King Udaya IV [946-954 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
Sena III [938-946 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Udaya IV [946-954 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Sena IV [954-956 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Udaya IV (identified as Udaya III in certain chronological traditions) was a ruler of the Second Lambakaṇṇa Dynasty who governed the Anuradhapura Kingdom for eight years, from 946 to 954 CE. He succeeded King Sena III and is remembered for successfully launching a counter-offensive against the Cholas to recover the spoils they had seized during their invasion of Anuradhapura.

Royal Heritage and Beginning

The ancient chronicles do not clearly record the genealogical relationships of the rulers between Dappula IV and Sena IV, leaving their precise links to the main royal lineage uncertain. According to the Velmilla inscription, Udaya IV was the son of King Kassapa IV (914-923 CE) and Queen Dev Gon (Devā). Prior to his accession, he held the high office of yuvarāja (heir apparent) during the reign of his predecessor, Sena III.

Consecration and Political Environment

Following the death of Sena III, Udaya IV was formally consecrated as king at Anuradhapura, adopting the regnal title Sirisanghabodhi (also rendered as Sirisangbo). His reign unfolded in a climate marked by internal administrative tension and a serious external threat from the Cola Empire of South India. Contemporary sources portray him unfavorably, characterizing him as indolent and excessively devoted to drink, shortcomings that allegedly contributed to administrative decay and the spread of corruption among provincial officials.

The Cola Invasion and the Pandyan Regalia

The most consequential episode of Udaya IV’s reign was the major military confrontation with the Cola king Parantaka I (873–955 CE). Some years earlier, during the reign of King Dappula IV (923-924 CE), the exiled Pandyan ruler Rājasimha II had entrusted his royal regalia, including his crown and other valuables, to the Sinhalese court after the Cola invasion of the Pandyan Kingdom. Having secured control over the Pandyan Kingdom, Parantaka I sought to conduct a formal coronation at Madhura but lacked these essential insignia.

When Udaya IV refused the Cola demand to surrender the regalia, a full-scale invasion of Ceylon followed. The Sinhalese army, commanded by its senāpati, attempted to resist the advance but was defeated, and the general was killed in battle. As a result, Udaya IV was compelled to abandon Anuradhapura, which was subsequently plundered by the Cola forces. He fled to the southern province of Ruhuna, taking the disputed regalia with him.

The Counter-Invasion and Recovery

The Cola army soon withdrew from Anuradhapura, partly because they were unable to capture Udaya IV in the rugged terrain of Ruhuna and partly due to pressure from the Rāṣṭrakūṭa ruler Krishna III (r. 939–967 CE), who threatened the Cola frontiers and required their military attention. After their withdrawal, Udaya IV appointed Viduragga (also known as Vijuragu) as senāpati. Viduragga launched a counteroffensive into Cola territory, successfully compelling them to return property seized during their invasion.

Inscriptions

The well-known Badulla Pillar Inscription, discovered at Mahiyangana, dates to the second regnal year of Udaya IV (948 CE). While the king was residing at the Mahiyangaṇa-viharaya, merchants and residents of the market town of Hopitigamu submitted a petition complaining of oppression and unlawful exactions by royal revenue officials. In response, Udaya IV promulgated a new set of regulations aimed at curbing such abuses and improving the administration of local market towns.

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
Sena III [938-946 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Udaya IV [946-954 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Sena IV [954-956 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA