History Jaffna Kingdom

1 history

1.1 founding
1.2 aryacakravarti dynasty
1.3 kotte conquest , restoration
1.4 decline & dissolution

1.4.1 client state
1.4.2 cankili ii unsurper

history

founding

the origin of jaffna kingdom obscure , still subject of controversy among historians. among mainstream historians, such k. m. de silva, s. pathmanathan , karthigesu indrapala, accepted view kingdom of aryacakravarti dynasty in jaffna began in 1215 invasion of unknown chieftain called magha, claimed kalinga in modern india. deposed ruling parakrama pandyan ii, foreigner pandyan dynasty ruling kingdom of polonnaruwa @ time of soldiers , mercenaries kalinga, modern kerala , damila (tamil nadu) regions in india.

pandyan tribute paying territories circa 1250, includes became jaffna kingdom in sri lanka

after conquest of rajarata, moved capital jaffna peninsula more secured heavy vanni forest , ruled tribute-paying subordinate of chola empire of tanjavur, in modern tamil nadu, india. during period (1247), malay chieftain tambralinga in modern thailand named chandrabhanu invaded politically fragmented island. although king parakramabahu ii (1236–70) dambadeniya able repulse attack, chandrabhanu moved north , secured throne himself around 1255 magha. sadayavarman sundara pandyan invaded sri lanka in 13th century , defeated chandrabhanu usurper of jaffna kingdom in northern sri lanka. sadayavarman sundara pandyan forced chandrabhanu submit pandyan rule , pay tributes pandyan dynasty. later on when candrabhanu became powerful enough again invaded singhalese kingdom defeated brother of sadayavarman sundara pandyan called veera pandyan , chandrabhanu lost life. sri lanka invaded 3rd time pandyan dynasty under leadership of arya cakravarti established jaffna kingdom.

aryacakravarti dynasty

when chandrabhanu embarked on second invasion of south, pandyas came support of sinhalese king , killed chandrabhanu in 1262 , installed aryacakravarti, minister in charge of invasion, king. when pandyan empire became weak due muslim invasions, successive aryacakravarti rulers made jaffna kingdom independent , regional power reckon in sri lanka. subsequent kings of jaffna kingdom claimed descent 1 kulingai cakravarti identified kalinga magha swami gnanaprakasar , mudaliar rasanayagam while maintaining pandyan progenitor’s family name.

politically, dynasty expanding power in 13th , 14th century regional kingdoms paying tribute it. however, met simultaneous confrontations vijayanagar empire ruled vijayanagara, southern india, , rebounding kingdom of kotte south of sri lanka. led kingdom becoming vassal of vijyanagar empire briefly losing independence under kotte kingdom 1450 1467. kingdom re-established disintegration of kotte kingdom , fragmentation of viyanagar empire. maintained close commercial , political relationships thanjavur nayakar kingdom in southern india kandyan , segments of kotte kingdom. period saw building of hindu temples , flourishing of literature, both in tamil , sanskrit.

kotte conquest , restoration

the kotte conquest of jaffna kingdom led king parakramabahu vi s adopted son, prince sapumal. battle took place in many stages. firstly, tributaries jaffna kingdom in vanni area, namely vanniar chieftains of vannimai neutralised. followed 2 successive conquests. first war of conquest did not succeed in capturing kingdom. second conquest dated 1450 successful. apparently connected war of conquest expedition adriampet in modern south india, occasioned according valentyn seizure of lankan ship laden cinnamon. tenkasi inscription of arikesari parakrama pandya of tinnevelly saw backs of kings @ singai, anurai, , else where, may refer these wars; dated between a.d. 1449-50 , 1453-4. kanakasooriya cinkaiariyan aryacakravarti king fled south india family. after departure of sapumal kumara kotte, kanakasooriya cinkaiarian re-took kingdom in 1467.

decline & dissolution

portuguese traders reached sri lanka 1505 initial forays against south-western coastal kotte kingdom due lucrative monopoly on trade in spices kotte kingdom enjoyed of interest portuguese. jaffna kingdom came attention of portuguese officials in colombo multiple reasons included interference in roman catholic missionary activities, (which assumed patronizing portuguese interests) , support anti-portuguese factions of kotte kingdom, such chieftains sittawaka. jaffna kingdom functioned logistical base kandyan kingdom, located in central highlands without access seaports, entrypot military aid arriving south india. further, due strategic location, feared jaffna kingdom may become beachhead dutch landings. king cankili resisted contacts portuguese , massacred 600-700 parava catholics in island of mannar. these catholics brought india mannar take on lucrative pearl fisheries jaffna kings.

client state

the royal family, first right cankili i, held off portuguese empire.

the first expedition led viceroy dom constantino de bragança in 1560 failed subdue kingdom wrested mannar island it. although circumstances unclear, 1582 jaffna king paying tribute of ten (10) elephants or equivalent in cash. in 1591, during second expedition led andré furtado de mendonça, king puvirasa pandaram killed , son ethirimanna cinkam installed monarch. arrangement gave catholic missionaries freedom , monopoly in elephant export portuguese, incumbent king resisted. helped kandyan kingdom under kings vimaladharmasuriya , senarat during period 1593-1635 intent of securing south india resist portuguese. maintained autonomy of kingdom without overly provoking portuguese.

cankili ii unsurper

with death of ethirimana cinkam in 1617, cankili ii, usurper, took control of throne after killing regent nominated late king. unable secure portuguese acceptance of kingship, cankili ii invited military aid thanjavur nayaks , allowed corsairs malabar use base in neduntivu, hence posting threat portuguese shipping routes through palk strait. cankili ii supported kandy rulers. after fall of jaffna kingdom, 2 unnamed princesses of jaffna had been married senarat s stepsons, kumarasingha , vijayapala. cankili ii expectably received military aid thanjavur nayak kingdom. on part, raghunatha nayak of thanjavur made attempts recover jaffna kingdom protege, prince of rameshwaram . however, attempts recover jaffna kingdom portuguese met failure.

by june 1619, there 2 portuguese expeditions: naval expedition repulsed malabari corsairs , expedition filipe de oliveira , 5,000 strong land army able inflict defeat on cankili ii. cankili, along every surviving member of royal family captured , taken goa, hanged. remaining captives encouraged become monks or nuns in holy orders, , obliged, avoided further claimants jaffna throne.