King Dappula V [924-935 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
Dappula IV [923-924 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Dappula V [924-935 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Udaya III [935-938 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Dappula V, (identified as Dappula IV in several modern chronological lists) was a ruler of the Second Lambakanṇa Dynasty who governed the Anuradhapura Kingdom for twelve years, from 924 to 935 CE. Prior to his accession, he served as Uparaja under the preceding monarch, Dappula IV. Following the death of Dappula IV in 924 CE, he was formally consecrated as king and adopted the regnal name Abā Salamevan.

Royal Lineage

The ancient chronicles do not provide a clear account of the genealogical relationships among the rulers from Dappula IV to Sena IV, leaving their exact position within the main royal lineage uncertain. To address this ambiguity, Professor Paranavitana relied on epigraphic evidence, reconstructing the line of succession through inscriptions. Based on this analysis, both Dappula IV and Dappula V are identified as brothers of King Kassapa V.

The Culavamsa does not specify Dappula V’s relationship to his predecessor, while the Pujavaliya, Rajavaliya, and Rajaratnkaraya describe him as the younger brother (mal) of the previous ruler. Epigraphic evidence further suggests that he was a son of Sena II and Queen Deva, making him a half-brother of Kassapa V.

The Pandyan Crisis

The most significant political development during the reign of Dappula V was the arrival of the Pandyan king Maravarman Rajasimha II. After being defeated and expelled from his own realm by the expanding power of the Chola king Parāntaka I, Rajasimha II sought refuge in Sri Lanka, landing at the port of Mahatittha.

King Dappula V received the exiled ruler with considerable honor, providing him with a residence outside the capital and granting ample resources for his upkeep. Initially, Dappula IV intended to uphold the long-standing alliance between the Sinhalese and the Pandyas by launching a military expedition to the mainland in support of Rājasimha II.

This plan, however, was thwarted by strong internal opposition. Influential nobles and high officials, fearing the consequences of open conflict with the increasingly powerful Chola state or entanglement in what they viewed as a destructive struggle, strongly resisted the proposal to send an army overseas. Recognizing that he could expect no effective military assistance and that his presence was contributing to internal instability, the Pandyan king chose to depart for Kerala, the homeland of his mother. Before leaving, he entrusted his royal diadem and other regalia to Dappula V, an act that would later become a decisive factor in provoking future Chola invasions of the island.

Rule and Domestic Achievements

Apart from his involvement in South Indian political affairs, Dappula V upheld the religious and cultural traditions of his predecessors. While the Culavamsa merely notes that he followed the practices of earlier kings, the Rajavaliya records that during his reign he was compelled to confront and successfully repel a Tamil force that had arrived from the Soli (Chola) country.

Death and Succession

King Dappula V died in the twelfth year of his reign, in 935 CE. He was succeeded by his Yuvaraja, Udaya III (also known as Udaya II), the son of the late heir-apparent Mahinda.

Royal Dynasty from Kassapa V to King Dappula III to Vickramabahu I

Works of King Dappula V

Granted a village to Mirisawetiya Viharaya

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. (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.
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.
Upham, E. (1833). The Mahavansi, the Raja-Ratnacari, and the Raja-vali, Forming the Sacred and Historical Books of Ceylon; Also, a Collection of Tracts Illustrative of the Doctrines and Literature of Buddhism: Transl. from the Singhalese (1st ed., Vols. 2–3). Parbury, Allen, and Co.

Predecessor		Successor
Dappula IV [923-924 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Dappula V [924-935 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Udaya III [935-938 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA