Thammanna Nuwara
Upatissa Nuwara
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Chola
Ruhuna
Polonnaruwa
Dambadeniya
Yapahuwa
Kurunegala
Gampola
Kotte
Sitawaka
Kandy
Portuguese
Dutch
British
Monarch of Ceylon
133
King Jagathpala
Kingdom of Ruhuna
1043 AC - 1046 AC

After causing the death of King Vikramapandya, a person named Jagatpala ascended to the throne. Although our local chronicles record it in this way, the Manimangalam inscription states that King Vikramapandya was slain by the Cholas. The Mahavamsa mentions that Jagatpala was born into the Rama lineage; however, such a clan is not indigenous to this island. The chronicles also state that he came from the city of Ayodhya.

Nevertheless, while describing the details of King Vijayabahu I, the Mahavamsa also notes that the princess Līlāvatī, daughter of King Jagatpala, was taken under his protection. Upon examination, she was found to be of pure and noble descent, and thus was consecrated as his queen.

As mentioned earlier, the Mahavamsa records that King Jagatpala came from Ayujjapura. Evidence to investigate this claim is scarce. The Pali word Ayujjha corresponds in Sanskrit to Ayodhya. The city of Ayodhya is mentioned in the Ramayana, identified with the land of Kosala, and described there as the dwelling place of King Rama. Professor Senarath Paranavitana has stated that the kings of Lanka traditionally claimed kinship with the solar Ikshvaku dynasty of Ayodhya in India.

The previously mentioned Manimangalam inscription also records that a prince named Virasalameghan, who came from Kanna Kuchchi, was slain by the Cholas, and that his relatives were persecuted by them. Such a king is not referred to in our local chronicles, yet from the similarity of details, it appears that the Virasalamegha referred to by the Cholas is in fact the same King Jagatpala mentioned in the Mahavamsa.

The word Ayujjha can also be interpreted differently. In Siam (Thailand), the ancient capital city is called Ayudhya (Ayutthaya), with its full name being Dvaravati Sri Ayudhya. The same name is still used there today. Therefore, the Pali Mahavamsa might have referred to this Siamese city when mentioning Ayujjhapura, suggesting that Jagatpala came from that region. Dvaravati itself was an ancient city in India as well. This name is not unfamiliar to our history, for in our inscriptions the term Thavaraka is the Prakrit–Sinhala form of it.

Since relations between Siam and Lanka had long existed, it is reasonable to assume that when the Chola threat arose in Lanka, the princes of the Sinhala royal line sought refuge not in India, but in the land of Siam. The city of Ayodhya was founded somewhat after the period of Polonnaruwa, which raises questions about the timeline, yet Dvaravati is believed to be older.

How Jagatpala was able to cause the death of King Vikramapandya remains uncertain. He did not bring an army from abroad. It is also unclear whether Vikramapandya himself was a prince of this land or a foreigner. The Mahavamsa describes him merely as one who fled the country out of fear. The term Siarata (Sarattam) used there is ambiguous in meaning.

He (Vikramapandya) did not rule from Kataragama, where previous kings had resided. We know that his reign lasted for about one year. The man who killed him, King Jagatpala, ruled Rohana for four years. Some scholars speculate that Jagatpala came here at the invitation of the people of Rohana. It is evident that he enjoyed considerable support from the local populace. He is believed to have made Kataragama his royal capital.

However, according to the former Professor of History at Vidyodaya University, Handupelpola Punnaratana Nayaka Thero, Jagatpala too ruled from Kalatittha. The Cholas once again invaded Ruhuna. King Jagatpala faced them in battle, but could not achieve victory. The Cholas captured the king and put him to death. Moreover, they also seized his queen and his daughter, Princess Līlāvatī, along with all royal treasures, and sent them to the Chola kingdom. Thus, Rohana once again fell into disorder and anarchy.

Home | Era | Colony | Dynasty | Works | The Book | About | Contact
Copyright © www.mahawansaya.com All rights reserved. Copying or unauthorized use is prohibited. 2009 / 2026