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The Drift of Ancient Kingdoms in the Post-Polonnaruwa Period: a Critical View of the Causes of Decline of Sinhala Kingdom

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The Drift of Ancient Kingdoms in the Post-Polonnaruwa Period: a Critical View of the Causes of Decline of Sinhala Kingdom 13th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Defence and Strategic Studies Sessions ID 652 The Drift of Ancient Kingdoms in the Post-Polonnaruwa Period: A Critical View of the Causes of Decline of Sinhala Kingdom DD Samaragunarathna1 and MAJ Gimantha Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University 1 [email protected] Abstract— The Sinhalese monarchy has its groups with different cultural backgrounds that origins in the settlement of North-Indian Aryan arrived in Sri Lanka for the purpose of immigrants to the island of Sri Lanka. According inhabitation. The first immigrants of Sri Lanka settled in the riverbanks of Malwathu Oya which to historical records, the first Sinhalese kingdom was later developed as the Kingdom of was established by King Vijaya in the valley of Anuradhapura. The agriculture-based civilisation Malwathu-Mahaweli river in 6th Century B.C. It of Anuradhapura evolved mainly after the advent was subsequently unified as a state during the of Buddhism. Later, due to invasion by the South reign of King Duttagamini and thus, the Rajarata Indian Chola Empire, the administration was kingdoms became a power center of moved from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa in administration and continued for nearly fifteen the tenth and eleventh centuries. The main decades. However, one can notice a gradual centers of power, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were located in the administrative decline of the Sinhala Kingdom after the latter heartland referred to as ‘Rajarata’. The thriving part of the thirteenth century, and the geographic economy of agriculture-based Rajarata was drift of the center of power had also taken place supported by an efficient reservoir system. The over time. This study was aimed at analyzing the notable factor is that for nearly eighteen causes of the drift of the medieval ancient centuries, political, economic and social kingdoms, especially in the post-Polonnaruwa administration was centered around Rajarata. period. The researches argue that the rationality Archaeological remnants of Rajarata reveal a civilisation that flourished by following the core of the views produced by different authors on values of Buddhism and Hinduism. Towards the various causes could be questioned. The causes, end of the twelfth century, the ancient kingdom found in various sources, such as climatic change, confronted many difficulties. After a century of collapse of the old order, exhaustion and growth, the energy that had founded the city of infertility of soil, the spread of malaria, foreign Polonnaruwa, built the reservoirs in the Rajarata invasions, the collapse of the irrigation system, and retaliated the advances from South Indian and the attractions offered by the Wet Zone as and Burma. By the mid-thirteenth century, the great city was more or less abandoned and the against the Dry Zones are examined in detail by Kingdom of Polonnaruwa collapsed. This also led the researchers to gauge what has happened in to the collapse of the hydraulic civilization of the past. Malvatu-Mahavali. This phenomenon as per W. I. Keywords: Rajarata Kingdom, Oriental Siriweera is the drift of kingdoms to the Southwest of the country. Despotism, Invasions Simultaneously, there was concentration of Introduction population in the north, resulting in the emergence of an independent Tamil kingdom in The historical period of Sri Lanka starts with the the Jaffna Peninsula in the last quarter of the 13th arrival of Prince Vijaya in the 6th Century BC. century. Dambadeniya, Yapahuva and Since this historical event, there were several Kurunegala in the Southwest successfully became waves of migrations, such as the arrival of princes the capital of the Sinhala kingdom from around Baddakachchana and Arahath Mahinda (233 CE). 1232CE. onwards, but their economic and During this period, there were various foreign 222 13th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Defence and Strategic Studies Sessions cultural achievements were never on par with happened at the later part of the Anuradhapura those of Rajarata. Besides, Post Polonnaruwa kingdom. Although Sri Lanka had closer cultural these centers of power of the Sinhala kings relations with the North India, South Indian existed only for short periods. The most powerful cultural interference was insignificant But, Hindu ruler of the time - Parakramabahu the 2nd who influences could be seen through the Sri Lankan vanquished Magha, started the restoration of society as well as it had an impact to the popular Polonnaruwa, but he established his base at Buddhism. According to Culavamsa some Dambadeniya. It is said that the area around the Buddhist kings patronized Hinduism. Along with Thuparama in Anuradhapura was in wilderness scenarios such as the influence of Buddhism, it when his son Vijayabahu the 4th started the can state that they did not pose a severe threat restoration at Anuradhapura. The “Culavamsa” upon the stability of socio-cultural co-existence states that the latter assigned the protection of within the kingdoms. Simultaneously, there were the city of Anuradhapura to Vanniyars or forest frequent threats carried out by powerful South chiefs; proceeded to Polonnaruwa and restored it Indian states which affected the stability and the as well before leaving for his capital security of the Sri Lankan state. Thus, this was an Dambadeniya. Historians are not in agreement on era in which territorial annexation and conquest, the cause led to the depopulation of Rajarata. The or direct political influences were achieved reasons for the decay of monumental monastic through armies marching across land or by sea complexes, the intricate irrigation network and and confronting opponent face to face in the the degeneration technology which helped the battle. The series of South Indian invasions of Sri ancient Sri Lankan to build an impressive Lanka are commencing with the robbing of the civilization are still being debated. This paper royal throne by Sena and Guttika, who were the critically analyses the causes that had been sons of a Dravidian entrepreneur engaged in presented by various historian that said to have trading in horses. During the weak rule of led to the decline of Sinhala kingdom in Post Mahinda V (982-1017 AD) Rajaraja I invaded Sri Polonnaruwa Period. Lanka about the year 993 A.D. And king Mahinda Thus the researchers argue about the rationality V had to flee to Rohana region while the son of of the views on various Several causes such as Rajaraja I known as Rajendra I, seized the crown, climatic change, collapse of old order, the decline jewels, the diadem and other valuables to India. It of agriculture due to soil erosion, exhaustion and marked the long-reigned Anuradhapura Kingdom infertility of soil, the spread of the malaria, which lasted for 13 centuries. foreign invasions, the breakdown of the elaborate administrative and social fabric which sustained The Cholas, having sacked Anuradhapura (1017 the complicated irrigation system, and the AD) moved the capital to Polonnaruwa which attractions offered by the Wet Zone as against the they named Janantha Mangalam and it marked Dry Zones have been postulated by various the initiating step towards the shift of the scholars. Sinhalese Kingdoms. It was located on the left bank of the Mahaveli river, was strategically Discussion located to thwart the resistance movements directed from the Rohona region, which was the A. The Northern and South Indian influence vs. safe heaven for rebels and the birthplace of the decline of the medieval Rajarata kingdom internal insurgencies against the foreign captive Close commercial contacts between India and Sri within the country. Lanka are reflected in the many ancient written records and they highlight the fact that the Island While the Cholas era was able to grasp the power was peopled by merchants in ancient times. over Rajarata region, several leaders organized According to Professor Paranavitana, accounts of resistance against them mainly from Rohana but the peopling of the Island, with merchants occasionally from the central mountain regions playing a leading role are more worthy credence. as well. Several regional leaders did want to make And the episode of Kuveni reflects the victory of an attempt to re-gain the power into their hands immigrants over the indigenous people and the including the son of deposed king Mahinda V. But synthesis of their cultures, of course with the Prince Kitti became the only one who succeeds predominance of the superior culture of the his mission of unify all Sinhala forces against migrants. Therefor it can conclude that the same Cholas and establishing power in 223 13th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Defence and Strategic Studies Sessions Polonnaruwa.During the Polonnaruwa period, were and left Polonnaruva hurriedly. The events only a few who ruled from the capital could that followed Magha's rule are totally different maintain their authority over the whole of Sri from the circumstances that prevailed when the Lanka. Except for Vijayabahu I (1070-1110), Cholas were expelled by Vijayabahu I. Once the Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) and Cholas were vanquished, the Sinhala rulers could Nissankamalla (1187-1196) the others were establish their authority in Rajarata basing rulers whose territorial power was mainly in the Polonnaruva as the capital and there were no Rajarata part of the Dry zone. Thus, it can claim further attacks from the Cholas or any other that foreign invasions played a key role in the Foreign power. decline and fall of the Rajarata civilization. As foreign invasions are nothing new in Sri Lankan Chandrabhanu, who invaded Sri Lanka towards history, yet this factor needs to answer questions the Mid-thirteen century, conquered some of the like what made specific invasion to the decline of regions held by Magha. Subsequently he Rajarata civilization and how did the collapse established his authority in certain parts of come at the latter part of the thirteenth century northern Sri Lanka with the help of the troops because On earlier occasions particularly when from South India.
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