Pandya

It was the Pandya or Paandya dynasty that ruled over the Tamil Kingdom from the age of the Puranas to 15th century A.D. who encouraged and supported the authors of the Sangham literature. Madurai was their great center and capital city. 

In the rock edicts of Ashoka, the Maurya King and in the work ‘Indica’ of Megasthanis, mention of the Paandyas can be found. Paandyas were defeated once by the Cholas and the Pallavas, but they recaptured their territories later. Ultimately the Pandya kingdom became part of the Vijayanagara Empire.