Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Tissa (Kuda Tissa) [50-47 BCE]

Predecessor		Successor
King Coranaga [62-50 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Tissa [50-47 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Siva [47 BCE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Tissa, also known as Kuda Tissa, succeeded King Coranaga after the latter was poisoned by his queen, Anula. He was the son of King Mahaculi Mahatissa, and his reign lasted for approximately three years. During this brief period, Tissa continued his father’s emphasis on supporting Buddhism while attempting to maintain stability within the kingdom.

Palace Intrigue and Downfall

However, like his predecessor, Tissa’s reign came to an abrupt end due to palace intrigue. Queen Anula, having developed an attachment to a palace guard, orchestrated his assassination by poisoning him in order to remove him from power. This ushered in a period of instability in Anuradhapura, with Anula’s growing influence marking a turbulent phase in the affairs of the royal court and the kingdom.

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

Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya or a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Paranavitana, S. (1959). History of Ceylon (University of Ceylon): Vol. 1 (part 1)–3. Ceylon University Press.

Predecessor		Successor
King Coranaga [62-50 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Tissa [50-47 BCE] -House of Vijaya-	King Siva [47 BCE] -House of Vijaya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

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Palace Intrigue and Downfall

Ancient Manuscripts Detailing the Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

References

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