King Sanghatissa II [618 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
King Aggabodhi II [608-618 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Sanghatissa II [618 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Moggallana III [618-623 CE] -House of Moriya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Sanghatissa II came to power in 618 CE following the death of King Aggabodhi II. He was a relative of Queen Samghabhadda, the queen of Aggabodhi II, and had previously served as the palace sword-bearer. However, his reign lasted only two months.

The Attack by Moggallana

At the time of Sanghatissa’s coronation, Moggallana—the commander of Aggabodhi II’s army—was living in Rohana. Upon hearing of Sanghatissa’s rise to the throne, Moggallana assembled an army and marched toward Anuradhapura to challenge him.

Sanghatissa’s own commander betrayed him by feigning illness and sending his son to lead the troops instead. Many citizens, fearing the attack, fled the city. Despite having only a small force, Sanghatissa went to face Moggallana at Pacinatissapabbata, with his son accompanying him on the royal elephant.

During the battle, the treacherous commander launched a surprise attack on Sanghatissa’s army from behind. Surrounded and under pressure from both front and rear, Sanghatissa’s position became hopeless.

At one point, his elephant stopped under the shade of a Madhuka tree, and the royal umbrella was knocked off by a branch. Soldiers from Moggallana’s army picked it up and presented it to their leader, who raised it on a hilltop. Believing Moggallana to be the new king, many of Sanghatissa’s soldiers deserted him. Realizing defeat was certain, Sanghatissa fled the battlefield with his son and a loyal minister.

Moggallana, now victorious, returned to Anuradhapura with the traitorous commander and was crowned King Moggallana III (referred to as Lemini Bona in the Pujavaliya and Medi Bo Mugalan in the Rajavaliya).

The Death of Sanghatissa II

Sanghatissa, along with his son and minister, sought refuge in Veluvana Viharaya and disguised themselves as monks to escape to Ruhuna. However, they were recognized in Minneriya by Moggallana’s soldiers.

Overjoyed at their capture, Moggallana ordered that Sanghatissa and his son be taken to Sigiriya and executed, while the minister was to be brought to him alive.

The two were beheaded as commanded. When the minister learned he was to be spared and taken to serve the new king, he refused, stating he would not serve the man who had killed his rightful king. He requested to be executed as well, and the soldiers carried out his wish.

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 II [608-618 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Sanghatissa II [618 CE] -House of Moriya-	King Moggallana III [618-623 CE] -House of Moriya-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA