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Tissa, later Devanampiya Tissa, was one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 247 BC to 207 BC. His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great. The primary source for his reign is the Mahavamsa, which in turn is based on the more ancient Dipavamsa.
Anuradhapura Kingdom, named for its capital city, was the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka related to the Sinhalese people. Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 437 BC, the kingdom's authority extended throughout the country, although several independent areas emerged from time to time which expanded towards the end of the kingdom. Nonetheless, the king of Anuradhapura was seen as the supreme ruler of the entire island throughout the Anuradhapura period.
Valagamba, also known as Wattagamani Abhaya and Valagambahu, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Five months after becoming king, he was overthrown by a rebellion and an invasion from South India, but regained the throne by defeating the invaders fourteen years later. He is also known for the construction of the Abhayagiri Dagaba.
Siva I was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century BC, who ruled in the year 47 BC. He succeeded Kuda Tissa as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Vatuka.
Kutakanna Tissa, also known as Makalan Tissa, was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century BC, whose reign lasted from 42 BC to 20 BC. Known as the brother of king Kudatissa, Kutakanna Tissa re-established political stability and peace of the Anuradhapura kingdom by deposing queen Anula, an usurper to the Sinhalese throne. He was succeeded by his son Bhatikabhaya Abhaya.
Bhatikabhaya Abhaya was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century BC, whose reign lasted from 20 BC to 9 AD. He succeeded his father Kutakanna Tissa as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother Mahadathika Mahanaga.
Amandagamani Abhaya, also referred as Aḍagamunu, was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century, whose reign lasted from 21 A.D to 30 A.D. He succeeded his father Mahadathika Mahanaga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his brother Kanirajanu Tissa. He is recorded in historical chronicles as a great patron of Buddhism.
Kanirajanu Tissa was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century, whose short reign lasted from 30 to 33. He succeeded his brother Amandagamani Abhaya as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his nephew Chulabhaya. Mahavamsa mentions King Kanirajanu Tissa as an evil king who killed his brother King Amandagamini and ascended the throne.
Chandamukha Siva was King of Anuradhapura in the 1st century, whose reign lasted from 44 to 52. He succeeded his father Ilanaga as King of Anuradhapura.
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.
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, seizing the throne with assistance from a Tamil army. He was succeeded by his nephew Siri Naga II.
Jettha Tissa II was King of Anuradhapura in the 4th century, whose reign lasted from 332 to 341. He succeeded his brother Sirimeghavanna as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Buddhadasa.
Aggabodhi II was King of Anuradhapura in the 7th century, whose reign lasted from 608 to 618.
Sangha Tissa II was King of Anuradhapura in the 7th century, whose reign lasted the year 608. He succeeded his brother Aggabodhi II as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Moggallana III.
Aggabodhi III was King of Anuradhapura in the 7th century, whose reign lasted the year 623 and from 624 to 640. He succeeded his father Silameghavanna as King of Anuradhapura.
Jettha Tissa III was King of Anuradhapura in the 7th century, whose reign lasted from 623 to 624. He succeeded Aggabodhi III by a successful rebellion. He had sent his general Datasiva to the western part of the country to lay waste. The general was defeated by King Aggabodhi's sub-king Mana. Prince Jetta Tissa however withstood the King's forces and defeated him.
Kassapa II was the King of Anuradhapura in the 7th century, whose reign lasted from 650 to 659. He succeeded Dathopa Tissa I as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by Dappula I.
The Sinhalese monarchy has its origins in the settlement of North Indian Indo-Aryan immigrants to the island of Sri Lanka. The Landing of Vijay as described in the traditional chronicles of the island, the Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa and Culavamsa, and later chronicles, recount the date of the establishment of the first Sinhala Kingdom in 543 BC when Prince Vijaya, an Indian Prince, and 700 of his followers landed on the island of Sri Lanka and established the Kingdom of Tambapanni. In Sinhalese mythology, Prince Vijaya and followers are told to be the progenitors of the Sinhalese people. However according to the story in the Divyavadana, the immigrants were probably not led by a scion of a royal house in India, as told in the romantic legend, but rather may have been groups of adventurous and pioneering merchants exploring new lands.
References
- 1 2 Nishantha Joseph, Sujeewa. Sinhalese Kings (in Sinhala). Jayasinghe Book Publishers. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-955-0642-32-8.
