King Virabahu [1196 CE] | AmazingLanka.com

Predecessor		Successor
Nissanka Malla [1187-1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Virabahu [1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Vikramabahu II [1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA

King Vīrabāhu I, also known simply as Vīrabāhu, was a ruler of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom who reigned briefly in 1196 CE. He was the son and immediate successor of King Niśśaṅka Malla, yet his rule is remembered as the shortest of the Kalinga dynasty, lasting no more than a single night or day.

Royal Lineage and Early Life

Vīrabāhu belonged to the Kalinga dynasty and was the son of King Niśśaṅka Malla (r. 1187–1196 CE) and his chief queen, Subhadrā-mahādevī. His father, originally from Siṁhapura in the Kalinga kingdom, invested considerable effort in establishing the legitimacy of the Kalinga line in Sri Lanka. From an early age, Vīrabāhu was prepared for kingship and was raised to the position of Uparāja during his father’s reign.

Sources such as the Allai copper-plate charter provide some insights into his role as crown prince. These records mention his presence at court in the Abhiṣeka-maṇḍapa, the anointing chamber of the Three Relic House (Tun-da-gedora). There, Vīrabāhu sat alongside the Council of Ministers, indicating his active participation in administrative and diplomatic affairs before his accession.

Rise to Power

The succession of Vīrabāhu in 1196 CE initially appeared orderly and legitimate. Upon the death of Niśśaṅka Malla, he assumed the throne as the lawful heir. Yet the political reality of Polonnaruwa at this time was shaped by powerful military commanders who often acted as kingmakers, while Kalinga rulers increasingly functioned as figureheads. Almost immediately, the authority of the new king was challenged by the very military establishment entrusted with safeguarding his rule.

The One-Day Reign and Assassination

Vīrabāhu’s reign is defined by its sudden and violent conclusion. According to the Cūlavaṁsa, he was assassinated only one night or one day after his accession by the commander-in-chief of the army, General Tāvuru, also known as Lak-Vijaya-Singu Tāvuru-nā.

The motives behind this act vary across sources. The Sinhalese chronicle Pūjāvaliya claims that Tāvuru justified the killing on the grounds that Vīrabāhu was not of sufficiently high or equal birth, describing him as a son unequal to his father. This explanation, however, is difficult to reconcile with inscriptional evidence. Niśśaṅka Malla’s own records, including the Allai plate and inscriptions at the Hätadāgē, clearly identify Vīrabāhu as his legitimate son and chosen successor. Many scholars therefore regard Tāvuru’s accusation as a political pretext for seizing power or as a reflection of internal disputes concerning the status of Vīrabāhu’s mother.

General Tāvuru had previously been a dominant and trusted figure under Niśśaṅka Malla, serving as his sole commander-in-chief and even offering to lead military campaigns in the Pandyan kingdom. His assassination of Vīrabāhu marked a decisive shift, ushering in an era of rivalry among military leaders that steadily eroded royal authority.

Aftermath

The death of Vīrabāhu precipitated a severe succession crisis. Following the assassination, Tāvuru installed Niśśaṅka Malla’s younger brother, Vikramabāhu II, on the throne. His reign lasted barely three months before he too was murdered, this time by Coḍagaṅga. Such cycles of intrigue and violence continued unchecked, ultimately paving the way for the catastrophic invasion of Kalinga Māgha in 1215 CE.

Royal Dynasty in Plonnaruwa after Parakaramabahu the Great

References

Fernando, P. E. E. (1978). Allai Copper Plate Charter of King Nissankamalla. The Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, IV(1 & 2), 73–91.
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.
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.
Perera, J. (1957). An Examination of the Political Troubles That Followed the Death of King Parakramabāhu I. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series Volume V(Special Number), 173–182.

Predecessor		Successor
Nissanka Malla [1187-1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Virabahu [1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-	Vikramabahu II [1196 CE] -House of Kalinga-
COMPLETE LIST OF RULERS OF SRI LANKA