King Dappula I [659-662 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
King Kassapa II [650-659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Dappula I [659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Dathopatissa II [659-667 CE] -House of Moriya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Dappula I: The Seven-Day Monarch of Anuradhapura

King Dappula I—referred to as Dapulu in the Rajavaliya—ascended the throne of Anuradhapura in 659 CE, following the death of his brother-in-law, King Kassapa II. His reign, however, was tragically brief, lasting only seven days, as he was swiftly overthrown by Hatthadatha, the nephew of King Dathopatissa I, with the backing of Tamil mercenaries who had become entrenched in the island’s politics over decades of warfare.

Background and Rise to Power

As King Kassapa II approached the end of his life, he summoned Prince Mana, his sister’s son, from Ruhuna. Entrusting him with both the affairs of state and the care of his children, Kassapa prepared the transition of power. Mana‘s father was Dappula, the autonomous ruler of Ruhuna.

Dappula came from a devout southern family, the son of Mahatissa and Samgasiva, and had two brothers, Aggabodhi and Maniakkhika. After the death of his brother Aggabodhi, the ruler of Rohana Kingdom, Dappula inherited control of the province and further strengthened his ties to the royal family by marrying the daughter of King Silameghavanna, sister of Kassapa II. He was also appointed Yuvaraja by Silameghavanna.

After Kassapa II’s death, Prince Mana performed his uncle’s funeral rites and assumed the responsibilities of governance. But the kingdom he inherited was politically unstable. Decades of civil conflict—particularly between Dathopatissa I and Aggabodhi III—had brought a steady influx of Tamil mercenaries from South India. These foreign troops had become an influential and often unruly power bloc in Anuradhapura, occupying key military roles and rendering the native Sinhalese Senapati little more than a puppet advised by Tamil officers.

Mana, determined to reassert Sinhalese control, began efforts to expel some of the Tamil mercenaries. This move provoked backlash. The mercenaries united and seized Anuradhapura while Mana was away from the capital. Rather than install one of their own as ruler, they sent word to Hatthadatha—King Dathopatissa’s nephew, who had fled to India years earlier—inviting him to return and promising their full support.

The Brief Reign of King Dappula I

Realizing he could not handle the uprising alone, Prince Mana called upon his father, Dappula, the powerful ruler of Ruhuna. Dappula arrived swiftly, and together they devised a political ruse, negotiating a false treaty with the Tamil mercenaries—promises the Sinhalese side never intended to uphold. The stratagem worked: Mana re-entered Anuradhapura peacefully and consecrated Dappula as king.

But the peace was short-lived.

The Return of Hatthadatha

Hatthadatha wasted no time responding to the call from the Tamil forces. He sailed from India, gaining widespread support from Tamil mercenaries and sympathizers across the kingdom. As he advanced toward Anuradhapura, more troops joined his ranks, and the threat grew insurmountable.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Prince Mana fled eastward, while Dappula returned to Ruhuna, carrying the treasury with him. Thus ended the reign of King Dappula I, who had ruled for just seven days—one of the shortest reigns in the island’s history.

Works of King Dappula I

Although Dappula I’s reign in Anuradhapura was brief, he ruled the southern kingdom of Rohana independently for a significant period and is credited with undertaking extensive religious works and patronage within the region.

Built Rohana Viharaya (Ruhunuvehera): location not identified.
Built Ambamala Viharaya
Built Khadirali Viharaya (presumably in Kataragama)
Repaired Anurarama Prasada
Repaired Muttolama Prasada
Repaired Sirivaddha Prasada
Repaired Takkambila Prasada
Built a image house in Ariyakari Viharaya
Built a 15 cubit (22.5 feet, 6.86 meters) high statue of Maithree Boddhisattva

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

Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa: Being The More Recent Part of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part I–II. Pali Text Society.
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya or a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
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.
Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.

Predecessor		Successor
King Kassapa II [650-659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Dappula I [659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Dathopatissa II [659-667 CE] -House of Moriya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA