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In the year 362 AD a delegation of the Maldives, carrying gifts, visited the Court of Roman Emperor Julian |
The first record of Maldivians travelling abroad is obtained from the writings of the Roman historian Amianus Marcelinus (circa 320-390 AD). He records a visit by a delegation of Divis (Maldivians) to Rome in 362 AD bearing gifts to Emperor Julian.
A historical document of China records that in the years 658 AD and 662 AD, the King of the Maldives, Sri Baladitiya sent gifts to the Chinese Baladitiya Emperor Kao-Tsung (649-683 AD) of the Tang dynasty. The gifts were taken to his court by Maldivians.
Records left by writers and travellers from the Middle East to this region during the final years of the first millennium after Christ and during the 11th and 12th centuries AD contain information about the Maldives. These writings depict geographical information about the islands of the Maldives, the means of livelihood and the traditions of Maldivians. These writers include Sulaiman, Abu Zaidi, Al Masudi, Al Biruni and Al Idrisi.
According to written records of the Chola Dynasty of South India, the Chola king, Raja Raja I (985-1014 AD) captured a number of islands of the Maldives after a naval encounter during the late 10th or 11th century AD. The purpose of conquering the islands in the area was to bring the Indian Ocean sea lanes under his control.
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The map shows the likely route of travel of the delegation |
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According to a Chinese historical document Maldivian emissaries bearing gifts travelled to the Court of the Chinese Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in the years 658 AD (37 AH) and 662 AD (42 AH). The sketch shows an artist's impression of the journey |
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The naval expedition of the Chola King Raja Raja (985 - 1014 AD, 375 - 404 AH) to capture some of the islands of the Maldives - an artist's impression |