List of Sri Lankan monarchs

King of the Sinhala Kingdom
King of the Sinhala Kingdom
	Royal Standard of the King of Kandy in 1815
	Prince Vijaya
Details
First monarch	Prince Vijaya
Last monarch	Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
Formation	543 BC
Abolition	1815 AD
Residence	Tambapanni, Anuradhapura, , Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Gampola, Kotte, Kandy

The Sinhalese monarch -- anachronistically referred to as the Kings of Sri Lanka^{[N 1]} -- featured the heads of state of the Sinhala Kingdom, in what is today Sri Lanka. The monarch held absolute power and succession was hereditary. The monarchy comprised the reigning monarch, his or her family and the royal household which supports and facilitates the monarch in the exercise of his royal duties and prerogatives.

The Sinhalese monarchy originates 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) recounts the date of the establishment of the first Sinhala Kingdom in 543 BC^{[N 2]} when Indian prince Prince Vijaya (543–505 BC) and 700 of his followers arrived in Sri Lanka, establishing the Kingdom of Tambapanni.^[2]^[3] 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.^[4]

The Sinhala Kingdom comprised the political states of the Sinhalese people and their ancestors; it existed not as a series of successive kingdoms known by the city which had the administrative centre. These are (in chronological order): the kingdoms of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Gampola, Kotte, Sitawaka and Kandy. The kingdoms existed in what is today the modern state of Sri Lanka.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] The Sinhala Kingdom ceased to exist by 1815 with Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Kandy after generations of European influences and upheaval in the royal court. During the Kingdom's two millennia, other political entities also existed on the island, including the Jaffna Kingdom,^[9] Vanni chieftaincies and the Portuguese and Dutch colonies.^[10] However, these political entities were not part of the Sinhala Kingdom.^[11]^[12]

During the reign of Devanampiya Tissa (307–267 BC) Buddhism emerged through Ashoka of India.^[13] By the time of Kithsirimevan (304–332), Sudatta, the sub king of Kalinga and Hemamala brought the Tooth Relic of the Buddha to Sri Lanka because of unrest in the country.^[14] Kithsirimevan carried it in procession and placed the relic in a mansion named Datadhatughara.^[15] He ordered this procession to be held annually, and this is still done as a tradition in the country. The Tooth Relic of the Buddha soon became one of the most sacred objects in the country and a symbol of kingship. The person who was in possession of the Tooth Relic thereafter would be the rightful ruler of the country.^[16]

The role of the monarch was absolute. He was head of state but would be aided with high level officials and a board of ministers. The monarch was seen as the supreme ruler throughout the island, even at times when he did not have absolute control over it.^[17] They sought to establish control over the whole island, though in reality this was more of an aspiration. However periods of effective control over the whole island did exist from time to time.^[18] The monarch also held judicial power and influence. Judicial customs, traditions and moral principles based on Buddhism were used as the bases of law. The laws and legal measures were proclaimed by the king, and were to be followed by the justice administration.^[19] However the king was the final judge in legal disputes, and all cases against members of the royal family and high dignitaries of the state were judged by him. Though, the king did have to exercise this power with care and after consulting with his advisers.^[20]

This article is a list of monarchs that have reigned over the nine successive kingdoms under the Sinhalese monarchy.^[21]^[22] It is based on the traditional list of monarchs as recorded in the chronicles of the island, in particular the Mahavamsa and Rajaveliya.^[23]^[24] It is not a list of ethnically Sinhalese monarchs as it contains all Sinhalese and foreign rulers who have reigned, chronologically and in succession, in the Sinhala Kingdom. Each legitimate monarch belongs to one of nine royal houses (Vijaya, Lambakanna I, , , , , Siri Sanga Bo, and Nayaks^{[N 3]}), and follows a tradition of regnal names that span the entirety of the monarchy. For example, Vijayabahu was used 7 times over multiple kingdoms and multiple royal houses over a period of 500 years and there is no overlap of names, Vijayabahu I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII. The same is true for Aggabodhi, Bhuvanaikabahu, Kassapa, Mahinda, Parakramabahu and others. The Sinhalese Monarchy has also been ruled over by foreigners from Southern India, which has occurred several times throughout the course of the kingdom's history. This is usually occurred through the usurpation of the throne.

Those highlighted in blue are illegitimate foreign monarchs

Notes[]

This list should be used with the following factors kept in mind. Firstly, the dates provided for the earliest monarchs are difficult to objectively verify; those particularly difficult to know have been denoted with a (?) mark. The date August 20 1200 is the earliest known fixed date in Sri Lankan history, which was for the coronation of .

Other thing to be noted is the fact, several monarchs has usurped the throne of Lanka, including Sinhalese monarchs such as Anikanga, Chodaganga, and Mahinda VI.^[25] The usurpers may have received support from rival kingdoms such as the Cholas, thus making them 'foreign usurpers'.

Note on chronology[]

It should be borne in mind that there is controversy about the base date of the Buddhist Era, with 543 BC and 483 BC being advanced as the date of the parinibbana of the Buddha. As Wilhelm Geiger pointed out, the Dipawamsa and Mahawansa are the primary sources for ancient South Asian chronology; they date the consecration (abhisheka) of Ashoka to 218 years after the parinibbana. Chandragupta Maurya ascended the throne 56 years prior to this, or 162 years after the parinibbana. The approximate date of Chandragupta's ascension is within two years of 321 BC (from Megasthenes). Hence the approximate date of the parinibbana is between 485 and 481 BC—which accords well with the Mahayana dating of 483 BC.^[26]

According to Geiger, the difference between the two reckonings seems to have occurred at sometime between the reigns of Udaya III (946–954 or 1007–1015) and Pârakkama Pandya (c. 1046–1048), when there was considerable unrest in the country.^[26] However, mention is made of an embassy sent to China by Cha-cha Mo-ho-nan in 428. The name may correspond to 'Raja (King) Mahanama', who (by the traditional chronology) reigned about this time.^[27]

Furthermore, the traveller-monk Xuanzang, who attempted to visit Sri Lanka about 642, was told by Sri Lankan monks (possibly at Kanchipuram) that there was trouble in the kingdom, so he desisted;^[28] this accords with the period of struggle for the throne between Aggabodhi III Sirisanghabo, Jettha Tissa III and Dathopa Tissa I Hatthadpath in 632–643.

Recent indological research has indicated that the Parinibbana of the Buddha may be even later than previously supposed. A majority of the scholars at a symposium held in 1988 in Göttingen regarding the problem were inclined towards a date of 440–360 BCE. However, their calculations were based on the chronology of Tibetan Buddhism, preferred over that of the Dipavamsa/Mahavamasa; the modified chronology, to work, needs to identify the Indian ruler Kalasoka, son of Susunaga, with the Emperor Ashoka, son of Bindusara.^[29] The Sri Lankan chronicles are based on even earlier works and that the Theravada Buddhist canon was first put into writing in Sri Lanka. The chronology of the following list is based on the traditional Therevada/Sri Lankan system, which is based on 543 BC—60 years earlier than the Mahayana calendar. Dates after c. 1048 are synchronous.

Kingdom of Tambapanni (543–437 BC)[]

House of Vijaya (543–437 BC)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Marriages	Claim
Vijaya	? Sinhapura son of Sinhabahu, and Sinhasivali	505 BC Tambapanni	543 BC	505 BC	Kuveni two children Pandu Princess	Founded Kingdom Marriage to Kuveni
Upatissa (regent)	-	-	505 BC	504 BC		Prince Vijaya's Chief Minister
Panduvasdeva	-	-	504 BC	474 BC		Nephew of Vijaya
Abhaya	-	-	474 BC	454 BC		Son of Panduvasdeva
Tissa (regent)	-	-	454 BC	437 BC		Younger brother of Abhaya

Anuradhapura Kingdom (437 BC – 1017 AD)[]

House of Vijaya (437–237 BC)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Pandukabhaya	474 BC	367 BC	437 BC	367 BC	Grandson of Panduvasudeva Nephew of Abhaya and Tissa
Mutasiva	-	-	367 BC	307 BC	*Son of Pandukabhaya
Devanampiya Tissa	-	267 BC	307 BC	267 BC	*Son of Mutasiva
Uttiya	-	-	267 BC	257 BC	*Son of Mutasiva
Mahasiva	-	-	257 BC	247 BC	*Son of Mutasiva
Suratissa	-	237 BC	247 BC	237 BC	*Son of Pandukabhaya

Sena and Guttika (237–215 BC)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Claim
	Sena and Guttika	-	-	237 BC	215 BC	Defeated Suratissa in battle.

House of Vijaya (215–205 BC)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Asela	? Son of Mutasiva	205 BC Anuradhapura	215 BC	205 BC	Son of Mutasiva

Elara (205–161 BC)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Claim
	Elara	235 BC Chola Empire	161 BC Anuradhapura	205 BC	161 BC	Defeated Asela in battle

House of Vijaya (161–103 BC)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Dutugamunu the Great (a.k.a. Dutta Gamini or Dutugemunu or Duttagamini Abaya)	-	-	161 BC	137 BC	Defeated Elara Eldest son of Kavan Tissa *Originally the ruler of Ruhuna
Saddha Tissa	-	-	137 BC	119 BC	*Brother of Dutugemunu
Thulatthana (Tulna)	-	-	119 BC	119 BC	*Second son of Saddha Tissa
Lanja Tissa	-	-	119 BC	109 BC	Older brother of Thullattana Oldest son of Saddha Tissa
Khallata Naga (Kalunna)	-	-	109 BC	103 BC	Brother of Lanja Tissa Third son of Saddha Tissa
Vattagamani Abhaya (a.k.a. Valagambahu I) (Walagamba)	-	-	103 BC	103 BC	*Fourth son of Saddha Tissa

The Five Dravidans (103–89 BC)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Pulahatta	-	-	103 BC	100 BC	*Tamil Chief
Bahiya	-	-	100 BC	98 BC	*Chief Minister of Pulahatha
Panya Mara	-	-	98 BC	91 BC	*Prime Minister of Bahiya
Pilaya Mara	-	-	91 BC	90 BC	*Chief Minister of Panayamara
Dathika	-	-	90 BC	89 BC	*Chief Minister of Pilayamara

House of Vijaya (89 BC – 67 AD)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vattagamani Abhaya (a.k.a. Valagambahu I) (Walagamba)	-	-	89 BC	77 BC	*Fourth son of Saddha Tissa
Mahakuli Mahatissa (Maha Cula Maha Tissa)	-	-	77 BC	63 BC	Son of Khallatanaga Nephew and adopted son of Valagambahu I
Chora Naga (Mahanaga)	-	-	63 BC	51 BC	Son of Valagambahu I Cousin of Mahakuli Mahatissa
Kuda Tissa	-	-	51 BC	48 BC	*Son of Mahakuli Mahatissa
Siva I	-	-	48 BC	48 BC
Vatuka	-	-	48 BC	48 BC
Darubhatika Tissa	-	-	48 BC	48 BC
Niliya	-	-	48 BC	48 BC
Anula	-	-	48 BC	44 BC	*Widow of Chora Naga and Kuda Tissa
Kutakanna Tissa	-	-	44 BC	22 BC	Brother of Kuda Tissa Second son of Mahakuli Mahatissa
Bhatikabhaya Abhaya	-	-	22 BC	7 AD	*Son of Kuttakanna Tissa
Mahadathika Mahanaga	-	-	7	19	*Brother of Bhatika Abhaya
Amandagamani Abhaya	-	-	19	29	*Son of Mahadathika Mahanaga
Kanirajanu Tissa	-	-	29	32	*Brother of Amandagamani Abhaya
Chulabhaya	-	-	32	33	*Son of Amandagamani Abhaya
Sivali	-	-	33	33	*Sister of Chulabhaya
Interregnum	-	-	33	33
Ilanaga (Elunna)	-	-	33	43	*Nephew of Queen Sivali
Chandamukha	-	-	43	52	*Son of Ilanaga
Yassalalaka	-	-	52	60	*Younger brother of Candhamuka Siva
Subharaja (a.k.a. Subha)	-	-	60	67	*The hall porter of King Yasalaka Tissa

House of Lambakanna I (67–429)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vasabha	-	-	67	111	*A member of the Lambakanna clan
Vankanasika Tissa	-	-	111	114	*Son of Vasabha
Gajabahu I	-	-	114	136	*Son of Vankanasika Tissa
Mahallaka Naga	-	-	136	143	*Father-in-Law of Gajabahu I
Bhatika Tissa	-	-	143	167	*Son of Mahallaka Naga
Kanittha Tissa	-	-	167	186	*Younger brother of Bhatika Tissa
Cula Naga (a.k.a. Khujjanaga)	-	-	186	187	*Son of Kanitta Tissa
Kuda Naga (a.k.a. Kunchanaga)	-	-	187	189	*Brother of Cula Naga
Siri Naga I	-	-	189	209	*Brother-in-Law of Kuda Naga
Voharika Tissa (a.k.a. Vira Tissa & Voharikathissa)	-	-	209	231	*Son of Siri Naga I
Abhaya Naga	-	-	231	240	*Brother of Voharaka Tissa
Siri Naga II	-	-	240	242	*Son of Voharaka Tissa
Vijaya Kumara	-	-	242	243	*Son of Siri Naga II
Sangha Tissa I	-	-	243	247	*A Lambakanna
Siri Sangha Bodhi I (a.k.a. Siri Sangabo)	-	-	247	249	*A Lambakanna
Gothabhaya	-	-	249	262	Minister of State A Lambakanna
Jettha Tissa I (a.k.a. Detuthis I)	-	-	263	273	*Eldest son of Gothabhaya
Mahasena	-	-	274	301	Brother of Jettha Tissa Younger son of Gothabhaya
Sirimeghavanna	-	-	301	328	*Son of Mahasena
Jettha Tissa II	-	-	328	337	*Brother of Sirimeghavanna
Buddhadasa	-	-	337	365	*Son of Jettha Tissa II
Upatissa I	-	-	365	406	*Eldest son of Buddhadasa
Mahanama	-	-	406	428	*Brother of Upatissa I
Soththisena	-	-	428	428	*Mahanama's son born to a Tamil mother
Chattagahaka Jantu (a.k.a. Chhattagahaka)	-	-	428	428	Husband of Sangha Daughter of Mahanama by his Sinhala Queen
Mittasena	-	-	428	429	*A noted plunderer

The Six Dravidians (429–455)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Pandu	-	-	429	434	*Pandyan Invader
Parindu	-	-	434	437	*Son of Pandu
Khudda Parinda	-	-	437	452	*Younger brother of Pandu
Tiritara	-	-	452	452	*Fourth Tamil ruler
Dathiya	-	-	452	455	*Fifth Tamil ruler
Pithiya	-	-	455	455	*Sixth Tamil ruler

House of Moriya (455–691)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Dhatusena	-	-	455	473	Son of Sangha, the daughter of Mahanama Liberated Anuradhapura from 27 years of Pandyan Rule
Kashyapa I (the Usurper),(of Sigiriya)	-	-	479	497	*Son of King Dhatusena by a Pallava woman
Moggallana I	-	-	497	515	Son of Dhatusena Brother of Kasyapa
Kumara Dhatusena	-	-	515	524	*Son of Mogallana
Kittisena	-	-	524	524	*Son of Kumara Dhatusena
Siva II	-	-	524	525	*Uncle of Kirti Sena
Upatissa II	-	-	525	526	*Son-in-Law of Kumara Dhatusena
Silakala Ambosamanera	-	-	526	539	*A Son-in-Law of Upatissa, prince of Lambakanna stock
Dathappabhuti	-	-	539	540	*Second son of Silakala
Moggallana II	-	-	540	560	*Eldest brother of Dathappabhuti
Kittisiri Meghavanna	-	-	560	561	*Son of Mogallana II
Maha Naga	-	-	561	564	*Minister of War under King Dathapatissa
Aggabodhi I	-	-	564	598	*Mother's brother's son and Sub-King of Mahanaga
Aggabodhi II	-	-	598	608	*Nephew and son-in-law of Aggabodhi I
Sangha Tissa II	-	-	608	608	*Brother and Sword-bearer of Aggabodhi II
Moggallana III	-	-	608	614	*Commander-in-Chief during the reign of Aggabodhi II
Silameghavanna	-	-	614	623	*King Mogallana's Sword-bearer
Aggabodhi III	-	-	623	623	*Son of Silimeghavanna
Jettha Tissa III	-	-	623	624	*Son of King Sangha Tissa
Aggabodhi III (restored)	-	-	624	640	*Son of Silimeghavanna
Dathopa Tissa I (Hatthadpatha)	-	-	640	652	*General of Jettha Tissa (Dathasiva)
Kassapa II	-	-	652	661	Brother of Aggabodhi III Sub-King of Dathopa Tissa
Dappula I	-	-	661	664	*Son in law of Silimeghavanna
Dathopa Tissa II	-	673	664	673	*Nephew of Dathopa Tissa I (Hattha Datha)
Aggabodhi IV	-	-	673	689	*Younger brother of Dathopa Tissa
Unhanagara Hatthadatha	-	-	691	691	*A chief of Royal blood who was placed on the throne by a wealthy Tamil Officer

House of Lambakanna II (691–1017)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Manavanna	-	-	691	726	Son of Kassapa I Descendant of Silamegahavanna
Aggabodhi V	-	-	726	732	*Son of Manavamma
Kassapa III	-	-	732	738	*Brother of Aggabodhi V
Mahinda I	-	-	738	741	*Younger brother of Kassapa III
Aggabodhi VI	-	-	741	781	*Son of Kassapa III
Aggabodhi VII (From Polonnaruwa)	-	-	781	787	*Son of Mahinda
Mahinda II (Silamegha)	-	-	787	807	*Son of Aggabodhi VI
Dappula II	-	-	807	812	Son of Mahinda II The sub-king of Mahinda II
Mahinda III	-	-	812	816	*Son of Dappula II
Aggabodhi VIII	-	-	816	827	*Brother of Mahinda III
Dappula III	-	-	827	843	*Younger brother of Aggabodhi VIII
Aggabodhi IX	-	-	843	846	*Son of Dappula III
Sena I	-	-	846	866	*Younger brother of Aggabodhi IX
Sena II	-	-	866	901	Nephew of Sena I Son of Kassapa
Udaya I	-	-	901	912	*Brother of sub-king of Sena II
Kassapa IV	-	-	912	929	Son of Sena II Sub-king of Udaya I
Kassapa V	-	-	929	939	*Son of Kassapa IV
Dappula IV	-	-	939	940	*Son of Kassapa V
Dappula V	-	-	940	952	*Brother of Dappula IV
Udaya II	-	-	952	955	Nephew of Sena II Sub-king of Dappula V
Sena III	-	-	955	964	*Brother of Udaya II
Udaya III	-	-	964	972	*Sub-king of Sena III (a great friend of the king)
Sena IV	-	-	972	975	Son of Kassapa V Sub-king of Udaya III
Mahinda IV	-	-	975	991	Brother of Sena IV Nephew of Udaya III *Sub-king of Sena
Sena V	-	-	991	1001	*Son of Mahinda IV
Mahinda V (Fled and ruled in Ruhuna) (Deported c. 1017)	-	1029	1001	1029	*Younger brother of Sena V

Chola-occupied Anuradhapura (1017–1055)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Claim
Kassapa VI	-	-	1029	1040	Son of Mahinda V
	-	-	1040	1042
	-	-	1042	1043
	-	-	1043	1046
	-	-	1046	1048
	-	-	1048	1054
	-	-	1054	1055

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (1055–1236)[]

House of Vijayabahu (1055–1187)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vijayabahu I	-	-	1055	1111	*Member of the Sinhala Royal Family
Jayabahu I (Polonnaruwa and Ruhuna)	-	-	1110	1111	Brother of Vijayabahu I Prime Minister of Vijayabahu I
Vikramabahu I	-	1132	1111	1132	*Son of Vijayabahu I
Gajabahu II	-	-	1131	1153	*Son of Vikramabahu I
Parakramabahu I 'the Great'	1123	1186	1153	1186	*Grandson of Vijayabahu I
Vijayabahu II	-	-	1186	1187	*Parakramabahu I's nephew
Mahinda VI	-	-	1187	1187	*A Kalinga

House of Kalinga (1187–1197)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Nissanka Malla	1157 or 1158	1196	1187	1196	*Son-in-law or nephew to Parakrama Bahu I
Vira Bahu I	-	-	1196	1196	*Son of Nissanka Malla
Vikramabahu II	-	-	1196	1196	*Younger brother of Nissanka Malla
Chodaganga	-	-	1196	1197	*Nephew of Nissanka Malla

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1197–1200)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Queen Lilavati	-	-	1197	1200	*Widow of Parakramabahu I

House of Kalinga, restored (1200–1209)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Sahassa Malla	-	-	1200	1202	*Younger brother of Nissanka Malla
Kalyanavati	-	-	1202	1208	*Queen of Nissanka Malla
Dharmasoka	-	-	1208	1209	*Deposed Kalyanavati and installed by
Anikanga	-	-	1209	1209	*Father of Dharmasoka

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1209–1210)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Lilavati (1st Restoration)	-	-	1209	1210	*Widow of Parakramabahu I

Lokissara (1210–1211)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Lokissara	-	-	1210	1211	Leader of a Tamil army.

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1211–1212)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Lilavati (2nd Restoration)	-	-	1211	1212	*Widow of Parakramabahu I

Pandyan dynasty (1212–1215)[]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Parakrama Pandya	-	-	1212	1215	*Pandyan King

Eastern Ganga dynasty (1215–1236)[]

After Kalinga Magha invaded, with the intent of ruling the whole island, the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was sacked. This caused massive Sinhalese migration to the south and west of the island. Unable to capture the whole island Kalinga Magha establishes the Jaffna kingdom becoming its first monarch. The Jaffna kingdom is situated in modern northern Sri Lanka while the Kingdom of Dambadeniya was established by Vijayabahu III on the rest of the island in around 1220.^[30]

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
	Kalinga Magha	-	-	1215	1236	*A prince of Kalinga

Kingdom of Dambadeniya (1220–1345)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1220–1345)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vijayabahu III	-	-	1220	1234	*A patriotic Prince of Sinhala Royal blood
Parakkamabahu II	-	-	1234	1269	*Eldest son of Vijaya Bahu III
Vijayabahu IV	-	October 1270	1267/8	October 1270	*Eldest son of Panditha Parakrama Bahu II
Bhuvanaikabahu I (from Yapahuwa)	-	-	1271	1283	*Brother of Vijaya Bahu IV
Interregnum	-	-	1283	1302
Parakkamabahu III (from Polonnaruwa)	-	-	1302	1310	Nephew of Buvaneka Bahu I Son of Vijaya Bahu IV
Bhuvanaikabahu II (from Kurunagala)	-	-	1310	1325/6	Son of Buvaneka Bahu I Cousin of Parakrama Bahu III
Parakkamabahu IV (from Kurunagala)	-	-	1325/6	1325/6	*Son of Buvanekka Bahu II
Bhuvanaikabahu III (from Kurunagala)	-	-	1325/6	1325/6	*Known as Vanni Buvaneka Bahu
Vijayabahu V (from Kurunagala)	-	-	1325/6	1344/5	*Second son of Chandra Banu of Jaffnapatnam

Kingdom of Gampola (1345–1412)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1345–1412)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Bhuvanaikabahu IV	-	-	1344/5	1353/4	*Son of Vijaya Bahu V
Parakkamabahu V (from Dedigama)	1311	-	1344/5	1359	Son of Vijaya Bahu V Brother of Buvaneka Bahu IV
Vikramabahu III	-	-	1357	1374	*Son of Buvaneka Bahu IV
Bhuvanaikabahu V	-	-	1371	1408	*Nissanka Alakeswara's son by the sister of Vikrama Bahu III
Vira Bahu II	-	-	1391/2	1397	*Brother in law of King Buvaneka Bahu V
Vira Alakesvara (a.k.a. Vijaya Bahu VI)	-	-	1397	1409
Parakrama Bahu Epa	-	-	1409	1412	*Grandson of Senalankahikara Senevirat minister of Bhuvanaikabâhu IV.

Kingdom of Kotte (1412–1597)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1412–1597)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Parakramabahu VI	-	-	1412	1467	Son of Vijaya Bahu VI and his Queen Sunetra Devi Or the third son of Chandra Banu of Yapa Patuna (Jaffnapatnam)
Jayabahu II (Vira Parakrama Bahu VII)	-	-	1467	1472	*Son of Parakrama Bahu II's natural daughter, Ulakudaya Devi
Bhuvanaikabahu VI	-	-	1469	1477	*Son of Parakrama Bahu VI
Pandita Parakramabahu VII	-	-	1477	1477
Vira Parakramabahu VIII	-	-	1477	1489	Ambulagala Kumara Son of Parakrama Bahu VI
Dharma Parakramabahu IX (from Kelaniya)	-	-	1489	1513	*Son of Vira Parakrama Bahu VIII
Vijayabahu VI	-	1521	1513	1521	Brother of Dharma Parakrama Bahu IX Rajah of Menik Kadavara
Bhuvanekabahu VII	-	1551	1521	1551	*Eldest son of Vijaya Bahu
Dharmapala	-	27 May 1597	1551	27 May 1597	*Grandson and heir of Bhuvanekabãhu VII

Kingdom of Sitawaka (1521–1594)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1521–1594)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Mayadunne	1501	1581	1521	1581	Brother of Bhuvaneka Bahu VII Son of Vijaya Bahu VII
Rajasinha I (a.k.a. Tikiri Banda)	1544	1593	1581	1593	*Son of Mayadunne
	-	-	1593	1594

Kingdom of Kandy (1591–1815)[]

House of Dinajara (1591–1739)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Vimaladharmasuriya I (a.k.a. Don João da Austria)	-	1604	1591	1604	*Son of Vijayasundara Bandara
Senarat	-	1635	1604	1635	*Cousin of Vimala Dharma Suriya I
Rajasinghe II	1608	6 December 1687	1635	25 November 1687	*Son of Senarat and Dona Catherina
Vimaladharmasurya II	-	4 June 1707	1687	4 June 1707	*Son of King Rajasinghe II
Vira Narendra Sinha (a.k.a. Sri Vira Parakrama Narendra Singha)	1690	13 May 1739	4 June 1707	13 May 1739	*Son of Vimala Dharma Suriya II

Nayaks of Kandy (1739–1815)[]

Name	Birth	Death	King From	King Until	Marriages	Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Sri Vijaya Rajasinha	? Madurai, Madurai Nayak dynasty son of	11 August 1747 Kandy	13 May 1739	11 August 1747	1 Madurai Spouse	Brother-in-law of Vira Narendra Sinha
Kirti Sri Rajasinha	1734 Madurai, Madurai Nayak dynasty son of	2 January 1782 Kandy	11 August 1747	2 January 1782	6 Madurai Spouses 2 sons, 6 daughters	Brother-in-law of Sri Vijaya Rajasinha
Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha	? Madurai son of	26 July 1798 Kandy	2 January 1782	26 July 1798		Brother of Kirti Sri Rajasinha
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (a.k.a. Rajasinha IV; Kannasamy)	1780 Madurai son of and	30 January 1832 Vellore Fort, Company rule in India	26 July 1798	5 March 1815	4 spouses 3 children	Nephew of Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha

Timeline[]

Notes[]

^ The name Sri Lanka refers to the modern-day republic.
^ This is the most common date.
^ The Nayaks were not an ethnically Sinhalese royal house, nonetheless are considered a part of the Sinhalese monarchy.

References[]

^ "Anurādhapura". www.palikanon.com. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
^ Mittal (2006) p 405
^ "483 BC – Arrival of Aryans to Sri Lanka". scenicsrilanka.com. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
^ Paranavithana (1936) p 459
^ Cavendish, Marshall (2007). World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. Cavendish Square Publishing. pp. 350–51. ISBN 978-0-7614-7631-3.
^ Bandaranayake, S. D. (1974). Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Viháras of Anurádhapura. Leiden: BRILL. p. 17. ISBN 9004039929.
^ De Silva, K. M. (1981). A History of Sri Lanka. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-19-561655-2. A History of Sri Lanka.
^ Blaze, L. E. (1938). History of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-8120618411.
^ Manogaran, Chelvadurai (1987). Ethnic Conflict and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-0-8248-1116-7.
^ Malalgoda, Kitsiri (1976). Buddhism in Sinhalese Society, 1750–1900: A Study of Religious Revival and Change. University of California Press. p. 29. ISBN 0-520-02873-2.
^ Dias, M.; Koralage, S.B.; Asanga, K. (2016). The archaeological heritage of Jaffna peninsula. Colombo: Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). pp. 183, 186. ISBN 978-955-9159-99-5.
^ Ray, H.C. (2016). University of Ceylon, History of Ceylon: Volume I (From the earliest time to 1505): Part II (From the Cola conquest in 1017 to the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505). Colombo: Ceylon University Press. p. 726.
^ Mendis (1999), p. 11
^ Blaze (1995), p. 58
^ Wijesooriya (2006), p. 89
^ Blaze (1995), p. 59
^ Perera (2001), p. 48
^ De Silva (1981), p. 21
^ Rambukwelle (1993), p. 38
^ Siriweera (2004), p. 92
^ Ratnatunga, Rhajiv. "LIST OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF LANKA". lakdiva.org. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
^ de Silva, K. M. (2005). A History of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka: Penguin Books India. ISBN 9789558095928. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
^ Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya : or, A historical narrative of Sinhalese kings from Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Surya II. Colombo: Government Printer, Ceylon. ISBN 81-206-1029-6. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
^ "The Mahavamsa: Original Version Chapters 1 – 37". Mahavamsa.org. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
^ Corrington, p. 67.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Geiger (Tr), Wilhelm (1912). The Mahawamsa or Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Oxford: Oxford University Press (for the Pali Text Society). p. 300. Archived from the original on 2008-10-30.
^ S G M Weerasinghe, A history of the cultural relations between Sri Lanka and China: an aspect of the Silk Route, Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, 1995, ISBN 955-613-055-1, p.40
^ Stephen Spencer Gosch, Peter N. Stearns, Premodern Travel in World History, Routledge, 2008; ISBN 0-415-22940-5, p.93
^ Cousins, L. S. "The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article". indology. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
^ Codrington, Humphry William. "The Dambadeniya And Gampola Kings". lakdiva.org. Retrieved 27 February 2013.

External links[]

[2] The name Sri Lanka refers to the modern-day republic.

[3] This is the most common date.

[27] The Nayaks were not an ethnically Sinhalese royal house, nonetheless are considered a part of the Sinhalese monarchy.

[1] "Anurādhapura". www.palikanon.com. Retrieved 27 February 2013.

[Mittal-4] Mittal (2006) p 405

[scenicsrilanka.com-5] "483 BC – Arrival of Aryans to Sri Lanka". scenicsrilanka.com. Retrieved 2009-11-06.

[Paranavithana_1936_p_459-6] Paranavithana (1936) p 459

[Cavendish-7] Cavendish, Marshall (2007). World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia. Cavendish Square Publishing. pp. 350–51. ISBN 978-0-7614-7631-3.

[Bandaranayake-8] Bandaranayake, S. D. (1974). Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Viháras of Anurádhapura. Leiden: BRILL. p. 17. ISBN 9004039929.

[9] De Silva, K. M. (1981). A History of Sri Lanka. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-19-561655-2. A History of Sri Lanka.

[10] Blaze, L. E. (1938). History of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-8120618411.

[Manogaran-11] Manogaran, Chelvadurai (1987). Ethnic Conflict and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 978-0-8248-1116-7.

[Malalgoda-12] Malalgoda, Kitsiri (1976). Buddhism in Sinhalese Society, 1750–1900: A Study of Religious Revival and Change. University of California Press. p. 29. ISBN 0-520-02873-2.

[13] Dias, M.; Koralage, S.B.; Asanga, K. (2016). The archaeological heritage of Jaffna peninsula. Colombo: Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). pp. 183, 186. ISBN 978-955-9159-99-5.

[14] Ray, H.C. (2016). University of Ceylon, History of Ceylon: Volume I (From the earliest time to 1505): Part II (From the Cola conquest in 1017 to the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505). Colombo: Ceylon University Press. p. 726.

[15] Mendis (1999), p. 11

[16] Blaze (1995), p. 58

[17] Wijesooriya (2006), p. 89

[18] Blaze (1995), p. 59

[19] Perera (2001), p. 48

[De_Silva_1981,_p._21-20] De Silva (1981), p. 21

[Rambukwelle_1993,_p._38-21] Rambukwelle (1993), p. 38

[22] Siriweera (2004), p. 92

[23] Ratnatunga, Rhajiv. "LIST OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF LANKA". lakdiva.org. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

[24] Silva, K. M. (2005). A History of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka: Penguin Books India. ISBN 9789558095928. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

[25] Gunasekara, B. (1900). The Rajavaliya : or, A historical narrative of Sinhalese kings from Vijaya to Vimala Dharma Surya II. Colombo: Government Printer, Ceylon. ISBN 81-206-1029-6. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

[26] "The Mahavamsa: Original Version Chapters 1 – 37". Mahavamsa.org. Retrieved 27 February 2013.

[FOOTNOTECorrington67-28] Corrington, p. 67.

[WG-29] Jump up to: ^a ^b Geiger (Tr), Wilhelm (1912). The Mahawamsa or Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Oxford: Oxford University Press (for the Pali Text Society). p. 300. Archived from the original on 2008-10-30.

[30] S G M Weerasinghe, A history of the cultural relations between Sri Lanka and China: an aspect of the Silk Route, Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, 1995, ISBN 955-613-055-1, p.40

[31] Stephen Spencer Gosch, Peter N. Stearns, Premodern Travel in World History, Routledge, 2008; ISBN 0-415-22940-5, p.93

[32] Cousins, L. S. "The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article". indology. Retrieved 27 February 2013.

[33] Codrington, Humphry William. "The Dambadeniya And Gampola Kings". lakdiva.org. Retrieved 27 February 2013.

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[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

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[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

show v t Monarchs of the Sinhala Kingdom
List of monarchs by reign Queens Family tree
Pre Anuradhapura period House of Vijaya (543–377 BC)	Prince Vijaya (543 BC–505 BC) Upatissa (505 BC–504 BC) Panduvasdeva (504 BC–474 BC) Abhaya (474 BC–454 BC) Tissa (454 BC–437 BC)
Anuradhapura period House of Vijaya (437–237 BC) (215–205 BC) (161–103 BC) (89–66 AD) Chola invaders (237–215 BC) (205–161 BC) The Five Dravidians (103–89 BC) House of Lambakanna I (66–436) The Six Dravidians (436–463) (463–691) (691–1017)	Pandukabhaya (437-67 BC) Mutasiva (367-07 BC) Devanampiya Tissa (307-267 BC) Uttiya (267-57 BC) Mahasiva (257-47 BC) Suratissa (247-37 BC) Sena and Guttika (237-15 BC) Asela (215-05 BC) Elara (205-161 BC) Dutugamunu (161-37 BC) Saddha Tissa (137-19 BC) Thulatthana (119 BC) Lanja Tissa (119-09 BC) Khallata Naga (109-04 BC) Valagamba (104-03 BC) Pulahatta (103-100 BC) Bahiya (100-98 BC) Panya Mara (98-91 BC) Pilaya Mara (91-90 BC) Dathika (90-88 BC) Valagamba (89-76 BC) Mahakuli Mahatissa (76-62 BC) Chora Naga (62-50 BC) Kuda Tissa (50-47 BC) Siva I (47 BC) Vatuka (47 BC) Darubhatika Tissa (47 BC) Niliya (47 BC) Anula (47 BC) Kutakanna Tissa (42-20 BC) Bhatikabhaya Abhaya (20 BC-9 AD) Mahadathika Mahanaga (9-21) Amandagamani Abhaya (21-30) Kanirajanu Tissa (30-33) Chulabhaya (33-35) Sivali (35-35) (35-38) Ilanaga (38-44) Chandamukha (44-52) Yassalalaka Tissa (52-60) Subharaja (60-66) Vasabha (66-110) Vankanasika Tissa (110-13) Gajabahu I (113-35) Mahallaka Naga (135-41) Bhatika Tissa (141-65) Kanittha Tissa (165-93) Cula Naga (193-95) Kuda Naga (195-96) Siri Naga I (196-215) Voharika Tissa (215-37) Abhaya Naga (237-45) Siri Naga II (245-47) Vijaya Kumara (247-48) Sangha Tissa I (248-52) Siri Sangha Bodhi I (252-54) Gothabhaya (254-67) Jettha Tissa I (267-77) Mahasena (277-304) Sirimeghavanna (304-32) Jettha Tissa II (332-41) Buddhadasa (341-70) Upatissa I (370-412) Mahanama (412-34) Soththisena (434-34) Chattagahaka Jantu (434-35) Mittasena (435-36) Pandu (436-41) Parindu (441) Khudda Parinda (441-47) Tiritara (447) Dathiya (447-50) Pithiya (450-52) Dhatusena (463-79) Kashyapa I (479-97) Moggallana I (497-515) Kumara Dhatusena (515-24) Kittisena (524) Siva II (524-25) Upatissa II (525-26) Silakala Ambosamanera (526-39) Dathappabhuti (539-40) Moggallana II (540-60) Kittisiri Meghavanna (560-61) Maha Naga (561-64) Aggabodhi I (564-98) Aggabodhi II (598-08) Sangha Tissa II (608) Moggallana III (608-14) Silameghavanna (614-23) Aggabodhi III (623) Jettha Tissa III (623-24) Aggabodhi III (624-40) Dathopa Tissa I (640-52) Kassapa II (652-61) Dappula I (661-64) Dathopa Tissa II (664-73) Aggabodhi IV (673-89) Unhanagara Hatthadatha (691) Manavanna (691-726) Aggabodhi V (726-32) Kassapa III (732-38) Mahinda I (738-41) Aggabodhi VI (741-81) Aggabodhi VII (781-87) Mahinda II (787-807) Dappula II (807-12) Mahinda III (812-16) Aggabodhi VIII (816-27) Dappula III (827-43) Aggabodhi IX (843-46) Sena I (846-66) Sena II (866-901) Udaya I (901-12) Kassapa IV (912-29) Kassapa V (929-39) Dappula IV (939-40) Dappula V (940-52) Udaya II (952-55) Sena III (955-64) Udaya III (964-72) Sena IV (972-75) Mahinda IV (975-91) Sena V (991-1001) Mahinda V (1001-29)
Anuradhapura from Rohana	Kassapa VI (1029–1040) (1040–1042) (1042–1043) (1043–1046) (1046–1048) (1048–1054) (1054–1055)
Polonnaruwa period (1055–1187), (1197–1200) (1209–1210), (1211–1212) (1187–1197), (1200–1209) Lokissara (1210–1211), Pandyan dynasty (1212–1215) Eastern Ganga dynasty (1215–1236)	Vijayabahu I (1055–1110) Jayabahu I (1110–11) Vikramabahu I (1111–32) Gajabahu II (1132–53) Parakramabahu I (1153–86) Vijayabahu II (1186–87) Mahinda VI (1187) Nissanka Malla (1187–96) Vira Bahu I (1196) Vikramabahu II (1196) Chodaganga (1196–97) Lilavati (1197-1200) Sahassa Malla (1200–02) Kalyanavati (1202–08) Dharmasoka (1208–09) Anikanga (1209) Lilavati (1209-10) Lokissara (1210-11) Lilavati (1211-12) Parakrama Pandya (1212–15) Kalinga Magha (1215–36)
Transitional period House of Siri Sanga Bo (1220–1505)	Vijayabahu III (1220-34) Parakramabahu II (1234-70) Vijayabahu IV (1270-72) Bhuvanaikabahu I (1272-84) (1285-86) Parakramabahu III (1287-93) Bhuvanaikabahu II (1293-1302) Parakramabahu IV (1302-26) Bhuvanaikabahu III (1326-35) Vijayabahu V (1335-41) Bhuvanaikabahu IV (1341-51) Parakramabahu V (1344-59) Vikramabahu III (1357-74) Bhuvanaikabahu V (1371-1408) Vira Bahu II (1391/92-1397) Vijayabahu VI (1397-1409) Parakramabahu Epa (1409-12) Parakramabahu VI (1411-66) Jayabahu II (1466-69) Bhuvanaikabahu VI (1469-77) Parakramabahu VII (1477) Parakramabahu VIII (1477-89) Parakramabahu IX (1489-1505) Parakramabahu IX (1505-13) Vijayabahu VII (1513-21) Bhuvanaikabahu VII (1521-51) Dharmapala (1551-97) of Sitawaka: Mayadunne (1521-81) Rajasinha I (1581-93) (1593-94)
Kandyan period (1591–1739) Nayaks of Kandy (1739–1815)	Vimaladharmasuriya I (1591-1604) Senarat (1604-35) Rajasinha II (1635-87) Vimaladharmasuriya II (1687-1707) Vira Narendra Sinha (1707-39) Sri Vijaya Rajasinha (1739-47) Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747-82) Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha (1782-98) Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (1798-1815)
Italics indicate regent. Category

show v t Sinhalese monarchy
Sinhala Kingdom
Timeline	Dipavamsa Mahavamsa Culavamsa Rajavaliya
Periods	Pre Anuradhapura & Anuradhapura period Tambapanni Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa period Chola occupation Polonnaruwa Transitional period Dambadeniya Gampola Kotte Sitawaka Kandyan period Kandy
Dynasties	Vijaya Lambakanna I Siri Sanga Bo Nayaks
Monarchs	By reign Family tree 1st 2nd Sinhalese Queens
Royal Residences	Tambapaṇṇī Upatissagāma Vijithapura Anuradhapura Sigiriya Rohana Polonnaruwa Dambadeniya Yapahuwa Kurunegala Gampola Dedigama Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Sitawaka Kandy
Related dynasties	Kalinga Vanga Shakya Vedda Pandyan Mauryan Madurai Nayak
Other	Sinhapura Sinhabahu Relic of the tooth of the Buddha Vijayabā Kollaya

List of Sri Lankan monarchs

Notes[]

Note on chronology[]

Kingdom of Tambapanni (543–437 BC)[]

House of Vijaya (543–437 BC)[]

Anuradhapura Kingdom (437 BC – 1017 AD)[]

House of Vijaya (437–237 BC)[]

Sena and Guttika (237–215 BC)[]

House of Vijaya (215–205 BC)[]

Elara (205–161 BC)[]

House of Vijaya (161–103 BC)[]

The Five Dravidans (103–89 BC)[]

House of Vijaya (89 BC – 67 AD)[]

House of Lambakanna I (67–429)[]

The Six Dravidians (429–455)[]

House of Moriya (455–691)[]

House of Lambakanna II (691–1017)[]

Chola-occupied Anuradhapura (1017–1055)[]

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (1055–1236)[]

House of Vijayabahu (1055–1187)[]

House of Kalinga (1187–1197)[]

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1197–1200)[]

House of Kalinga, restored (1200–1209)[]

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1209–1210)[]

Lokissara (1210–1211)[]

House of Vijayabahu, restored (1211–1212)[]

Pandyan dynasty (1212–1215)[]

Eastern Ganga dynasty (1215–1236)[]

Kingdom of Dambadeniya (1220–1345)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1220–1345)[]

Kingdom of Gampola (1345–1412)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1345–1412)[]

Kingdom of Kotte (1412–1597)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1412–1597)[]

Kingdom of Sitawaka (1521–1594)[]

House of Siri Sanga Bo (1521–1594)[]

Kingdom of Kandy (1591–1815)[]

House of Dinajara (1591–1739)[]

Nayaks of Kandy (1739–1815)[]

Timeline[]

Notes[]

References[]

Further reading[]

Primary sources[]

Secondary sources[]

External links[]