Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
142
King Vijayabahu II
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
1186 AC - 1187 AC

After the death of the great King Parakramabahu, who made the island prosperous, a prince named Kavishvara Pandita ascended the throne. At his coronation he received the name Vijayabahu. In the Nikaya Sangrahaya he is mentioned as Pandita Vijayabahu. Since he was the second to appear under this name, he is regarded as Vijayabahu II. Prince Nissankamalla was his sub-king (viceroy).

The Mahavamsa does not clearly explain whose relative this king was. It merely states that King Vijayabahu was a nephew of King Parakramabahu. If so, he must have been the son of one of Parakramabahu’s sisters. According to the Mahavamsa, this king had two sisters named Mitta and Prabhavati.

Princess Mitta was forcibly given in marriage by Prince Sirivallabha to his own son, Prince Manabharana, and Princess Prabhavati was also married by him. The son born to her was named Kittisirimegha. In addition to these, the Mahavamsa also indicates that King Parakramabahu had another sister named Bhadravati. She was given in marriage to King Gajabahu, who ruled Polonnaruwa. Thus, apart from the two daughters born to Queen Ratnavali, the Mahavamsa itself shows that King Parakramabahu had another sister named Bhadravati. However, there is no record that any of these three had a son named Kavishvara Pandita. Therefore, it appears that the king must have had another sister whose name is not mentioned, and that Prince Kavishvara was her son.

An inscription found at Polonnaruwa mentions King Vijayabahu. According to it, King Parakramabahu, in order to continue his royal lineage, acted in the same manner as earlier kings and sent to Sinhapura, brought his nephew from there, and installed him as king. Furthermore, since the inscription states that the prince was “himiyā pat bandavā” (invested as rightful heir), it is evident that he was formally established as the legitimate successor to the throne.

Accordingly, it appears that Prince Kavishvara resided in Sinhapura, which was the capital of Kalinga. Kalinga, situated between the Mahanadi River in the north and the Godavari River in the south, was a country that maintained many connections with the royal lineage of Lanka. It may therefore be assumed that an additional sister of King Parakramabahu, not mentioned in the genealogies, was married to a Kalinga prince, and that the son born to her was named Kavishvara.

The Mahavamsa portrays King Virabahu (Vijayabahu II) as a person of very good and virtuous character. He established friendly relations with the king of Ramanna. The cordial relations that had existed with Ramanna during the reign of Vijayabahu I deteriorated during the reign of King Parakramabahu. As mentioned elsewhere, this was due to the improper conduct of Bhuvanaditta (Alaung Sithu), who was then ruling Aramanna. King Vijayabahu II sent envoys and restored friendly relations with that country.

It is evident from the inscription mentioned earlier that King Vijayabahu, after ascending the throne, had to face a hostile power. Although he had been made the legitimate heir, this situation may have arisen due to opposition from certain treacherous ministers. At the same time, it appears that opportunists seeking to seize power were also present. Those powerful figures who had been unable to rise against the strict rule of King Parakramabahu may gradually have begun to raise their heads. The Mahavamsa does not mention any of these events. During this turmoil caused by wicked ministers opposing King Vijayabahu, it appears that a powerful person named Vijaya Yānthantāvan stood by the king. The reward granted to him for the service he rendered in suppressing the enemies is recorded in the said inscription.

King Vijayabahu adopted a lenient policy toward his enemies. He granted relief by releasing many who had been imprisoned by King Parakramabahu. Lands that had been confiscated by the state during the previous reign were released and returned to their owners. It is possible that he followed this course of action in order to win over those who opposed him. However, the expected results were not achieved. A person named Mahinda, through a cowherd woman named Dipani, caused the king to be assassinated. As a result, the reign of King Vijayabahu II was limited to one year.

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