Sovereigns of Sri Lanka: King Sena IV [954-956 CE] (හතරවන සේන රජතුමා)

Predecessor		Successor
Udaya IV [946-954 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Sena IV [954-956 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Mahinda IV [956-972 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Sena IV (954–956 CE) was a monarch of the Second Lambakanna Dynasty who ruled for a brief period of three years during the mid-10th century. Prior to his accession, he served as yuvarāja (heir apparent) under King Udaya IV and resided at a place known as Sitthagama. He is chiefly remembered in historical sources as a highly learned and scholarly ruler.

Royal Heritage and Rise to Power

The ancient chronicles do not clearly record the genealogical relationships of the rulers between Dappula IV and Sena IV, leaving their exact relationship to the main royal lineage vague. Although epigraphical sources shed some light on the ancestry of several rulers of this period, the lineage of Sena IV himself has not been identified even through inscriptions.

Before ascending the throne, Sena IV served as yuvaraja under King Udaya IV. Following the death of Udaya IV, he was formally consecrated as king through hereditary succession. During his reign, he appointed Prince Mahinda (later King Mahinda V) as his successor.

The reign of Sena IV is described as a period of peace and prosperity. Contemporary sources portray a time when the people lived “without fear,” and the land enjoyed timely rainfall and abundant harvests.

Contributions of King Sena IV

Built a magnificent casket for the Tooth Relic, ornamented with various precious stones, and instituted sacrificial festivals in the four main vihāras
Turned Sitthagama, into a pariveņa

Royal Dynasty from Kassapa V to King Dappula III to Vickramabahu I

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. (1895). A Contribution to the History of Ceylon: Translated from Pujavaliya. H.C. Cottle.
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.
Upham, E. (1833). The Mahavansi, the Raja-Ratnacari, and the Raja-vali, Forming the Sacred and Historical Books of Ceylon; Also, a Collection of Tracts Illustrative of the Doctrines and Literature of Buddhism: Transl. from the Singhalese (1st ed., Vols. 2–3). Parbury, Allen, and Co.

Predecessor		Successor
Udaya IV [946-954 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Sena IV [954-956 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Mahinda IV [956-972 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

Also See

Full list of Sovereigns of Sri Lanka

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