Mahinda I of Anuradhapura

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Mahinda I
King of Anuradhapura
Reign738 – 741
Predecessor Kassapa III
Successor Aggabodhi VI
Issue Aggabodhi VII
Dynasty House of Lambakanna II
Father Manavanna

Mahinda I, known colloquially as Midel, was King of Anuradhapura in the 8th century, whose reign lasted from 738 to 741. He succeeded his brother Kassapa III as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his nephew Aggabodhi VI.

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Royal sources describe him as a humble and sentimental person who refused to wear the crown due to his grief on the death of his friend and possible lover, Nīla, with whom he had a very intimate relationship. Subsequently after his death, the king duly discharged his kingly duties but gave up pleasures of the kingly office.

He governed the country under the title of Adipada (Governor). He raised prince Aggabodhi (the son of his brother Kassapa III) to the office of Yuva Raja (Sub-King) . The Yuva Raja was entrusted with the administration of the eastern part of the country. His own son was entrusted with the administration of Ruhuna (Rohana District).

He caused to give 10 cartloads of alms at Mahapali Dana Sala (Alms Hall). He built a vihara (temple) and a Meheni Aramaya (Convent for Bhikkunis) and endowed it with the income of two villages.

He died in the third year of his reign. His nephew, Yuva Raja prince Aggabodhi, was in the capital at the time of his death and succeeded Mahinda as King Aggabodhi VI. [1]

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Vikramabahu was a medieval king of Sri Lanka. Following the death of his father in 1029, Vikramabahu led the resistance movement against the Chola invaders of the country, ruling from the southern principality of Ruhuna. He spent a number of years building up his forces to drive out the Chola, but died before he could launch his military campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chola conquest of Anuradhapura</span> Conquest of northern Sri Lanka (992-1070)

The Chola conquest and occupation of Anuradhapura Kingdom was a military invasion of the Kingdom of Anuradhapura by the Chola Empire. It can be seen as an ensuing conflict between Chola and Sinhalese kings after the initial conflict between Chola and the Pandya-Sinhalese alliance during conquest of the Pandya Kingdom by Chola king Paranthka I. After the defeat, Pandya king Rajasimha took his crown and the other regalia and sought refuge in Anuradhapura. The Paranthka made several futile attempts to regain regalia, including invasion of Sri Lanka on a date between 947 and 949 CE during the reign of Sinhalese king Udaya IV. Therefore, one of the driving motives behind the invasions of Anuradhapura by the Cholas' was their desire to possess these royal treasures. The conquest started with the invasion of the Anuradhapura Kingdom in 993 CE by Rajaraja I when he sent a large Chola army to conquer the kingdom and absorb it into the Chola Empire. Most of the island was subsequently conquered by 1017 CE and incorporated as a province of the vast Chola empire during the reign of his son Rajendra Chola I. The Chola occupation would be overthrown in 1070 CE through a campaign of Sinhalese Resistance led by Prince Kitti, a Sinhalese royal. The Cholas fought many subsequent wars and attempted to reconquer the Sinhalese kingdom as the Sinhalese were allies of their arch-enemies, the Pandyas. The period of Chola entrenchment in northern Sri Lanka lasted in total about three-quarters of a century, from roughly 993 CE to 1070 CE, when Vijayabahu I recaptured the north and expelled the Chola forces restoring Sinhalese sovereignty.

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References

  1. Obeyesekere, Donald (1911). Outlines of Ceylon history. Colombo, Ceylon : The Times of Ceylon. pp.  106–107.
Mahinda I of Anuradhapura
Born: ? ? Died: 741
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Anuradhapura
738741
Succeeded by