Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Anikanga [1209 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
Dharmashoka [1208-1209] -House of Kalinga-	Anikanga Mahadipada [1209] -House of Kalinga-	Queen Leelavathi [1197-1200, 1209-1210, 1211-1212 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

The early thirteenth century in ancient Sri Lanka was marked by a rapid turnover of monarchs and the overwhelming dominance of military kingmakers. After the relatively stable decade of King Niśśaṅka Malla (r. 1187–1196 CE), the Polonnaruwa Kingdom entered its political “twilight,” becoming a battleground for dynastic rivalry between the Kāḷiṅga and Pāṇḍya factions.

One of the most violent and short-lived episodes of this era was the reign of King Anīkaṅga Mahadīpāda (also known as Äniyanga or Eniyanga) in 1209 CE. His career vividly illustrates the vulnerability of royal authority in a period dominated by ambitious generals such as Āyasmanta.

Royal Lineage and Early Life

Anīkaṅga belonged to the Kāḷiṅga dynasty, a royal house that claimed legitimacy through descent from Vijaya, the legendary founder of the Sinhalese race. Some modern scholars, like Prof. Paranavitana, drawing on epigraphic and literary evidence, identify this Kāḷiṅga lineage not with eastern India, but with the Śrīvijaya empire of present-day Malaysia and Sumatra.

His formal position in the royal hierarchy was that of Mahadīpāda (Heir Apparent), indicating that he stood next in the direct line of succession. He was also the father of the infant prince Dhammāsoka, who would later be placed on the throne as a political puppet.

The Rise to Power: Conflict and Exile

Anīkaṅga’s path to kingship was blocked by the most powerful political figure of the period, the general and prime minister Āyasmanta (also known as Elalu Ābō Senevi or Āti). Acting as a classic kingmaker, Āyasmanta installed and removed rulers to suit his own interests. After deposing King Sāhasamalla in 1202 CE, he elevated Queen Kalyāṇavatī, the widow of Niśśaṅka Malla, to the throne.

Sources suggest that a serious rift developed between Anīkaṅga and Āyasmanta. Although Anīkaṅga, as Mahadīpāda, was the legitimate successor, Āyasmanta deliberately excluded him from power. Forced into exile, Anīkaṅga fled to the Coḷa kingdom in South India, where he exploited his royal status to secure a military alliance with the Coḷas, long involved in Sri Lankan dynastic politics.

In his absence, Āyasmanta further undermined his claims by deposing Queen Kalyāṇavatī in 1208 CE and placing Anīkaṅga’s own infant son, Dhammāsoka, on the throne. By installing a three-month-old child, Āyasmanta ensured that real authority remained entirely in his own hands, while preserving the appearance of Kāḷiṅga legitimacy.

The Invasion of 1209 CE

In 1209 CE, Anīkaṅga returned to Lanka at the head of a “great host of Tamiḷ (Coḷa) troops.” This invasion directly challenged Āyasmanta’s regency. The Coḷa army landed in the north and advanced rapidly toward Polonnaruwa.

The confrontation was brief but brutal. Anīkaṅga’s forces overwhelmed the royal troops in the capital. To eliminate all rivals and secure his position, he took the drastic step of killing his own son, the infant King Dhammāsoka. In the same purge, he executed Āyasmanta, thus ending the seven-year de facto rule of the Lolupälä clan. With his enemies removed, Anīkaṅga was consecrated as king of Lanka.

The Reign and the Downfall

The reign of King Anīkaṅga lasted only seventeen days, with some sources suggesting as few as fifteen. The same culture of military intrigue that had enabled his rise quickly led to his downfall. Just over two weeks after his victory, he was assassinated by his own general, Vikkantacamūnakka (also known as Manakka Senevi).

This second coup, occurring within a single month, was likely driven by the continuing struggle between the Kāḷiṅga and Pāṇḍya factions. Vikkantacamūnakka, favoring the Pāṇḍya-Sinhalese line, restored Queen Līlāvatī, the widow of Parākramabāhu the Great, to the throne for her second reign, once again plunging the kingdom into a cycle of contested sovereignty.

Royal Dynasty in Plonnaruwa after Parakaramabahu the Great

Ancient Manuscripts Detailing the Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

Sovereigns of Sri Lanka are chronicled in several ancient manuscripts. These texts not only record the lineages of kings but also the significant events and developments of their reigns. Some of the most significant ancient sources are:

Dipavamsa: compiled between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, and the earliest known historical chronicle
Mahavamsa: Initially compiled by Mahanama Thero in the 5th or 6th century CE, this chronicle was later expanded upon by other authors who added additional chapters. Covers events up until the reign of King Mahasena of Anuradhapura
Culavamsa: Starts where the Mahavamsa stops and records the history of Sri Lankan rulers from the 4th century to 1815. Mahavamsa and Culavamsa are often seen as one extended chronicle, commonly referred to simply as the Mahavamsa.
Pujavaliya: Written by a monk in or around 1266 during the reign of King Panditha Parakrama Bahu of Dambadeniya Kingdom
Rajavaliya: A 17th-century historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, covering the history of the island from its beginnings up to the accession of King Vimaladharmasurya II in 1687.

References

Codrington, H. W. (1960). The decline of the medieval Sinhalese kingdom. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), 7(1), 93-103.
Fernando, P. E. E. (1978). Allai Copper Plate Charter of King Nissankamalla. The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, IV(1 & 2), 73–91.
Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa Being The More Recent Part Of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part II–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
Gunasekara, B. (1895). A Contribution to the History of Ceylon: Translated from Pujavaliya. H.C. Cottle.
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Mendis, O. (1998). The story of the Sri Lankans. Sridevi Publication.
Nicholas, C. W., & Paranavitana, S. (1961). A Concise History of Ceylon: From the Earliest Times to the Arrival of the Portuguese in 1505. University of Ceylon.
Obeyesekere, D. (1911). Outlines of Ceylon history. Times of Ceylon.
Perera, J. (1957). An Examination of the Political Troubles That Followed the Death of King Parakramabāhu I. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series Volume V (Special Number), 173–182.

Predecessor		Successor
Dharmashoka [1208-1209] -House of Kalinga-	Anikanga Mahadipada [1209] -House of Kalinga-	Queen Leelavathi [1197-1200, 1209-1210, 1211-1212 CE] -House of Vijayabahu-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA