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Queen Anula of Anuradhapura was the first queen in Sri Lankan history to have wielded meaningful power and authority, as well as the first female head of state in Asia. Anula initially rose to power as consort of King Chore Naga, son of King Valagambahu of Anuradhapura. However, in her five-year reign, she poisoned her way through at least four other husbands and consorts, and she eventually governed Rajarata on her own. She should not be confused with the other famous Anula in Sri Lankan history, king Devanampiyatissa's sister-in-law, the first woman in Sri Lanka to be ordained as a bikkhuni. The primary source for her reign is the Mahavamsa, chapters XXXIV and XXXV.
Mahallaka Naga was the King of Anuradhapura from the House of Lambakanna I. He ruled from 135 till 141 AD. He was preceded by his father in law, Gajabahu I and succeeded by his son, Bhatika Tissa. During his succession to the throne, the king was very old, and thus he was popularly known as Mahallaka Naga or Mahalu Naga.
Mahakuli Mahatissa a.k.a. Maha Cula Maha Tissa was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century BC, who ruled from 76 BC to 62 BC. He succeeded his adopted father Valagamba as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his cousin Chora Naga.
Chora Naga, also known as Coranaga or Mahanaga, was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century BC, who ruled from 62 BC to 50 BC. He succeeded his cousin Mahakuli Mahatissa as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Kuda Tissa. King Chora Naga was not a follower of the Mahavihara sect. He had even demolished 18 temples that belong to Mahavira. As a result, the author of the Mahāvaṃsa referred to him as a thief.
Kuda Tissa was a king of Anuradhapura, the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. He ruled in the 1st century BC, between 50 BC to 47 BC. He succeeded his uncle Chora Naga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Siva I.
Bhatika Tissa was King of Anuradhapura in the 2nd century, whose reign lasted from 141 to 165. He succeeded his father Mahallaka Naga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother Kanittha Tissa.
Kanittha Tissa was King of Anuradhapura in the 2nd century, whose reign lasted from 165 to 193. He succeeded his brother Bhatika Tissa as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Cula Naga.
Cula Naga was King of Anuradhapura in the second century and the successor of Kanittha Tissa. He ascended the throne in 193 A.D. He only ruled for two years until he was overthrown and assassinated by his brother, Kudda Naga.
Siri Naga I was King of Anuradhapura in the 2nd century, whose reign lasted from 196 to 215. He succeeded his brother-in-law Kuda Naga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Voharika Tissa.
Voharika Tissa was King of Anuradhapura in the 3rd century, whose reign lasted from 215 to 237. He succeeded his father Siri Naga I as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother Abhaya Naga.
Abhaya Naga was King of Anuradhapura in the 3rd century, whose reign lasted from 237 to 245. He succeeded his brother Voharika Tissa as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his nephew Siri Naga II.
Siri Naga II was King of Anuradhapura in the 3rd century, whose reign lasted from 245 to 247. He succeeded his uncle Abhaya Naga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Vijaya Kumara.
Vijaya Kumara was King of Anuradhapura in the 3rd century, whose reign lasted from 247 to 248. He succeeded his father Siri Naga II as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Sangha Tissa I.
Kittisiri Meghavanna was King of Anuradhapura in the 6th century, whose reign lasted from 560 to 561. He succeeded his father Moggallana II as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Maha Naga.
Maha Naga was King of Anuradhapura in the 6th century, whose reign lasted from 561 to 564. He succeeded Kittisiri Meghavanna as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his cousin Aggabodhi I.
Aggabodhi I was King of Anuradhapura in the 6th century, whose reign lasted from 564 to 598. He succeeded his cousin Maha Naga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his nephew Aggabodhi II.
Aggabodhi II was King of Anuradhapura in the 7th century, whose reign lasted from 608 to 618. He succeeded his uncle Aggabodhi I as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother Sangha Tissa II.
Aggabodhi VIII was King of Anuradhapura in the 9th century, whose reign lasted from 816 to 827. He succeeded his brother Mahinda III as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother Dappula III.
The Pre-Anuradhapura period of Sri Lankan history begins with the gradual onset of historical records in the final centuries of the prehistoric period and ending in 437 BC. According to the Mahavamsa, the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka are the Yakshas and northern Naga tribes. Sinhalese history traditionally starts in 543 BC at the arrival of Prince Vijaya, a semi-legendary king who was banished from the Indian subcontinent with his 700 followers, and is recorded in the Mahavamsa chronicle. This period was succeeded by the Anuradhapura period.
