Senarat of Kandy explained

Senarath
Thrisinhaladheeshwara [1]
Lankeshwara
Bhupathi
Succession:King of Kandy
Reign:1604–1635
Predecessor:Vimaladharmasuriya I
Successor:Rajasinghe II
Birth Place:Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Death Date:1635
Death Place:Sri Lanka
Place Of Burial:Royal Cremation Yard, Asgiri Temple, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Spouse 1:Dona Catherina
Spouse 2:Suriya Devi
Spouse 3:Sama Devi
Issue:Rajasinha II
Vijayapala
Kumarasinghe
Father:Virasundara Bandara
Mother:Consort of Virasundara Bandara
Religion:Theravada Buddhism

Senarath Adahasin was king of the Kingdom of Kandy from 1604 to 1635. He is said to be the successor to king Wimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy. However first-hand accounts are not available concerning what happened after the death of Vimaladharmasuriya I. According to most sources, he is said to be a cousin or brother of Vimaladharmasuriya. He was not a legitimate ruler hence he married not only the deceased king's widow Dona Katherina but also her two daughters, to legitimize his claim to the throne.

He did not possess the qualities of a king and during his time Portuguese forces laid waste to Kandyan territory in frequent invasions, which he could not effectively repulse. Several rebellions rose against him during his reign to quell those he aligned with the Portuguese.[2] Many of his military campaigns failed except for the Battle of Randenivela, the success of which was however largely due to Prince Dewarajasinghe, his youngest son.

When the time came for him to divide his kingdom between his two stepsons & his biological son, he tricked the other two & made Rajasinghe II (his biological son) inherit the main part of his kingdom including Kandy. His two stepsons died shortly afterward - some say Senerath was responsible for this elimination of potential heirs. Rajasinghe II thus became the sole heir to his kingdom.

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: chapter 1, Kandyan kingdom, page 15.
  2. Kandy Fights the Portuguese, C.Gaston Perera, Vijithayapa Publications,2007