King Dathopatissa II [659-667 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Dappula I [659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Dathopatissa II [659-667 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Aggabodhi IV [667-683 CE] -House of Moriya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Dathopatissa II—also known as Lemini Dalupa Tissa in the Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya—ascended the throne of Anuradhapura in 659 CE, following the swift downfall of King Dappula I, who reigned for only seven days. He was born Prince Hatthadatha, the nephew of a former monarch, King Dathopatissa I, and assumed his uncle’s royal name upon his coronation.

Background and Rise to Power

The turbulent period preceding his reign was marked by prolonged conflict between Aggabodhi III (632–643 CE) and Dathopatissa I (643–650 CE), during which both monarchs were repeatedly defeated and exiled to India, only to return with Tamil mercenary forces. This near-decade-long war significantly destabilized the Anuradhapura kingdom and led to the introduction and entrenchment of a substantial Tamil population within the capital.

Following the death of Dathopatissa I (643–650 CE) in battle against Kassapa II (650–659 CE) in 650 CE, Hatthadatha—his sister’s son—retreated to India again. However, the Tamil mercenaries left behind, who now held considerable influence in the kingdom, became discontent when Kassapa’s successor, Dappula I (659 CE), and his son, Prince Mana, attempted to expel them and restore Sinhalese control. In response, they secretly invited Hatthadatha back to Sri Lanka and pledged their loyalty.

Seizing the opportunity, Hatthadatha returned and quickly gathered a massive following as he marched to Anuradhapura. Dappula I fled to Rohana, and Prince Mana escaped to the eastern provinces. With little resistance, Hatthadatha entered the capital and assumed the throne, taking on the name Dathopatissa II.

Reign and Political Maneuvering

Upon securing power, Dathopatissa II appointed his cousin as Yuvaraja and granted him rule over Dakkhinadesa. He also distributed important administrative posts among his loyal Tamil supporters and initially attempted to maintain peace with the Buddhist clergy through grants and patronage.

However, religious tensions soon arose. Toward the latter part of his reign, Dathopatissa II provoked the Maha Vihara clergy by constructing a stupa within their precincts and gifting it to the rival Abhayagiri order, aligned with Mahayana Buddhism. In protest, the Maha Vihara monks symbolically turned down their alms bowls as they passed his palace, branding the king an unbeliever and signaling a breakdown in royal-monastic relations.

Rebellions and Battles

Meanwhile, Prince Mana had not remained idle. In the east, he quietly built a large army, later joining forces with his father’s troops from Rohana. Together, they marched to Tisucullasagama, preparing to challenge Dathopatissa II in a final confrontation.

In 662 CE, a great battle unfolded between the two forces. King Dathopatissa II emerged victorious, and Prince Mana was slain in the clash—solidifying Dathopatissa‘s rule for the time being.

King Dathopatissa II faced a significant challenge when Prince Manavamma, the son of King Kassapa II, launched an invasion with the backing of a formidable Pallava army from South India. The Pallavas, then under the reign of Narasimhavarman I, were one of the most powerful forces in the region.

Faced with this overwhelming threat, Dathopatissa II fled Anuradhapura, unable to withstand the strength of the invading army. However, rather than immediately consolidating power in the capital, Manavamma chose to pursue the fleeing king, hoping to end the threat permanently.

This decision proved costly. Around the same time, King Narasimhavarman I fell gravely ill, forcing the bulk of the Pallava forces to return to South India. Only a small contingent remained with Manavamma, leaving him vulnerable. Dathopatissa II, seizing this unexpected opportunity, regrouped and launched a counterattack. The weakened Pallava force was no match for his revived army, and Manavamma was forced to retreat back to the Pallava kingdom, temporarily abandoning his claim to the Anuradhapura throne.

Works of King Dathopatissa II

Built Kappura Pirivena for Abhayuttara Viharaya (Abhayagiri Viharaya)
Built Thiputthulla Viharaya for Abhayuttara Viharaya (Abhayagiri Viharaya) within the boundaries of Maha 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. (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.

Predecessor		Successor
King Dappula I [659 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Dathopatissa II [659-667 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Aggabodhi IV [667-683 CE] -House of Moriya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA