Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
85
King Datappabhuthi
Kingdom of Anuradhapura
535 AC - 535 AC

After King Silakala, the throne was taken by Prince Dathapabhuti. This king is mentioned in the royal chronicles as Dappulusen and also as the first Dappula, appearing in the Poojawaliya and the Nikayasangraha.

Legally, the kingdom should have been inherited by the eldest son, Prince Moggalana, who was in charge of the Pachina region. However, upon learning of the death of the previous king, Prince Dathapabhuti came from Malayarata and seized power. His younger brother, Prince Upatissa, who claimed that the kingdom rightfully belonged to him, was killed. This event caused significant unrest.

When Prince Moggalana, residing in the Pavita region, learned of this, he advanced to secure his inheritance and enforce justice. A fierce confrontation ensued. Prince Moggalana gathered his forces and set up camp at Rehera Kanda, while King Dathapabhuti stationed his army at Kiridigala. These locations are not precisely identifiable today, but Kiridigala could correspond to the present-day Mahakiridigama, about four miles from Mihintale.

Facing each other, Prince Moggalana proposed a wise suggestion to Dathapabhuti: “The battle is between you and me, not among the people. Let the fight be only between us and spare the citizens.” This represents an important precedent. It is a historical lesson for all rulers who seek to fulfill their personal ambitions at the expense of ordinary people.

The conflict arose because Dathapabhuti, driven by ambition and greed for the throne, acted recklessly, neglecting proper succession. He accepted Moggalana’s proposal, yet what followed was an extremely violent battle. The Mahavamsa poetically records the clash: the two armies fought fiercely, and the ensuing fire, thunder, and lightning of the battle are vividly described.

The younger warriors of Dathapabhuti’s forces were overwhelmed by the assaults of Moggalana’s troops, and many fell in battle. Realizing that victory was impossible, King Dathapabhuti took his own life, even as Prince Moggalana pleaded for him to surrender and spare his life. The battle ended with Dathapabhuti’s death.

As a result, the reign of King Dathapabhuti lasted only one month and one day. By disregarding justice and acting with extreme ambition and desire for power, Dathapabhuti’s life was tragically and prematurely destroyed.

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