King Vikkamabahu / Kassapa VI [1029-1041 CE]

King King Vikkamabahu I — King Kassapa VI

Predecessor		Successor
Mahinda V [982-1029 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Kassapa VI (Vikkamabahu) [1029-1040 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Mahale Kitti [1040-1042 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Kassapa VI, also known as Vikkamabahu, was a crucial figure of the Second Lambakaṇṇa Dynasty who preserved the spirit of Sinhalese independence during the height of the Chola occupation in the eleventh century. His reign, dated from 1029 to 1040 CE, was confined to the southern principality of Ruhuna, as the Cholas had maintained firm control over Rajarata from 993 CE onward.

Royal Heritage and Beginnings

Kassapa VI was the son of King Mahinda V (982-1029 CE), the last monarch to rule from Anuradhapura, and a queen of Kalinga origin. He was born with the name Kassapa. In 1017 CE, when the Chola king Rajendra I captured his parents, the young prince managed to escape and was secretly raised up in Ruhuna. He was about twelve years old when news reached him in 1029 CE of his father’s death in Chola captivity.

Rise to Power and Political Environment

Following his father’s death, Kassapa VI became the focal point of Sinhalese resistance to foreign rule. In 1029/1030 CE, the Cholas dispatched a military force to Ruhuna to capture him, but he was shielded by two loyal generals who successfully repelled the invaders after six months of sustained fighting. With his position secured, he assumed royal authority under the name Vikkamabahu, although in practice his power extended only over Ruhuna.

The political context of his reign was defined by foreign domination. The Cholas controlled northern Rājarata and Polonnaruva, while Ruhuna functioned as a refuge of autonomy and resistance. From this southern base, Kassapa VI devoted years to gathering men, resources, and funds in preparation for a decisive campaign to reclaim the island.

Refusal of Consecration

One of the most distinctive elements of Kassapa VI’s rule was his refusal to undergo formal consecration (abhiseka). Despite repeated appeals from his officials, he rejected the ceremony, reportedly stating that the raising of the royal umbrella was meaningless so long as Rajarata remained under foreign control. He therefore ruled as an unconsecrated monarch, directing all his efforts toward military preparedness rather than ceremonial display.

Death of Kassapa VI

Cola inscriptions in India state that Kassapa VI lost his life in the war against the Colas and that his royal diadem came into the possession of Rājādhirāja. The Cūḷavaṃsa, however, records that he died suddenly of illness in the twelfth year of his reign (1040 CE), while he was engaged in extensive preparations for a Cola campaign at Devinuwara (Dondra). It is therefore possible that the Cola account is exaggerated in its claims, although it remains plausible that his crown was among the spoils taken by the Colas.

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.
Sastri, K. A. N. (1935). The Cōḷas (Madras University Historical Series—no. 9): To the accession of Kulottunga I (1st ed., Vol. 1). University of Madras.

Predecessor		Successor
Mahinda V [982-1029 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Kassapa VI (Vikkamabahu) [1029-1040 CE] -House of Lambakanna-	Mahale Kitti [1040-1042 CE] -House of Lambakanna-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA