List of Sri Lankan monarchs explained

Royal Title:King
Realm:the Sinhala Kingdom
Coatofarms:King of Kandy.svg
Coatofarmscaption:Reconstructed royal Standard of the last King of Kandy
First Monarch:Prince Vijaya
Last Monarch:Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
Residence:Tambapanni, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte, Kandy
Began:543 BCE (according to chronicles)
Ended:1815 CE

The monarchs of Sri Lanka, also referred to as the Sinhalese monarchy, were the heads of state and rulers of the Sinhala Kingdoms located in present-day Sri Lanka, from 543 BCE (according to chronicles) until its abolition in 1815 CE.

The Sinhalese monarchy began with the settlement of North Indian Indo-Aryan speaking immigrants to the island of Sri Lanka. The Landing of Vijaya (as described in the traditional early chronicles of the island, the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa) recounts the date of the establishment of the first Sinhalese Kingdom in 543 BCE when Indian prince Prince Vijaya (543–505 BCE) and 700 of his followers arrived in Sri Lanka, establishing the Kingdom of Tambapanni.[1] [2] In Sinhalese mythology, Prince Vijaya and followers are told to be the progenitors of the Sinhalese people. However, according to the story in the Divyavadana, the immigrants were probably not led by a scion of a royal house in India, as told in the romantic legend, but rather may have been groups of adventurous and pioneering merchants exploring new lands.[3] On the other hand, other historians such as G.C. Mendis have suggested that the Vijaya story is a myth and has no historical basis.[4]

The Sinhala Kingdoms comprised the political states of the Sinhalese people and their ancestors; it existed as a series of successive kingdoms known by the city in which the administrative centre of the kingdom was located. These are, in chronological order: the kingdoms of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Gampola, Kotte, Sitawaka and Kandy.[5] [6] [7] [8] The last Sinhala Kingdom came to an end in 1815 with Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Kandy after generations of European colonial influences and upheaval in the royal court.

During the two millennia of Sinhalese kingdoms, other political entities also existed on the island, including the Jaffna Kingdom,[9] the Vanni chieftaincies and the Portuguese and Dutch colonies.[10] These political entities are considered separate from the Sinhala Kingdoms.[11] [12] A separate page lists the monarchs of the Jaffna Kingdom.

During the reign of Devanampiya Tissa (307–267 BCE), Buddhism was introduced to the island by Ashoka of India.[13] By the time of Kithsirimevan (304–332 CE), Sudatta, the subking of Kalinga and Hemamala brought the Tooth Relic of the Buddha to Sri Lanka due to unrest in the country.[14] Kithsirimevan carried it in procession and placed the relic in a mansion named Datadhatughara.[15] He ordered this procession to be held annually, and this is still done as a tradition in the country to this day. The Tooth Relic of the Buddha soon became one of the most sacred objects in the country and a symbol of kingship. The person who was in possession of the Tooth Relic would thereafter be considered the rightful ruler of the country.[16]

The role of the monarch was absolute. The monarch was head of state but would be aided with high level officials and a board of ministers. The monarch was later seen as the supreme ruler throughout the island, even at times when they did not have absolute control over it.[17] However, the earliest inscriptions dating from the 3rd to 2nd century BCE suggest that the island was divided into several regional principalities and chieftaincies until the first war of unification fought by King Dutugamunu.[18] These early kings sought to establish control over the whole island, though in reality this was more of an aspiration. However periods of effective control over the whole island did exist from time to time.[19] The monarch also held judicial power and influence. Judicial customs, traditions and moral principles based on Buddhism were used as the bases of law. The laws and legal measures were proclaimed by the monarch, and were to be followed by the justice administration.[20] However the monarch was the final judge in legal disputes, and all cases against members of the royal family and high dignitaries of the state were judged by them, although this power was to be exercised with care and after consulting with their advisers.[21]

This article is a list of monarchs that have reigned over the nine successive kingdoms of the Sinhalese monarchy.[22] [23] It is based on the traditional list of monarchs as recorded in the chronicles of the island, in particular the Mahavamsa and Rajavaliya.[24] [25] It is not a list of ethnically Sinhalese monarchs as it contains all rulers of the Sinhalese kingdoms, both Sinhalese and foreign. Each monarch belongs to one of nine royal houses (Vijaya, Lambakanna I, Moriya, Lambakanna II, Vijayabahu, Kalinga, Siri Sanga Bo, Dinajara and Nayaks), and follows a tradition of regnal names that span the entirety of the monarchy. For example, Vijayabahu was used 7 times over multiple kingdoms and multiple royal houses over a period of 500 years and there is no overlap of names, Vijayabahu I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII. The same is true for Aggabodhi, Bhuvanaikabahu, Kassapa, Mahinda, Parakramabahu and others.

Notes

This list should be used with the following factors kept in mind. Firstly, the dates provided for the earliest monarchs are difficult to objectively verify; those particularly difficult to know have been denoted with a (?) mark. The date August 20, 1200 is the earliest known fixed date in Sri Lankan history, which was for the coronation of Sahassa Malla.

Another thing to be noted is that several monarchs had usurped the throne of Lanka including Sinhalese monarchs such as Anikanga, Chodaganga, Sri Vallabha of Polonnaruwa and Mahinda VI. The usurpers may have received support from rival kingdoms such as the Cholas.

Note on chronology

It should be borne in mind that there is controversy about the base date of the Buddhist Era, with dates between the 6th century BCE and 4th century BCE being advanced as the date of the parinibbana of the Buddha.[26] As Wilhelm Geiger pointed out, the Dipawamsa and Mahawansa are the primary sources for ancient South Asian chronology; they date the consecration (abhisheka) of Ashoka (268 BCE according to modern scholarship) to 218 years after the parinibbana. Chandragupta Maurya ascended the throne 56 years prior to this, or 162 years after the parinibbana. The approximate date of Chandragupta's ascension is within two years of 321 BCE (from Megasthenes). Hence the approximate date according to the Mahavamsa of the parinibbana is between 485 and 481 BCE.[27]

According to Geiger, the difference between the two reckonings seems to have occurred at sometime between the reigns of Udaya III (946–954 or 1007–1015) and Pârakkama Pandya (c. 1046–1048), when there was considerable unrest in the country. However, mention is made of an embassy sent to China by Cha-cha Mo-ho-nan in 428. The name may correspond to 'Raja (King) Mahanama', who (by the traditional chronology) reigned about this time.[28]

Furthermore, the traveller-monk Xuanzang, who attempted to visit Sri Lanka about 642, was told by Sri Lankan monks (possibly at Kanchipuram) that there was trouble in the kingdom, so he desisted;[29] this accords with the period of struggle for the throne between Aggabodhi III Sirisanghabo, Jettha Tissa III and Dathopa Tissa I Hatthadpath in 632–643.

Recent indological research has indicated that the Parinibbana of the Buddha may be even later than previously supposed. A majority of the scholars at a symposium held in 1988 in Göttingen regarding the problem were inclined towards a date of 440–360 BCE.[30] However, the Theravada Buddhist canon was first put into writing in Sri Lanka, and the chronology of the following list is based on the traditional Therevada/Sri Lankan system, which is based on a parinibbana date of 543 BCE, sixty years earlier than the Mahayana calendar. Dates after c. 1048 are synchronous.

The Mahavamsa was complied nearly a millennium after the purported date of Vijaya's arrival, and the traditional chronology and relationships of the earliest kings have been called into question by some scholars.[31] [32] [33] Referring to the period following Devanampiya Tissa's rule, archaeologist W. D. J. Benilie Priyanka Emmanuel states:

Kingdom of Tambapanni (543–437 BCE)

See main article: Kingdom of Tambapanni.

House of Vijaya (543–437 BCE)

See main article: House of Vijaya.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=9% Marriageswidth=26% Claim
Vijaya?
Sinhapura
son of Sinhabahu, and Sinhasivali		505 BCE
Tambapanni		543 BCE505 BCEKuveni
two children Pandu Princess		Founded Kingdom
Marriage to Kuveni
Upatissa
(regent)		--505 BCE504 BCEPrince Vijaya's Chief Minister
Panduvasdeva--504 BCE474 BCENephew of Vijaya
Abhaya--474 BCE454 BCESon of Panduvasdeva
Tissa
(regent)		--454 BCE437 BCEYounger brother of Abhaya

Anuradhapura Kingdom (437 BCE–1017 CE)

See main article: Anuradhapura Kingdom.

House of Vijaya (437–237 BCE)

See main article: House of Vijaya.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Pandukabhaya474 BCE367 BCE437 BCE367 BCE
  • Grandson of Panduvasudeva
    *Nephew of Abhaya and Tissa
Mutasivaalign="center"-align="center"-367 BCE307 BCE
  • Son of Pandukabhaya
Devanampiya Tissaalign="center"-267 BCE307 BCE267 BCE
  • Son of Mutasiva
Uttiyaalign="center"-align="center"-267 BCE257 BCE
  • Son of Mutasiva
Mahasivaalign="center"-align="center"-257 BCE247 BCE
  • Son of Mutasiva
Suratissaalign="center"-237 BCE247 BCE237 BCE
  • Son of Pandukabhaya

Sena and Guttika (237–215 BCE)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Claim
Sena and Guttika--237 BCE215 BCEDefeated Suratissa in battle.

House of Vijaya (215–205 BCE)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Asela?
Son of Mutasiva		205 BCE
Anuradhapura		215 BCE205 BCESon of Mutasiva

Elara (205–161 BCE)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Claim
Elara235 BCE
Chola Empire		161 BCE
Anuradhapura		205 BCE161 BCEDefeated Asela in battle

House of Vijaya (161–103 BCE)

See main article: House of Vijaya.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Dutugamunu the Great
(a.k.a. Dutta Gamini or Dutugemunu or Duttagamini Abaya) 		align="center" -align="center"-161 BCE137 BCE
  • Defeated Elara
    *Eldest son of Kavan Tissa
    *Originally the ruler of Ruhuna
Saddha Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-137 BCE119 BCE
  • Brother of Dutugemunu
Thulatthana
(Tulna) 		align="center"-align="center"-119 BCE119 BCE
  • Second son of Saddha Tissa
Lanja Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-119 BCE109 BCE
  • Older brother of Thullattana
    *Oldest son of Saddha Tissa
Khallata Naga
(Kalunna) 		align="center"-align="center"-109 BCE103 BCE
  • Brother of Lanja Tissa
    *Third son of Saddha Tissa
Vattagamani Abhaya
(a.k.a. Valagambahu I)
(Walagamba)		align="center"-align="center"-103 BCE103 BCE
  • Fourth son of Saddha Tissa

The Five Dravidans (103–89 BCE)

See main article: The Five Dravidians.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Pulahattaalign="center"-align="center"-103 BCE100 BCE
  • Tamil Chief
Bahiyaalign="center"-align="center"-100 BCE98 BCE
  • Chief Minister of Pulahatha
Panya Maraalign="center"-align="center"-98 BCE91 BCE
  • Prime Minister of Bahiya
Pilaya Maraalign="center"-align="center"-91 BCE90 BCE
  • Chief Minister of Panayamara
Dathikaalign="center"-align="center"-90 BCE89 BCE
  • Chief Minister of Pilayamara

House of Vijaya (89 BCE – 67 CE)

See main article: House of Vijaya.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vattagamani Abhaya
(a.k.a. Valagambahu I)
(Walagamba)		align="center"-align="center"-89 BCE77 BCE
  • Fourth son of Saddha Tissa
Mahakuli Mahatissa
(Maha Cula Maha Tissa)		align="center"-align="center"-77 BCE63 BCE
  • Son of Khallatanaga
    *Nephew and adopted son of Valagambahu I
Chora Naga
(Mahanaga)		align="center"-align="center"-63 BCE51 BCE
  • Son of Valagambahu I
    *Cousin of Mahakuli Mahatissa
Kuda Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-51 BCE48 BCE
  • Son of Mahakuli Mahatissa
Siva Ialign="center"-align="center"-48 BCE48 BCE
Vatukaalign="center"-align="center"-48 BCE48 BCE
Darubhatika Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-48 BCE48 BCE
Niliyaalign="center"-align="center"-48 BCE48 BCE
Anulaalign="center"-align="center"-48 BCE44 BCE
  • Widow of Chora Naga and Kuda Tissa
Kutakanna Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-44 BCE22 BCE
  • Brother of Kuda Tissa
    *Second son of Mahakuli Mahatissa
Bhatikabhaya Abhayaalign="center"-align="center"-22 BCE7 CE
  • Son of Kuttakanna Tissa
Mahadathika Mahanagaalign="center"-align="center"-719
  • Brother of Bhatika Abhaya
Amandagamani Abhayaalign="center"-align="center"-1929
  • Son of Mahadathika Mahanaga
Kanirajanu Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-2932
  • Brother of Amandagamani Abhaya
Chulabhayaalign="center"-align="center"-3233
  • Son of Amandagamani Abhaya
Sivalialign="center"-align="center"-3333
  • Sister of Chulabhaya
Interregnumalign="center"-align="center"-3333
Ilanaga
(Elunna)		align="center"-align="center"-3343
  • Nephew of Queen Sivali
Chandamukhaalign="center"-align="center"-4352
  • Son of Ilanaga
Yassalalakaalign="center"-align="center"-5260
  • Younger brother of Candhamuka Siva
Subharaja
(a.k.a. Subha)		align="center"-align="center"-6067
  • The hall porter of King Yasalaka Tissa

House of Lambakanna I (67–429)

See main article: House of Lambakanna I.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vasabhaalign="center"-align="center"-67111
  • A member of the Lambakanna clan
Vankanasika Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-111114
  • Son of Vasabha
Gajabahu Ialign="center"-align="center"-114136
  • Son of Vankanasika Tissa
Mahallaka Nagaalign="center"-align="center"-136143
  • Father-in-Law of Gajabahu I
Bhatika Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-143167
  • Son of Mahallaka Naga
Kanittha Tissaalign="center"-align="center"-167186
  • Younger brother of Bhatika Tissa
Cula Naga
(a.k.a. Khujjanaga)		align="center"-align="center"-186187
  • Son of Kanitta Tissa
Kuda Naga
(a.k.a. Kunchanaga)		align="center"-align="center"-187189
  • Brother of Cula Naga
Siri Naga Ialign="center"-align="center"-189209
  • Brother-in-Law of Kuda Naga
Voharika Tissa
(a.k.a. Vira Tissa & Voharikathissa)		align="center"-align="center"-209231
  • Son of Siri Naga I
Abhaya Nagaalign="center"-align="center"-231240
  • Brother of Voharaka Tissa
Siri Naga IIalign="center"-align="center"-240242
  • Son of Voharaka Tissa
Vijaya Kumaraalign="center"-align="center"-242243
  • Son of Siri Naga II
Sangha Tissa Ialign="center"-align="center"-243247
  • A Lambakanna
Siri Sangha Bodhi I
(a.k.a. Siri Sangabo)		align="center"-align="center"-247249
  • A Lambakanna
Gothabhayaalign="center"-align="center"-249262
  • Minister of State
    *A Lambakanna
Jettha Tissa I
(a.k.a. Detuthis I)		align="center"-align="center"-263273
  • Eldest son of Gothabhaya
Mahasenaalign="center"-align="center"-274301
  • Brother of Jettha Tissa
    *Younger son of Gothabhaya
Sirimeghavannaalign="center"-align="center"-301328
  • Son of Mahasena
Jettha Tissa IIalign="center"-align="center"-328337
  • Brother of Sirimeghavanna
Buddhadasaalign="center"-align="center"-337365
  • Son of Jettha Tissa II
Upatissa Ialign="center"-align="center"-365406
  • Eldest son of Buddhadasa
Mahanamaalign="center"-align="center"-406428
  • Brother of Upatissa I
Soththisenaalign="center"-align="center"-428428
  • Mahanama's son born to a Tamil mother
Chattagahaka Jantu
(a.k.a. Chhattagahaka)		align="center"-align="center"-428428
  • Husband of Sangha
    *Daughter of Mahanama by his Sinhala Queen
Mittasenaalign="center"-align="center"-428429
  • A noted plunderer

The Six Dravidians (429–455)

See main article: The Six Dravidians.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Pandualign="center"-align="center"-429434
  • Pandyan Invader
Parindualign="center"-align="center"-434437
  • Son of Pandu
Khudda Parindaalign="center"-align="center"-437452
  • Younger brother of Pandu
Tiritaraalign="center"-align="center"-452452
  • Fourth Tamil ruler
Dathiyaalign="center"-align="center"-452455
  • Fifth Tamil ruler
Pithiyaalign="center"-align="center"-455455
  • Sixth Tamil ruler

House of Moriya (455–691)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Dhatusenaalign="center"-align="center"-455473
  • Son of Sangha, the daughter of Mahanama
    *Liberated Anuradhapura from 27 years of Pandyan Rule
Kashyapa I
(the Usurper),(of Sigiriya)		align="center"-align="center"-479497
  • Son of King Dhatusena by a Pallava woman
Moggallana Ialign="center"-align="center"-497515
  • Son of Dhatusena
    *Brother of Kasyapa
Kumara Dhatusenaalign="center"-align="center"-515524
  • Son of Mogallana
Kittisenaalign="center"-align="center"-524524
  • Son of Kumara Dhatusena
Siva IIalign="center"-align="center"-524525
  • Uncle of Kirti Sena
Upatissa IIalign="center"-align="center"-525526
  • Son-in-Law of Kumara Dhatusena
Silakala Ambosamaneraalign="center"-align="center"-526539
  • A Son-in-Law of Upatissa, prince of Lambakanna stock
Dathappabhutialign="center"-align="center"-539540
  • Second son of Silakala
Moggallana IIalign="center"-align="center"-540560
  • Eldest brother of Dathappabhuti
Kittisiri Meghavannaalign="center"-align="center"-560561
  • Son of Mogallana II
Maha Nagaalign="center"-align="center"-561564
  • Minister of War under King Dathapatissa
Aggabodhi Ialign="center"-align="center"-564598
  • Mother's brother's son and Sub-King of Mahanaga
Aggabodhi IIalign="center"-align="center"-598608
  • Nephew and son-in-law of Aggabodhi I
Sangha Tissa IIalign="center"-align="center"-608608
  • Brother and Sword-bearer of Aggabodhi II
Moggallana IIIalign="center"-align="center"-608614
  • Commander-in-Chief during the reign of Aggabodhi II
Silameghavannaalign="center"-align="center"-614623
  • King Mogallana's Sword-bearer
Aggabodhi IIIalign="center"-align="center"-623623
  • Son of Silimeghavanna
Jettha Tissa IIIalign="center"-align="center"-623624
  • Son of King Sangha Tissa
Aggabodhi III
(restored)		align="center"-align="center"-624640
  • Son of Silimeghavanna
Dathopa Tissa I
(Hatthadpatha)		align="center"-align="center"-640652
  • General of Jettha Tissa (Dathasiva)
Kassapa IIalign="center"-align="center"-652661
  • Brother of Aggabodhi III
    *Sub-King of Dathopa Tissa
Dappula Ialign="center"-align="center"-661664
  • Son in law of Silimeghavanna
Dathopa Tissa IIalign="center"-673664673
  • Nephew of Dathopa Tissa I (Hattha Datha)
Aggabodhi IValign="center"-align="center"-673689
  • Younger brother of Dathopa Tissa
Unhanagara Hatthadathaalign="center"-align="center"-691691
  • A chief of Royal blood who was placed on the throne by a wealthy Tamil Officer

House of Lambakanna II (691–1017)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Manavammaalign="center"-align="center"-691726
  • Son of Kassapa I
    *Descendant of Silamegahavanna
Aggabodhi Valign="center"-align="center"-726732
  • Son of Manavamma
Kassapa IIIalign="center"-align="center"-732738
  • Brother of Aggabodhi V
Mahinda Ialign="center"-align="center"-738741
  • Younger brother of Kassapa III
Aggabodhi VIalign="center"-align="center"-741781
  • Son of Kassapa III
Aggabodhi VII
(From Polonnaruwa)		align="center"-align="center"-781787
  • Son of Mahinda
Mahinda II
(Silamegha)		align="center"-align="center"-787807
  • Son of Aggabodhi VI
Dappula IIalign="center"-align="center"-807812
  • Son of Mahinda II
    *The sub-king of Mahinda II
Mahinda IIIalign="center"-align="center"-812816
  • Son of Dappula II
Aggabodhi VIIIalign="center"-align="center"-816827
  • Brother of Mahinda III
Dappula IIIalign="center"-align="center"-827843
  • Younger brother of Aggabodhi VIII
Aggabodhi IXalign="center"-align="center"-843846
  • Son of Dappula III
Sena Ialign="center"-align="center"-846866
  • Younger brother of Aggabodhi IX
Sena IIalign="center"-align="center"-866901
  • Nephew of Sena I
    *Son of Kassapa
Udaya Ialign="center"-align="center"-901912
  • Brother of sub-king of Sena II
Kassapa IValign="center"-align="center"-912929
  • Son of Sena II
    *Sub-king of Udaya I
Kassapa Valign="center"-align="center"-929939
  • Son of Kassapa IV
Dappula IValign="center"-align="center"-939940
  • Son of Kassapa V
Dappula Valign="center"-align="center"-940952
  • Brother of Dappula IV
Udaya IIalign="center"-align="center"-952955
  • Nephew of Sena II
    *Sub-king of Dappula V
Sena IIIalign="center"-align="center"-955964
  • Brother of Udaya II
Udaya IIIalign="center"-align="center"-964972
  • Sub-king of Sena III (a great friend of the king)
Sena IValign="center"-align="center"-972975
  • Son of Kassapa V
    *Sub-king of Udaya III
Mahinda IValign="center"-align="center"-975991
  • Brother of Sena IV
    *Nephew of Udaya III
    *Sub-king of Sena
Sena Valign="center"-align="center"-9911001
  • Son of Mahinda IV
Mahinda V
(Fled and ruled in Ruhuna)
(Deported c. 1017)		align="center"-102910011029
  • Younger brother of Sena V

Chola-occupied Anuradhapura (1017–1055)

See main article: Chola conquest of Anuradhapura.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=26% Claim
Kassapa VI--10291040Son of Mahinda V
Mahalana-Kitti--10401042
Vikrama Pandu--10421043
Jagatipala--10431046
Parakrama Pandu--10461048
Loka--10481054
Kassapa VII--10541055

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (1055–1236)

See main article: Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.

House of Vijayabahu (1055–1187)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vijayabahu Ialign="center"-align="center"-10551111
  • Member of the Sinhala Royal Family
Jayabahu I
(Polonnaruwa and Ruhuna)		align="center"-align="center"-11101111
  • Brother of Vijayabahu I
    *Prime Minister of Vijayabahu I
Vikramabahu Ialign="center"-113211111132
  • Son of Vijayabahu I
Gajabahu IIalign="center"-align="center"-11311153
  • Son of Vikramabahu I
Parakramabahu I 'the Great'1123118611531186
  • Grandson of Vijayabahu I
Vijayabahu IIalign="center"-align="center"-11861187
  • Parakramabahu I's nephew
Mahinda VIalign="center"-align="center"-11871187
  • A Kalinga

House of Kalinga (1187–1197)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Nissanka Malla1157 or 1158119611871196
  • Son-in-law or nephew to Parakrama Bahu I
Vira Bahu Ialign="center"-align="center"-11961196
  • Son of Nissanka Malla
Vikramabahu IIalign="center"-align="center"-11961196
  • Younger brother of Nissanka Malla
Chodagangaalign="center"-align="center"-11961197
  • Nephew of Nissanka Malla

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1197–1200)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Queen Lilavatialign="center"-align="center"-11971200
  • Widow of Parakramabahu I

House of Kalinga, restored (1200–1209)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Sahassa Mallaalign="center"-align="center"-12001202
  • Younger brother of Nissanka Malla
Kalyanavatialign="center"-align="center"-12021208
  • Queen of Nissanka Malla
Dharmasokaalign="center"-align="center"-12081209
  • Deposed Kalyanavati and installed by Ayasmantha
Anikangaalign="center"-align="center"-12091209
  • Father of Dharmasoka

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1209–1210)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Lilavati
(1st Restoration)		align="center"-align="center"-12091210
  • Widow of Parakramabahu I

Lokissara (1210–1211)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Lokissaraalign="center"-align="center"-12101211Leader of a Tamil army.

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1211–1212)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Lilavati
(2nd Restoration)		align="center"-align="center"-12111212
  • Widow of Parakramabahu I

Pandyan dynasty (1212–1215)

See main article: Pandyan dynasty.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Parakrama Pandyaalign="center"-align="center"-12121215
  • Pandyan King

Eastern Ganga dynasty (1215–1236)

See main article: Eastern Ganga dynasty. After Kalinga Magha invaded, with the intent of ruling the whole island, the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was sacked. This caused massive Sinhalese migration to the south and west of the island. Unable to capture the whole island Kalinga Magha establishes the Jaffna kingdom becoming its first monarch. The Jaffna kingdom is situated in modern northern Sri Lanka while the Kingdom of Dambadeniya was established by Vijayabahu III on the rest of the island in around 1220.[34]

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Kalinga Maghaalign="center"-align="center"-12151236
  • A prince of Kalinga

Kingdom of Dambadeniya (1220–1345)

See main article: Kingdom of Dambadeniya.

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1220–1345)

See main article: House of Siri Sanga Bo.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vijayabahu IIIalign="center"-align="center"-12201234
  • A patriotic Prince of Sinhala Royal blood
Parakkamabahu IIalign="center"-align="center"-12341269
  • Eldest son of Vijaya Bahu III
Vijayabahu IValign="center"-October 12701267/8October 1270
  • Eldest son of Panditha Parakrama Bahu II
Bhuvanaikabahu I
(from Yapahuwa)		align="center"-align="center"-12711283
  • Brother of Vijaya Bahu IV
Interregnumalign="center"-align="center"-12831302
Parakkamabahu III
(from Polonnaruwa)		align="center"-align="center"-13021310
  • Nephew of Buvaneka Bahu I
    *Son of Vijaya Bahu IV
Bhuvanaikabahu II
(from Kurunagala)		align="center"-align="center"-13101325/6
  • Son of Buvaneka Bahu I
    *Cousin of Parakrama Bahu III
Parakkamabahu IV
(from Kurunagala)		align="center"-align="center"-1325/61325/6
  • Son of Buvanekka Bahu II
Bhuvanaikabahu III
(from Kurunagala)		align="center"-align="center"-1325/61325/6
  • Known as Vanni Buvaneka Bahu
Vijayabahu V
(from Kurunagala)		align="center"-align="center"-1325/61344/5
  • Second son of Chandra Banu of Jaffnapatnam

Kingdom of Gampola (1345–1412)

See main article: Kingdom of Gampola.

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1345–1412)

See main article: House of Siri Sanga Bo.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Bhuvanaikabahu IValign="center"-align="center"-1344/51353/4
  • Son of Vijaya Bahu V
Parakkamabahu V
(from Dedigama)		1311align="center"-1344/51359
  • Son of Vijaya Bahu V
    *Brother of Buvaneka Bahu IV
Vikramabahu IIIalign="center"-align="center"-13571374
  • Son of Buvaneka Bahu IV
Bhuvanaikabahu Valign="center"-align="center"-13711408
  • Nissanka Alakeswara's son by the sister of Vikrama Bahu III
Vira Bahu IIalign="center"-align="center"-1391/21397
  • Brother in law of King Buvaneka Bahu V
Vira Alakesvara
(a.k.a. Vijaya Bahu VI)		align="center"-align="center"-13971409
Parakrama Bahu Epaalign="center"-align="center"-14091412
  • Grandson of Senalankahikara Senevirat
    minister of Bhuvanaikabâhu IV.

Kingdom of Kotte (1412–1597)

See main article: Kingdom of Kotte.

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1412–1597)

See main article: House of Siri Sanga Bo.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Parakramabahu VIalign="center"-align="center"-14121467
  • Son of Vijaya Bahu VI and his Queen Sunetra Devi
    *Or the third son of Chandra Banu of Yapa Patuna (Jaffnapatnam)
Jayabahu II
(Vira Parakrama Bahu VII)		align="center"-align="center"-14671472
  • Son of Parakrama Bahu II's natural daughter, Ulakudaya Devi
Bhuvanaikabahu VIalign="center"-align="center"-14691477
  • Son of Parakrama Bahu VI
Pandita Parakramabahu VIIalign="center"-align="center"-14771477
Vira Parakramabahu VIIIalign="center"-align="center"-14771489
  • Ambulagala Kumara
    *Son of Parakrama Bahu VI
Dharma Parakramabahu IX
(from Kelaniya)		align="center"-align="center"-14891513
  • Son of Vira Parakrama Bahu VIII
Vijayabahu VIalign="center"-152115131521
  • Brother of Dharma Parakrama Bahu IX
    *Rajah of Menik Kadavara
Bhuvanekabahu VIIalign="center"-155115211551
  • Eldest son of Vijaya Bahu
Dharmapalaalign="center"-27 May 1597155127 May 1597
  • Grandson and heir of Bhuvanekabãhu VII

Kingdom of Sitawaka (1521–1594)

See main article: Kingdom of Sitawaka.

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1521–1594)

See main article: House of Siri Sanga Bo.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Mayadunne1501158115211581
  • Brother of Bhuvaneka Bahu VII
    *Son of Vijaya Bahu VII
Rajasinha I
(a.k.a. Tikiri Banda)		1544159315811593
  • Son of Mayadunne

*Reestablished Shaiva Siddhanta after its decline in Devanampiya Tissa's era and crushed Buddhism|-|align="center"|||align="center"|Rajasuriya||align="center"|-||align="center"|-||align="center"|1593||align="center"|1594||align="center"||}

Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815)

See main article: List of Kandyan monarchs and Kingdom of Kandy.

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1469–1592)

See main article: article and House of Siri Sanga Bo.

width=9% Portraitwidth=25% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=30% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Senasammata Vikramabahualign="center"-align="center"-14691511
  • Belongs to Kotte Royal Blood line
    *Leader of the Kandyan secession from Kotte
Jayavira Bandaraalign="center"-align="center"-15111552
  • Son of Senasammata
Karalliyadde Bandaraalign="center"-align="center"-15521582
  • Son of Jayaweera
Kusumasana Devialign="center"-align="center"-15811581
  • Daughter of Karalliyadde
Rajasinha I
(a.k.a. Tikiri Banda)		1544159315811591
  • Deposed Kusumasana Devi

House of Dinajara (1591–1739)

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=35% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vimaladharmasuriya I
(a.k.a. Don João da Austria)		align="center"-160415911604
  • Son of Vijayasundara Bandara
Senaratalign="center"-163516041635
  • Cousin of Vimala Dharma Suriya I
Rajasinghe II16086 December 1687163525 November 1687
  • Son of Senarat and Dona Catherina
Vimaladharmasurya IIalign="center"-4 June 170716874 June 1707
  • Son of King Rajasinghe II
Vira Narendra Sinha
(a.k.a. Sri Vira Parakrama Narendra Singha)		169013 May 17394 June 170713 May 1739
  • Son of Vimala Dharma Suriya II

Nayaks of Kandy (1739–1815)

See main article: Nayaks of Kandy.

width=9% Portraitwidth=20% Namewidth=9% Birthwidth=9% Deathwidth=9% King Fromwidth=9% King Untilwidth=9% Marriageswidth=26% Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Sri Vijaya Rajasinha?
Madurai, Madurai Nayak dynasty
son of Pitti Nayakkar		11 August 1747
Kandy		13 May 173911 August 17471 Madurai SpouseBrother-in-law of Vira Narendra Sinha
Kirti Sri Rajasinha1734
Madurai, Madurai Nayak dynasty
son of Narenappa Nayakkar		2 January 1782
Kandy		11 August 17472 January 17826 Madurai Spouses
Yakada Doli
2 sons, 6 daughters		Brother-in-law of Sri Vijaya Rajasinha
Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha?
Madurai
son of Narenappa Nayakkar		26 July 1798
Kandy		2 January 178226 July 1798Queen UpendrammaBrother of Kirti Sri Rajasinha
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
(a.k.a. Rajasinha IV; Kannasamy)		1780
Madurai
son of Sri Venkata Perumal and Subbamma Nayaka		30 January 1832
Vellore Fort, Company rule in India		26 July 17985 March 18154 spouses
3 children		Nephew of Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha

Further reading

Primary sources

Secondary sources

  • Book: De Silva. K. M.. A History of Sri Lanka. 1981. University of California Press. India. 0-520-04320-0.
  • Book: Blaze, L. E. History of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. 1995. 978-81-206-1074-3.
  • Book: de Silva, K. M. . A History of Sri Lanka. Vijitha Yapa. 2005. Colombo. 782. 955-8095-92-3.
  • Book: Mendis, Ranjan Chinthaka. The Story of Anuradhapura. Lakshmi Mendis. 1999. 978-955-96704-0-7.
  • Book: Mittal, J. P.. History of Ancient India: From 4250 BC to 637 AD. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. 2006. 2 of History of Ancient India: A New Version. Other dynasties. 81-269-0616-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&q=Kingdom+of+Thambapanni&pg=PA405.
  • Book: Nicholas, C. W.. Paranavitana, S.. A Concise History of Ceylon. Colombo University Press. 1961.
  • Book: Perera, Lakshman S.. The Institutions of Ancient Ceylon from Inscriptions. International Centre for Ethnic Studies. 2001. 1. 978-955-580-055-6.
  • Book: Rambukwelle, P. B.. Commentary on Sinhala Kingship — Vijaya to Kalinga Magha. Sridevi Printers. 1993. 978-955-95565-0-3.
  • Book: Siriweera, W. I. . History of Sri Lanka. Dayawansa Jayakodi & Company. 2004. 978-955-551-257-2.
  • Book: Wijesooriya, S.. A Concise Sinhala Mahavamsa. Participatory Development Forum. 2006. 978-955-9140-31-3.
  • Paranavithana. Senarath. Two Royal Titles of the Early Sinhalese, and the Origin of Kingship in Ancient Ceylon. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. July 1936. 68. 3. 443–462. 10.1017/S0035869X0007725X. 161585769 .

External links

]

Notes and References

  1. Mittal (2006) p 405
  2. Web site: 483 BC – Arrival of Aryans to Sri Lanka. scenicsrilanka.com. 2009-11-06.
  3. Paranavithana (1936) p 459
  4. MENDIS, G. C. “The Mahābhārata Legends in the Mahāvaṃsa.” The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland 5, no. 1 (1957): 81–84. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45377709.
  5. Book: Cavendish. Marshall. World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. 2007. Cavendish Square Publishing. 978-0-7614-7631-3. 350–51.
  6. Book: Bandaranayake. S. D.. Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Viháras of Anurádhapura. 1974. BRILL. Leiden. 9004039929. 17.
  7. Book: De Silva. K. M.. A History of Sri Lanka. 1981. University of California Press. 978-0-19-561655-2. A History of Sri Lanka..
  8. Book: Blaze. L. E.. History of Ceylon. 1938. Asian Educational Services. 978-8120618411.
  9. Book: Manogaran. Chelvadurai. Ethnic Conflict and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka. 1987. University of Hawaii Press. 978-0-8248-1116-7. 25–26.
  10. Book: Malalgoda. Kitsiri. Buddhism in Sinhalese Society, 1750–1900: A Study of Religious Revival and Change. 1976. University of California Press. 0-520-02873-2. 29.
  11. Book: Dias. M.. Koralage. S.B.. Asanga. K.. The archaeological heritage of Jaffna peninsula. 2016. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). Colombo. 978-955-9159-99-5. 183, 186.
  12. Book: Ray. H.C.. University of Ceylon, History of Ceylon: Volume I (From the earliest time to 1505): Part II (From the Cola conquest in 1017 to the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505). 2016. Ceylon University Press. Colombo. 726.
  13. Mendis (1999), p. 11
  14. Blaze (1995), p. 58
  15. Wijesooriya (2006), p. 89
  16. Blaze (1995), p. 59
  17. Perera (2001), p. 48
  18. Gunawardana, R.A.L.H., ‘Prelude to the State: An Early Phase in the Evolution of Political Institutions in Ancient Sri Lanka’, in Gunawardana, R.A.L.H., S. Pathmanathan and M. Rohanadeera (eds.), Reflections on a Heritage: Historical Scholarship on Premodern Sri Lanka, Volume 1, part 1, Central Cultural Fund, Colombo, 1998, pp. 83- 122.
  19. De Silva (1981), p. 21
  20. Rambukwelle (1993), p. 38
  21. Siriweera (2004), p. 92
  22. Web site: Ratnatunga. Rhajiv. LIST OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF LANKA. lakdiva.org. 1 January 2018.
  23. Book: de Silva. K. M.. A History of Sri Lanka. 2005. Penguin Books India. Sri Lanka. 9789558095928. 1 January 2018.
  24. Book: Gunasekara. B.. The Rajavaliya : or, A historical narrative of Sinhalese kings from Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Surya II. 1900. Government Printer, Ceylon. Colombo. 81-206-1029-6. 1 January 2018.
  25. Web site: The Mahavamsa: Original Version Chapters 1 – 37. 27 May 2008 . Mahavamsa.org. 27 February 2013.
  26. Witzel, Michael (2019). "Early 'Aryans' and their neighbors outside and inside India". Journal of Biosciences. 44 (3): 58. doi:10.1007/s12038-019-9881-7. ISSN 0973-7138. PMID 31389347. S2CID 195804491.
  27. Book: Geiger (Tr), Wilhelm. The Mahawamsa or Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Oxford University Press (for the Pali Text Society). 1912. Oxford. 300. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081030142737/http://lakdiva.org/culavamsa/vol_0.html. 2008-10-30.
  28. S G M Weerasinghe, A history of the cultural relations between Sri Lanka and China: an aspect of the Silk Route, Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, 1995,, p.40
  29. Stephen Spencer Gosch, Peter N. Stearns, Premodern Travel in World History, Routledge, 2008;, p.93
  30. Web site: Cousins. L. S.. The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article. indology. 27 February 2013.
  31. W. D. J. Benilie Priyanka Emmanuel, Civilization in its Own Words: Inscriptions and Archaeology in Ancient Sri Lanka, University of California, PhD, 2000 p.42
  32. Ajith Amarasinghe,Finding Sinhabahu: An analysis of the early history of Sri Lanka documented in ancient chronicles, Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2019
  33. KM Da Silva, A History of Sri Lanka, 1981, pp.3-4
  34. Book: Codrington, Humphry William . A Short History of Lanka . 1926 . London . Macmillan . The Dambadeniya And Gampola Kings . http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap05.html . 27 February 2013.

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