Esthetic roy at 20:14, 24 April 2022

2022-04-24T20:14:20Z

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{{Short description|Period of Sri Lankan history from 1597 to 1815}}
{{Main|Kingdom of Kandy}}
{{History of Sri Lanka}}

The '''Kandyan period''' covers the history of [[Sri Lanka]] from 1597–1815. After the fall of the [[Kingdom of Kotte]], the [[Kandyan Kingdom]] was the last Independent monarchy of [[Sri Lanka]]. The Kingdom played a major role throughout the [[history of Sri Lanka]]. It was founded in 1476.<ref name="globalsecurity">{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sri-lanka/history-kandy.htm|author=John Pike|title=Sri Lanka - Kingdom of Kandy - 1476-1818|website=globalsecurity.org|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> The kingdom located in the central part of Sri Lanka managed to remain independent from both the Portuguese and Dutch rule who controlled coastal parts of Sri Lanka; however, it was colonised by the British in 1815.<ref name="cp">{{cite web|url=http://www.cp.gov.lk/en/home/history-of-the-kandyan-kingdom.html|title=History of the Kandyan Kingdom - Central Provincial Council - Sri Lanka|website=cp.gov.lk|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

==Overview==
Periodization of Sri Lanka history:
{{Smalldiv|{{Sri Lankan history overview}}}}

==Background==
===Senasammata Vikramabahu ===
[[Senasammata Vikramabahu]] ruled the [[Kingdom of Kandy]] as a semi-independent kingdom under the [[Kingdom of Kotte]], Vikramabahu founded the city of Kandy making it the new capital of the Kandyan Kingdom. After 1476 the kingdom became a separate entity seceding from Kotte. Vikramabahu was succeeded by his son Jayaweera Astana (1511–1551) and then by [[Karaliyadde Bandara]] (1551–1581) who was succeeded by his daughter [[Kusumasana Devi|Dona Catherina]] (1581–1581). Dona Catherina was succeeded by Rajasinha (I) aka Tikiri Bandara (1581–1591) he was succeeded by [[Vimala Dharma Suriya]] (I) aka Konappu Bandara and his baptismal name Don Joao of Austria (1591–1604) and he was succeeded by his first cousin Senarat (1604–1635).

===Rajasinha II===
[[Rajasingha II]] was the son of Senarat and Empress Dona Catherina. He ruled from 1629 to 6 December 1687. It was during his time the [[Battle of Gannoruwa]] took place. The Portuguese forces who attempted to invade the Kandyan Kingdom were defeated at the city of Gannoruwa.900 Portuguese soldiers came to attack and only 33 were soldiers were alive after the battle.<ref name="dailymirror">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/37294/we-still-celebrate-the-bravery-of-king-rajasinghe-ii-|title=We still celebrate the bravery of King Rajasinghe II - Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka Latest Breaking News and Headlines|website=dailymirror.lk|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> After the death of his son Vimala Dharma Suriya (II) took over. Vimala Dharma Suriya married a princess from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. After Vimala Dharma Suriya's (II) death his seventeen years old son ascended the throne. [[Vira Narendra Sinha of Kandy]] reigned from (1707–1739). In his reign, the Kandy Maha Dewale was founded in 1731.His wife was a [[Madurai Nayak Dynasty]] princess from southern India. Since he had no children of his own he was succeeded by his wife's brother, [[Sri Vijaya Rajasinha]], who was of Nayakkar nationality which originated from south India. After that the throne of the Sinhalese kings passed to the Nayakkars till the history of Sri Lankan monarchies ended.

===Kirti Sri Rajasinha===
[[File:Panel View within the Kali temple in Munneswaram.jpg|thumb|Munneswaram temple, rebuilt by Kirthi Sri Rajasinha]]
[[Kirti Sri Raja Singha]] was the second Nayaka king of Kandy. The is credited for the revival of Buddhism and literature in Sri Lanka. Under the guidance and influence of [[Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero]], with the Dutch assistance, Kirti Sri Raja Singha successfully invited Bhikkus from Siam (Thailand) to revive the higher ordination of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. He also built the existing inner temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Raja Maha Vihara (Gangarama) in Kandy. During his reign the Mahavamsa chronicle was continued from the time of [[Parakramabahu IV of Dambadeniya]]. He also rebuilt the [[Munneswaram temple]] close to Chilaw.

=== Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha ===
[[File:Sri Rajadhi Raja Sinha, King of Kandy, on his throne.jpg|thumb|Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha]]
Sri [[Rajadhi Rajasinha]] (reigned 1782–1798) was a member of the Madurai royal family and succeeded his brother, Kirti Sri Rajasinha as of Kandy in 1782. Sri Rajadhi Raja Sinha was fluent in many languages including Pali and Sanskrit. His nephew Prince Kannasamy succeeded him. Prince Kannasamy was only 18 when he took over the throne.<ref name="jaffnaroyalfamily">{{cite web|url=https://www.jaffnaroyalfamily.org/kingdomkandyhistory.html|title=The History of the Kingdom of Kandy - The Royal Family of Jaffna|website=jaffnaroyalfamily.org|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

===Sri Vickrama Rajasinha===
[[Sri Vikrama Rajasinha]] was the last monarch to rule Sri Lanka. After he was captured by the British in 1815 it ended the history of Sri Lankan self governed monarchical rule. During his reign, he completed the [[Dalada Maligawa]] Temple by building the [[Paththirippuwa]]. He also built the [[Kandy Lake]].
[[File:SL Kandy asv2020-01 img10 Arthurs Seat view.jpg|left|thumb|Kandy Lake built by Sri Vickrama Rajasinha]]
He also donated more lands to Dalada Maligawa and the King gave high prominence to [[Kandy Esala Perahera|Dalada Perahara]]. Sri Vickrama Rajasinha embraced Buddhism and did sacrifices to the [[Temple of the Tooth|Tooth Relic of Buddha]].<ref name="jaffnaroyalfamily"/> Several ministers under the king conspired against him. They actively provided intelligence to the [[British Empire]]. On 14 February 1815, a British division entered Kandy and took possession of the city. Several of the ministers signed the [[Kandyan Convention]] which was an agreement for the deposition of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha and ceding of the Kingdom's territory to British rule. There were twelve signatories to the Kandyan Convention signed in the following languages: four signed in Tamil, three, in Tamil and Sinhalese and four, in Sinhalese. This act effectively ended the Sovereignty of the Kandy Nayakar Dynasty.<ref name="jaffnaroyalfamily"/> The king was captured by the British and send to Madurai as a prisoner. The signing of the convention is known as the greatest act of traitorship in Sri Lankan history.<ref name="jaffnaroyalfamily"/>

=== Great Rebellion of 1817–18 ===
The Great Rebellion of 1817–18 took place in the former Kandyan Kingdom after two years of it being captured by the British. The purpose of the rebellion was to make a blood relative of the Nayak kings named Doraisami the ruler again.<ref name="ceylon-ananda">{{cite web|url=http://ceylon-ananda.com/sinhalays-fearless-warrior/|website=ceylon-ananda.com|title=Sinhalay's fearless warrior|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> [[Keppetipola Disawe]] was sent initially by the British government to stop the uprising but ended up joining the rebellion as its leader and is celebrated for his actions even today in Sri Lanka. The rebels captured [[Matale]] and [[Kandy]] before Keppetipola fell ill and was captured and beheaded by the British. His skull was abnormal — as it was wider than usual — and was sent to Britain for testing. It was returned to Sri Lanka after independence, and now rests in the Kandyan Museum. The rebellion failed due to a number of reasons. It was not well planned by the leaders. The areas controlled by some Chiefs who helped the British provided easy transport routes for British supplies. Doraisami who was said to have a claim to the Sinhalese throne was found not to have any relation.<ref>[http://www.lankalibrary.com/geo/keppetipola2.htm Keppetipola and the Uva Rebellion] Virtual Library Sri Lanka. Retrieved 1 October 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2910|title= Uva Wellassa rebellion - 1817 -1818|access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="southasianmedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.southasianmedia.net/cnn.cfm?id=599218&category=Politics&Country=SRI%20LANKA|website=southasianmedia.net|title=Wellassa riots in 1818|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107164855/http://www.southasianmedia.net/cnn.cfm?id=599218&category=Politics&Country=SRI%20LANKA|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/080203/KandyTimes/kandytimes_0027.html|title=Torture tree of the British Army|access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="srilankatoday">{{cite web|url=http://srilankatoday.com/content/view/3171/52/|website=srilankatoday.com|title=1818 Uva Wellassa rebellion|access-date=22 December 2018}}{{Dead link|bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[History of Sri Lanka]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kandyan period topics}}
{{Sri Lanka topics}}
{{History of Sri Lanka bar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of Sri Lanka}}
[[Category:Kandyan period]]

Kandyan period - Revision history

Esthetic roy at 20:14, 24 April 2022