of the Vira Pandya) and Arulmozhivarman. During the reign of Parantaka Chola II, his son, Aditya II, was made the co-regent and heir apparent to the Chola throne even though Uttama Chola, had more right to throne. Aditya II was assassinated c. 969 CE under mysterious circumstances. As per the Thiruvalangadu plates of Rajendra Chola I there was question on ascension and Arulmozhivarman, the future Rajaraja I, chose to step aside for his paternal uncle Madhurantaka Uttama Chola. According to the Tiruvalangadu plates, after the death of Aditya Chola II, the people wanted Arulmozhivarman - Aditya Chola II's brother to be their king, but the prince refused. Role in Aditya II’s Assassination We learn from an inscription dated during Rajaraja's time that the properties of some persons were confiscated as they had been convicted for treason. It is also shown that these persons were involved in the conspiracy to kill Aditya II. The inscription from Udaiyargudi dated in the second regnal year of Rajaraja Chola states that the government confiscated the lands of a few people and their relatives, namely Soman, Ravidasan alias Panchavan Brahmadhirajan, Parameswaran alias Irumudichola Brahmadhirajan and Malaiyanur Revadasa Kramavittan and the properties of his son and mother for treason and for their hand in the murder of Karikala chola who took the