Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Kassapa III [724-730 CE] (තුන්වන කස්සප රජතුමා)

Predecessor		Successor
King Aggabodhi V [718-724 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Kassapa III [724-730 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Mahinda I [730-733 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Kassapa III, called Kasabu in Pujavaliya and Rajavaliya, the second son of King Manavamma, ascended the throne of Anuradhapura in 724 CE, following the death of his elder brother, King Aggabodhi V. Like his brothers, Kassapa was born during their father’s exile in the Pallava Kingdom and was brought up during a period of political restoration following decades of instability and Tamil interference in the royal court.

The Culavamsa, Sri Lanka’s principal historical chronicle, provides only limited detail on his reign due to the loss of some original ola leaves when it was translated. However, it is known that Kassapa III ruled for eight years, during which he continued the policies of his father by supporting the Sangha, restoring religious institutions, and strengthening royal authority after a prolonged period of internal strife.

His rule is remembered as part of the consolidation phase of the Lambakanna dynasty’s revival, with relative peace prevailing in the kingdom during his reign. Kassapa III was succeeded by his younger brother, King Mahinda I, in 732 CE, ensuring that the lineage of Manavamma remained unbroken.

Works of King Kassapa III

Built Helagam Pirivena (source: Rajarathnakaraya)

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 Aggabodhi V [718-724 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Kassapa III [724-730 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	King Mahinda I [730-733 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

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Works of King Kassapa III

Ancient Manuscripts Detailing the Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

References

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