Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
159
King Buvanekabahu I
Kingdom of Yapahuwa
1274 AC - 1286 AC

A commander named Mitta bribed a servant within the royal household to assassinate the king, after which he seized the throne for himself.

However, Commander Mitta had no legitimate claim to the crown. In order to strengthen his position, he won the support of military officers through salaries and rewards. He also employed spies and assassins to eliminate potential rivals, including Prince Bhuvanekabahu, the brother of the late King Vijayabahu, who was a legitimate heir to the throne.

At this time, a contingent of foreign troops known as the Arya soldiers, who were serving in the royal army, refused to submit to Mitta's authority. Their leader, Commander Thakuraka, killed Mitta and informed the Sinhala commanders that he had acted on the instructions of Prince Bhuvanekabahu, the rightful claimant to the throne. Having secured the support of the Sinhala military leaders, he invited Prince Bhuvanekabahu to assume kingship.

Prince Bhuvanekabahu was then crowned as King Bhuvanekabahu I and ruled from Dambadeniya. However, after a short period, King Bhuvanekabahu I selected Yapahuwa as his capital city.

King Bhuvanekabahu I devoted considerable effort to the advancement of Buddhism and the Buddhist monastic order. He provided generous patronage to those engaged in copying and preserving religious manuscripts. He also sponsored the transcription of the Tripitaka and distributed copies to temples throughout the island, thereby promoting the study and preservation of the Pali Buddhist tradition.

A deeply religious ruler, King Bhuvanekabahu I is recorded in history as having reigned for eleven years.

Isura Wickramaarachchi, author of Mahavansa Pradeepikawa.

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