histoy G-10 E

8. Kandyan Kingdom

Introduction

After the collapse of the Kotte and the

Seethawaka kingdoms, it was the responsibility

of the Kandyan kingdom to protect the

independence of the country. Until 1815 the

kings and the people of that kingdom fulfilled

this responsibility completely by facing

numerous challenges never faced by any

kingdom that prevailed in this country. In this

unit you will learn about the beginning of the

Kandyan kingdom, which was the last kingdom

in Sri Lanka, its expansion, its administration

and its social and economic patterns.

8.1 Beginning and Expansion

The Kandyan kingdom was known by various
names such as Senkadagala Nuwara, Udarata
Rajadhaniya, Kande Nuwara, Mahanuwara
Rajadhaniya.

The capital of the Kanda Udarata Rajadhaniya was
Kandy (Mahanuwara). It is a naturally protected
location. The city of Kandy is protected by the
river of Mahaweli. It is very difficult to access
this city due to the ghats such as Balana and
Hunnasgiriya. Further, the Kandyan kingdom
consists of a balmy climate and a fertile land.

King Senasammatha Vickramabahu made
Kandy an independent kingdom for the first
time. It was a provincial ruling unit under
the Kotte kingdom during the ruling period
of king Parakramabahu VI. Therefore, King
Senasammatha Vickramabahu is considered as
the founder of the Kandyan kingdom.

The successor of king Senasammatha

Vickramabahu was his son, Jayaweera Bandara

(1511-1551). He ruled the kingdom, for a long

time. He was a friend of king Mayadunne, who

was the ruler of Seethawaka. In the incident

“Vijayaba Kollaya” that took place against

king Vijayabahu VI, who was the then ruler of

Kotte, king Jayaweera Bandara supported king

Mayadunne.

After King Jayaweera Bandara, his son

Karaliyedde Bandara acceded to the throne

of Kandy. He maintained a friendly policy

with the Portuguese. The Kandyan chieftains

were unhappy about this policy of Karaliyadde

Bandara. Therefore, they supported the

Seethawaka ruler, king Rajasinghe. Peradeniye

Veerasundara Bandara, who was a chieftain

of Kandy, assisted king Rajasinghe I to invade

Kandy. Karaliyadde Bandara, who could not

face this invasion, fled to the Portuguese with

his daughter Kusumasana Devi and his son in

law, Yamasinghe Bandara. Kusumasana Devi

was baptized in the name of Dona Kathirina and

Yamasinghe Bandara as Don Philip.

King Rajasinghe I, who captured Kandy in 1580,

ruled the areas in Kandy from Seethawaka.

But, king Rajasinghe I suspected Veerasundara

Bandara and tactfully killed him. After this

incident, the son of Veerasundara Bandara fled

to the Poruguese and was baptized in the name

of Don Juan of Austria.

The Kandyan chieftains were dissatisfied with

the policies of king Seethawaka Rajasinghe

on Kandy. As a result, the Portuguese, who

took the advantage from this opportunity, sent

Yamasinghe Bandara who was under their care

to Kandy and established a ruling, which was

loyal to the Portuguese, with the help of some

Kandyan chieftains. On the occasion when the