King Dathopatissa I [643-650 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Aggabodhi III [632 CE] [632-643 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Dathopatissa I [643-650 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Kassapa II [650-659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Dathopatissa I—also referred to as Dalupa Tissa in the Pujavaliya and Lemini Dalupatissa in the Rajavaliya—ascended the throne in 643 CE after defeating King Aggabodhi III in battle. However, Aggabodhi fled to India, later returning to reclaim the throne. This triggered a prolonged period of conflict between the two rulers, with the throne changing hands multiple times over the ensuing years.

The continuous warfare drained the kingdom’s resources and destabilized the administration, ushering in one of the darkest and most turbulent periods in Sri Lankan history.

Invasion by Dathasiva

Dathasiva, a former minister of King Jettatissa III, fled to India following his king’s death in battle against King Aggabodhi III. He remained in exile for nearly a decade. During this time, he learned of growing tensions and weakening authority within Aggabodhi III’s rule, especially among his ministers.

Sensing an opportunity, Dathasiva returned to Sri Lanka with the support of a Tamil mercenary force, landing at Siyambalagamuva, near Galgamuva. In the ensuing battle, Aggabodhi III was defeated and forced to flee to India for a second time.

Following this victory, Dathasiva claimed the throne in 643 CE under the royal title Dathopatissa I.

One of the Darkest Eras in Anuradhapura

The years following Dathopatissa I’s ascent marked one of the darkest and most turbulent periods in the history of Anuradhapura. After being dethroned, King Aggabodhi III returned yet again—this time with another Tamil mercenary force—plunging the island into a prolonged civil conflict. Power changed hands repeatedly between Aggabodhi and Dathopatissa, as each vied for control of the kingdom.

To fund their war efforts, both rivals resorted to looting temples and religious institutions, causing irreparable damage to Sri Lanka’s spiritual and cultural heritage. According to the Culavamsa, Dathopatissa I, in a desperate bid to finance his campaigns, emptied the royal treasury, depleting the wealth amassed by generations of kings. He confiscated the valuables of the three great monastic fraternities—Maha Vihara, Jetavanarama, and Abhayagiriya—as well as the sacred relic temples. Golden images were melted down, and all gold offerings were seized.

At the Thuparama, he destroyed the gem-studded umbrella of the stupa’s pinnacle and looted its precious stones. Even the Maha Pali Alms Hall of the Maha Vihara was handed over to the Tamil soldiers, who subsequently burned down the Relic Temple and the royal palace.

Aggabodhi’s brief resurgence brought no reprieve. His brother and Yuvaraja, Prince Kassapa, further desecrated the sanctity of the capital. He broke into the relic chamber of Thuparama, stealing treasures deposited by King Devanampiyatissa and other former rulers. He even broke open the relic chambers of the Dakkhina Stupa and other sacred stupas, looting their riches.

This era of chaos and sacrilege came to an end around 650 CE, when Aggabodhi III died in exile in Rohana. His brother Kassapa eventually succeeded in driving Dathopatissa I back to India, finally restoring a semblance of stability to the war-ravaged kingdom.

Works of King Dathopatissa I

Sakavatthu Viharaya (Palawatu Viharaya : Rajavaliya)

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 Aggabodhi III [632 CE] [632-643 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Dathopatissa I [643-650 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Kassapa II [650-659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA