King Senasammatha Vikramabahu [1473-1511 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
	Senasammatha Vikramabahu [1473-1511 CE] -House of Dinaraja-	Jayavira Bandara [1511-1551 CE] -House of Dinaraja-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

The emergence of the Kandyan Kingdom, also known as Udarata or the Kingdom of Senkadagala, in the late fifteenth century marked a decisive turning point in Sri Lankan history. It signified the end of unified rule under the Kotte dynasty and the formation of a highland state that would withstand foreign domination for more than three centuries. Central to this transformation was Sēnāsammata Vikramabāhu (r. 1473–1511 CE), the founding ruler who exploited internal instability within Kotte to establish an independent sovereign polity in the central highlands.

Royal Lineage and Early Life

Sēnāsammata Vikramabāhu belonged to the Savuļu dynasty, a royal lineage that had risen to prominence during the Kotte and Gampola periods. Although older chronicles differ regarding his precise paternal descent, some historical sources, including the Rajaratnākaraya, describe him as a descendant of the Siri Sanghabodhi line, traditionally associated with the ancient rulers of Anuradhapura.

His early life is surrounded by legendary motifs typical of Sinhalese royal traditions. A narrative preserved in regional Vittipotas (books of incidents) recounts that before his accession there was no recognized king in Udarata, and that a state elephant was released to identify a worthy sovereign, eventually discovering a young prince living in seclusion with his mother at Asgiriya. While this tale is generally regarded as a later legitimizing rule, historical evidence indicates that he already held aristocratic rank as a Bandāra prior to his elevation. The honorific Sēnāsammata, meaning “approved by the army,” reflects the decisive role of military backing in securing his position.

Rise to Power and the Foundation of the Kingdom

Vikramabāhu’s rise occurred in the context of the political fragmentation that followed the death of King Parākramabāhu VI in 1467. During the reign of Bhuvanekabāhu VI (Sapumal Kumaraya), prolonged rebellions weakened the authority of Kotte in the lowlands. Vikramabāhu exploited this erosion of central control to assert his authority over the hill country.

By around 1473 CE, he had effectively established independence and founded his capital at Senkadagalanuvara (modern Kandy). Although he initially functioned as a tributary or samanta-raja under Kotte, his reign, which lasted at least 37 years, was largely devoted to consolidating and institutionalizing the autonomy of the highland kingdom.

Political Struggles and Relations with Kotte

Throughout his reign, Vikramabāhu pursued a consistent policy of resisting the suzerainty of the Kotte “emperors.” He ruled over the traditional five ratas of the highlands and frequently provided refuge to dissatisfied low-country nobles.

The most serious challenge to his authority arose during the reign of King Dharma Parākramabāhu IX of Kotte. When Vikramabāhu ceased paying tribute and launched raids into the neighboring Four Kōralēs, the Kotte court responded by dispatching Sakalakalā Vallabha of Udugampola to suppress the rebellion. Vikramabāhu’s forces were defeated, the Balana Pass was forced, and key areas of Yatinuwara were occupied.

In a humiliating act of submission, Vikramabāhu prostrated himself before Sakalakalā Vallabha and surrendered his royal insignia, including the pearl umbrella and white shield. He was compelled to accept harsher conditions of vassalage. Nevertheless, he soon resumed resistance. Following the death of the Kotte prince Śrī Rājasinha between about 1505 and 1510, Vikramabāhu initiated another revolt, again attacking the Four Kōralēs and abandoning all formal expressions of loyalty.

Foreign Encounters: The Portuguese Arrival

The final phase of Vikramabāhu’s reign coincided with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505. Although initial contact occurred mainly in Colombo and at the Kotte court, the Kandyan ruler was acutely conscious of the shifting geopolitical environment.

The Cūlavamsa records that during the closing years of the fifteenth century and the early decades of the sixteenth, Vikramabāhu concentrated on strengthening internal control. He did not engage directly in warfare with the Portuguese, yet his emphasis on regional autonomy created the conditions that later enabled his successors to both seek Portuguese assistance against Kotte and ultimately resist European domination. His grandson, Jayavīra Bandāra, would become the first Kandyan ruler to formally request Portuguese military support, initiating Kandy’s long and complex relationship with European powers.

Contributions to Buddhism and Literature

Vikramabāhu’s most significant religious contribution was the restoration and enlargement of the Alutnuwara Dēwālē and its associated monastic institutions. The Alutnuwara slab inscriptions document his endowment of land and resources to the Buddhist Sangha. The Gadaladeniya inscription, issued in his eighth regnal year, further attests to his authority over the central regions and his patronage of religious establishments. Under his rule, Senkadagala was adorned with palaces and temples, emerging as a cultural and religious counterpart to Jayavardhanapura Kotte.

The End of the Reign and Succession

Sēnāsammata Vikramabāhu died around 1511 CE. Unlike many rulers of Kotte, he appears to have ensured an orderly succession. He was succeeded by his son, Jayavīra Astāna (also known as Jayavīra Bandāra), who continued his father’s policy of strengthening Kandyan authority as the political center of Kotte continued to deteriorate.

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

Abeyasinghe, T. B. H. (1995). The Kingdom of Kandy: Foundations and foreign relations to 1638. In K. M. de Silva (Ed.), History of Sri Lanka: Volume II of III (pp. 139-161). University of Peradeniya.
Codrington, H. W., & Hocart, A. M. (1926). A Short History of Ceylon. MacMillan and Co. Limited.
De Queyroz, F. (1930). The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon: Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Account of Ceylon (S. G. Perera, Trans.; Vols. 3–3). (Original work published 1687)
De Silva, C. R. (1977). The rise and fall of the Kingdom of Sitawaka. The Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies, 7(1), 1-43.
Dewaraja, L. S. (1988). The Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka 1707-1782. Stamford Lake (Pvt) Ltd.
Geiger, W., & Rickmers, C. M. (1929). Culavamsa: Being The More Recent Part Of The Mahavamsa: Vol. Part II–II. Pali Text Society. (Original work published 1815)
Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya, a Historical Narrative of Sinhalese Kings Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Suriya II. George J. A. Skeen.
Ilangasinha, H. B. M. (1992). Buddhism in medieval Sri Lanka. Sri Satguru Publications.
Obeyesekere, G. (2022). The many faces of the Kandyan Kingdom, 1591-1765. Sailfish.
Somaratna, G. P. V. (1969). Political history of the Kingdom of Kötte (c. A.D. 1400-1521) [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of London.
Valentijn, F. (1978). François Valentijn’s Description of Ceylon (S. Arasaratnam, Trans.). Hakluyt Society. (Original work published 1724)
Wickremasekera, C. (2004). Kandy at war: Indigenous military resistance to European expansion in Sri Lanka 1594-1818. Manohar.

Predecessor		Successor
	Senasammatha Vikramabahu [1473-1511 CE] -House of Dinaraja-	Jayavira Bandara [1511-1551 CE] -House of Dinaraja-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA