King Vijayabahu IV [1270-1272 CE]

Predecessor		Successor
Parakramabahu II [1236-1270 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Vijayabahu IV [1270-1272 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Buwanekabahu I [1272-1284 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

Known to history as Bosat (Bodhisattva) Vijayabāhu because of his humane disposition and deep religious devotion, King Vijayabāhu IV was the eldest son of the scholar-king Parākramabāhu II and Queen Sunetradevi of the Girivaṁśa. His brief reign of two years marked the transition from the peak of the Dambadeniya period to an era of growing internal instability.

Rise to Power and Regency

Vijayabāhu’s ascent to power was gradual. In the twenty-second regnal year of his father, around 1258 CE, Parākramabāhu II was afflicted by an incurable illness that left him physically incapacitated. Recognizing his son’s administrative ability and military competence, the aging monarch entrusted Vijayabāhu with the governance of the state and the guardianship of his four younger brothers: Bhuvanekabāhu, Tilokamalla, Parākramabāhu, and Jayabāhu.

For nearly a decade, Vijayabāhu functioned as the effective ruler of Lanka, administering the kingdom while his father remained the nominal sovereign. This prolonged regency enabled him to consolidate authority and win the confidence of both the Sinhalese aristocracy and the Vanni chieftains, who increasingly deferred to his leadership. Following the death of Parākramabāhu II in 1270 CE, Vijayabāhu IV was formally crowned as king of a reunified Lanka.

Reign and Military Triumphs

The principal military challenge of Vijayabāhu’s reign was the second invasion led by the Javaka ruler Candrabhānu. Having assembled a formidable force of Pāṇḍya and Coḷa mercenaries from South India after his first defeat, Candrabhānu landed at Mahātittha (Mannar) and demanded the surrender of the Tooth Relic and the Bowl Relic.

In response, Vijayabāhu, assisted by his trusted cousin and minister Vīrabāhu, launched a decisive counteroffensive. A major engagement took place near the fortress of Yapahuwa (Subhapabbata), where the Sinhalese army inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Javaka forces. Candrabhānu fled in disorder, abandoning his wives, elephants, and royal insignia, which Vijayabāhu ceremonially dispatched to his father as tokens of victory.

Restoration of Ancient Cities and Religious Works

Driven by a vision of reviving the former glory of the Rajarata, Vijayabāhu IV initiated ambitious programs to restore Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. He lamented that Polonnaruwa had fallen into such ruin that “nothing remained but the name,” with its palaces and temples swallowed by jungle.

Under his patronage, the city’s massive ramparts, gate towers, and moats were reconstructed and compared in splendor to the legendary cities of Sāvatthī and Rājagaha. He repaired the Ratanāvalī (Ruvanveliseya) Cetiya, adorning it with a golden pinnacle, and restored numerous monasteries that had been devastated during earlier invasions. In his birthplace of Sirivaddhana, he completed a magnificent three-story shrine for the Tooth Relic.

Vijayabāhu IV was also an active patron of the Saṅgha. He convened a great Upasampadā (Higher Ordination) ceremony at Sahassatittha (Dastota) on the banks of the Mahāveli River, where he conferred honors upon senior monks and provided the community with the traditional eight requisites.

The Fall and Assassination

The reign of the Bosat king ended in sudden betrayal. In 1272 CE, during the second year of his formal rule, Vijayabāhu IV was assassinated under cover of darkness. The conspiracy was orchestrated by one of his own generals, Mitta, described in the chronicles as a “faithless friend.” Mitta bribed a slave within the royal household to carry out the murder, intending to seize the throne for himself.

Vijayabāhu’s brother, Bhuvanekabāhu I, fled from Dambadeniya when he heard of the murder of his brother. Mitta pursued Bhuvanekabāhu, but he managed to reach the fortress of Yapahuwa.

The assassination plunged the kingdom into brief turmoil. Mitta occupied the throne at Dambadeniya for a short period but failed to win the allegiance of the Rajput mercenaries. These troops, led by Thakuraka, remained loyal to the royal line and soon executed Mitta. Bhuvanekabāhu I subsequently ascended the throne, ensuring the continuation of the dynasty.

Works of Vijayabahu IV

Constructed a magnificent Royal Palace atop the Vatagiri fortress (known today as Vakirigala in Kegalle), along with a monastery that he gifted to the head thera (monk) of the Mahānettappasāda shrine.
Renovated the Nigamaggimaprasāda temple in Gaṅgāsiripura (modern-day Gampola).
Founded the Vanaggamapāsāda monastery within the region of Sindhuravana.
Established the Abhayarāja Pirivena (a center of Buddhist learning), also located in Sindhuravana.
Erected a three-story image house and a Buddha statue at the temple site founded by his uncle, Buvanekabāhu, in Kurunegala, naming the institution the Buvanekabāhu Pirivena.
Built a fortified Royal Palace at the summit of the Yāpahuwa Rock.
Undertook the extensive restoration of numerous decaying stūpas throughout the ancient capitals of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

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

Codrington, H. W. (1960). The decline of the medieval Sinhalese kingdom. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), 7(1), 93-103.
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. (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.
Mendis, O. (1998). The story of the Sri Lankans: A Small People with a Great History of Over 2500 Years from the Tiny Island in the Indian Ocean. A Sridevi Publication.
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.
Obeyesekere, D. (1911). History of Ceylon : Outlines of Ceylon History. The Times of Ceylon Colombo.

Predecessor		Successor
Parakramabahu II [1236-1270 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Vijayabahu IV [1270-1272 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-	Buwanekabahu I [1272-1284 CE] -House of Siri Sangabo-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA