Pulakeshin was the offspring of Chalukya king  Kirttivarman I. Post Kirttivarman's death the command of Chalukya dynasty went in the hands of Mangalesha, brother of Kirttivaran I. When Pulakeshin took up the baton for ruling chalukya dynasty there were multiple vicissitudes ,victories and defeats but the empire did not trounce or get annihaliated and maintained a strong stranglehold for nearly six centuries. 

The rule of Pulakeshin II can be traced by various annals inlucding Pulakeshin's Hyderabad inscription dated 613 A.D, Yekkeri rock inscription and The Aihole prashashti. The overriding event during Pulakeshin-II command is said to be his war with Kanauj King Harshavardhana. This clash took place when Hashavardhana was regarded as one of the most eminent rulers of north and Pulakeshin was appraised as lord of the south. Which means that both were cardinal leaders of their respected areas. This is the most paramount event of Pulakeshin's regime as he was able to defeat Hashavardhana, Due to which Pulakeshin has been prasied by to a great extent in sources such as dynastic records of the Rashtrakutas, considering it the most significant event in the history of chalukya dynasty.