The great city

Anuradhapura attained its highest magnificence about the commencement of the Christian era. In its prime it ranked beside Nineveh and Babylon in its colossal proportions—its four walls, each 16 miles (26 km) long, enclosing an area of 256 square miles (663 km²) —in the number of its inhabitants, and the splendour of its shrines and public edifices. The city also had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world, situated in the dry zone of the country the administration built many tanks to irrigate the land. Most of these tanks still survive. To date, it is believed that some of these tanks are the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world today.

The great building era

The great building era was when vast monastery complexes and some of the tallest buildings in the ancient world were built. The Jetavanaramaya dagoba of the city is still the highest brick structure in the world.
The Maha Vihara was centered around the orthodox Theravadins. This was founded by King Devanampiya Tissa in 249 BC. The heterdox Mahayanists founded the Abhayagiri Vihara. King Mahasena (275-310 BC) built the Jetavanaramaya located in between the Maha Vihara and the Abhayagiri Monastries.
In the suburbs of the city major monasteries with their gigantic stupas were constructed, The Maha Thupa, the Bodhi Tree and Thuparama of the Maha Vihara stood to the south of the city. The Abhayagiri to the north, the Pubbarama to the east, the Tanovana to the north-west and the Jetavanaramaya to the south-east.
The Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to the city in the reign of King Kirtisri Meghavana. The relic was deposited in a building named Dhammacakka. Since then annually it was carried in a procession to the Abhayagiri monastery after which an exposition was held.

BeginningsThe layout of Anuradhapura as described in the Mahavamsa:
"He laid out (...) four suburbs as well as the Abhaya-tank, the common cemetery, the place of execution, and the chapel of the Queens of the West, the banyan-tree of Vessavana and the Palmyra-palm of the Demon of Maladies, the ground set apart for the Yonas and the house of the Great Sacrifice; all these he laid out near the west gate." Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger "A hermitage was made for many ascetics; eastward of that same cemetery the ruler built a house for the nigantha Jotiya.(...) On the further side of Jotiya's house and on this side of the Gamani tank he likewise built a monastery for wandering mendicant monks, and a dwelling for the ajivakas and a residence for the brahmans, and in this place and that he built a lying-in shelter and a hall for those recovering from sickness." Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger It is said that King Pandukabhaya made it his capital in the 4th century BC, and that he also laid out the town and its suburbs according to a well organised plan. He constructed a reservoir named Abhayavapi. He established shrines for yakkhas such as Kalawela and Cittaraja. He housed the Yaksini-Cetiya in the form of a mare within the royal precincts and offerings were made to all these demi-gods every year. He chose the sites for the cemetery and for the place of execution, the Chapel of the Western Queen, the Pacchimarajini, the Vessavana Banyan Tree, the Palm of the Vyadhadeva, the Yona Quarter and the House of the Great Sacrifice. The slaves or Candalas were assigned their duties and a village was set apart for them. They build dwellings for Niganthas, for wandering ascetics and for Ajivakas and Brahmanas. He established, the village boundaries. The tradition that King Pandukabhaya made Anuradhapura the capital city of Sri Lanka as early as the fourth century BC had been very important.
The administrative and sanitary arrangements be made for the city and the shrines he provided indicate that over the years the city developed according to an original master plan. His son Mutasiva, succeeded to the throne. During his reign of sixty years, he maintained Anuradhapura as his capital and further laid out the Mahameghavana Garden which was to play an important role in the early history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was in the period of his successor, his son Devanam piya Tissa, that Buddhism was first introduced this island 236 years after the passing away of the Buddha. Emperor Ashoka in India was a contemporary of Devanam piya Tissa. Historically this period is considered to extend from 250 to 210 BC. This is the point at which a kingship began and a civilization developed based on one of the greatest religions of South Asia, Buddhism.

Protohistoric Iron Age

Although according to historical records the city was founded in the 5th century BC, the archaeological data put the date as far back as the 10th century BC. very little evidence was available about the period before the 5th century BC (i.e. the protohistoric period), though excavations have revealed information about the earlier inhabitants of the city.
Further excavations in Anuradhapura have uncovered information about the existence of a protohistoric habitation of humans in the citadel. The protohistoric Iron Age which spans from 900 - 600 BC, marked the appearance of iron technology, pottery, the horse, domestic cattle and paddy cultivation. In the time period 700 -600 BC the settlement in Anuradhapura had grown over an area of at least 50 ha. The city was strategically situated of major ports northwest and northeast, it was surrounded by irrigable and fertile land. The city was also buried deep in the jungle providing natural defence from invaders.

Lower Early Historic period

The Lower Early Historic period spanning from 500 - 250 BC, is studied on the lines of the chronicles. During this time King Pandukabhaya formally planned the city, with gates, quarters for traders etc. The city at the time would have covered an area of 1 square kilometre which makes it one of the largest in the continent at the time.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. The Civilization which was built upon this city was one of the greatest civilizations of Asia and in the world. The city now a UNESCO heritage site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Founded in the 4th century BC it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom till the beginning of the 11th century AC. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. It was also a wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, which is sacred to the Buddhist world, which its surrounding monasteries covers an area of over sixteen square miles ( 40 sq km) and is one of the world's major archaeological sites.

King Pandukabhaya

Prince Panduvasudeva and Princess Buddhakachchana (daughter of a King named Panda, from an ancient Royal family, a cousin of the Buddha) were married and duly consecrated as the second King and Queen of Lanka.
The King had ten sons, the eldest named Abhaya, and one daughter names Ummadha Citta.
A court Brahimn (learned astrologer) predicted that the son who will be born to Princess Citta will destroy his uncles. The sons of King Panduvasudeva held a meeting led by the second son Tissa and planned to kill their sister, Princess Citta. The eldest son, Abhaya, did not approve of such an extreme and cruel action, and with the consent of his father, the King, ordered her to be placed in solitary confinement. She was placed in a chamber adjoining the King’s own private chamber and the Queen’s personal maid, Cetiya, was entrusted with the task of taking care of the infant princess.
As the years went by Princess Citta grew into a beautiful woman. Shortly after her sixteenth year she was looking down at the garden from her chamber window and saw her brother Prince Tissa talking to a stranger under a tree. She asked Cetiya, her maid, who this man was and was told that he was Prince Dighagamini, the ruler of a neighboring state. The princess expressed her desire to meet this Prince and the maid Cetiya arranged this and a meeting took place between them. Soon, it was discovered by Citta and Princess Cetiya that the Princess was pregnant. Princess Citta confided this situation to her brother Prince Abhaya and he then learned that the person responsible was his own cousin Prince Dhigagamini.
Abhaya told his father the story and persuaded him to marry the princess to Prince Dhigagamini. The King agreed. Abhaya next told his brothers who were all furious with anger. Tissa proclaimed that if Citta’s child was a boy he would kill him immediately. Citta, in her attempt to protect her child should he be a boy, planned to substitute a female newborn child in the place of hers if her child was a boy which was the case. Her new born son was smuggled out of the palace and a new born female child was substituted in his place. Her mother the Queen and the maidservant Cetiya, both, agreed to help in this caper. The newborn son was spirited away into the safe and secluded territory of the Ruhuna (south of the Island). A female newborn child was substituted in his place by the side of Citta. The King was overjoyed at the birth of his granddaughter and named her Canna, after her grandmother.
The boy, now growing up in distant Ruhuna, was named Pandukabhaya, a combination of the names of Citta’s father, Panduvasudeva, and her eldest brother Abhaya, who had been her lifelong friend and savior.

Princess Ummada Citta’s cunning plan to conceal her son from her wicked brothers did not remain a closed secret for very long. They tried hard to seek him and kill him but failed. King Abhaya was accused by his brothers for having connived and helped their sister protect her son Pandukabhaya. Thus he was deposed and the second son, Prince Tissa, was given the throne.

Second son of King Panduvasudeva, younger brother of King Abhaya – He was appointed the regent by his eight younger brothers after the deposition of the oldest brother, King Abhaya, from the throne. Tissa claimed that he would be consecrated king only after he had finally defeated his nephew Pandukhabaya. This, however, was not to be as Pandukabhaya swept on triumphantly. Tissa was slain in battle along with all his eight younger brothers. Abhaya was spared. Pandukabhaya, the undisputed victor, called upon his uncle Abhaya to take up the throne again. Abhaya declined.Grandson of King Panduvasudeva, Son of Princess Umaddha Citta, Nephew of King Abhaya and Prince Tissa – Umaddha Citta had entrusted the education of her son, Pandukabhaya, to a Brahmin by the name of Pandula. This Brahmin made his own son, Canda, the fellow student of the Prince and the two became good friends. Pandukabhaya married a beautiful princess named Swarnapali (Pali), daughter of Girikandasiva, an uncle of his who was governing the territory of Girikandaka. They were consecrated King and Queen of Lanka. Pandukabhaya founded the city of Anuradhapura and the seat of government was moved to the new city. He appointed his friend, Canda (son of his Brahin teacher), to the office of Adigar (Minister). He also appointed his uncle Abhaya, Mayor of the city. To his father-in-law Girikandasiva he restored the city of Girikandaka. He devoted much of his time to the adornment and civil government of the new capital city of Anuradhapura. Agriculture too received his due share of attention. He constructed the Jaya Wewa and Gamini Wewa. Magnificent was the tolerance and encouragement of all religious systems during this period of Lanka’s history. He also built a special palace for his mother, Umaddha Citta, at Anuradhapura. He died after having reigned for seventy years.

King Vijaya (B.C. 543-504)

The traditional first king of Lanka is Vijaya. His grandmother, Suppadevi, according to the legend was the daughter of the king of Vanga (Bengal) by a princess of Kalinga (Orissa). She ran away from home and in the country of Lala or Lada, the modern Gujarat, mated with a lion (sinha); hence the names of her children and ultimately that of Sinhala, the designation of Lanka and of the Sinhala. At the age of sixteen her son Sinhabahu carried off his mother and his twin sister to the haunts of men; the lion in his search for his family ravaged the country, and for the sake of the reward offered by the king of Vanga was slain by his own son. The king dying at the time, Sinhabahu was elected as his successor, but abandoned Vanga and built the city of Sinhapura in his native country Lada. His son Prince Vijaya and his boon companions committed such outrages in his father's capital that the king was compelled by popular clamour to drive them forth.
They set sail and, touching at Supparaka, a famous port on the west coast of India (Sopara, north of Bombay), ultimately arrived at Tambapanni. Vijaya is made to land at Tambapanni on the very day of Buddha's death. Here they found the country inhabited by Yakkhas or demons, and one of them Kuveni, entrapped Vijaya's followers, but was compelled by the prince to release them. She then became Vijaya's mistress, and assisted him to exterminate her fellow-demons, whose chief seats are given as Sirivatthu and Lankapura. These were identified later with the hills Loggala and Laggala, though it is clear from the narrative that Sirivatthu was quite close to Vijaya's landing place, as he heard the noise of the wedding festivities, of which he took advantage to attack the Yakkhas. Vijaya now settled at Tambapanni, a port on the south of the river, perhaps the Malwatu Oya, and his followers formed various villages in the neighbouring country: these were Anuradhapura on the banks of the Malwatu Oya; Upatissa, seven or eight miles further north; Uruvela, a seaport to the west of Anuradhapura, perhaps at Marichchikatti; Ujjeni and Vijita. His followers now wished Vijaya to assume the crown, and dispatched an embassy in search of a queen to the Pandyan king at Madura. The princess and her retinue landed at Mahatittha (Mantota); she espoused Vijaya and her women his companions, while the discarded Kuveni with her two children wandered to Lankapura, and was slain by her enraged kinsfolk. The children fled to Adam's Peak and became the ancestors of the Pulindas (hill-men or Veddas).
Shortly before his death, Vijaya, who was without an heir, sent a letter to Sinhapura, asking that his brother Sumitta should be sent to succeed him. Sumitta, however, was now king in his father's place, and dispatched his youngest son, Panduvasa, who in due course arrived in Lanka and reigned at Vijitapura.
A late legend tells how the perjury of which Vijaya had been guilty in repudiating Kuveni was visited on his nephew, and how the god Sakra, to whom Lanka had been entrusted by Buddha, obtained his cure. Isvara instructed by Sakra called upon Rahu, who, turning himself into a boar, ravaged the garden of Mala Raja. The last named summoned his men to surround the garden and beat the jungle; but the boar escaped, and, pursued by Mala Raja, leaped into the sea at Tuticorin, and swam, still pursued, across to Uratota (`Boar landing-place,' or Kayts) in Lanka. When Rahu had enticed Mala Raja into the heart of the country he disappeared, leaving in his place a rock at which Mala Raja stood gazing in wonderment. Sakra now appeared and bade him cure the king, which he did.
Panduvasa married the daughter (Buddhakachchana) of the Sakya Pandu, the first cousin of Buddha, who was followed to Lanka by her brothers. To them also is attributed the foundation of Anuradhapura, Uruvela Vijitapura, as well as of Dighayu and Rohana, identified later with Magama in Hambantota District.
Panduvasa was succeeded by his son Abhaya, and he in turn after an interregnum of seventeen years by his nephew Pandukabhaya, who made Anuradhapura his capital. Here he constructed the Abhaya tank, now called Basavakkulam, and also established two Yakkha princes, one of whom sat on a throne of equal eminence with the king's. From this it is clear that the Yakkha or aboriginal population was not treated as a conquered race. Vijaya's followers espoused Pandyan women, and it seems probable that in course of time their descendants married with the people of the country, on whom they imposed their Aryan language. Further dilution of the original Aryan blood undoubtedly has taken place in later ages, with the result that, though the Sinhala language is of North Indian origin, the social system is that of the south. In the twelfth year of his reign Pandukabhaya `fixed the boundaries of the villages in all parts of Lanka.' He was succeeded by his son Mutasiva (276-50 BC).

LIST OF THE SOVEREIGNS OF LANKA

Vijaya B.C. 543 Tambapanni
Interregnum 505
Panduvasudeva 504 Vijitapura
Abhaya 474
Interregnum 454
Pandukabhaya 437 Anuradhapura
Mutasiva 367
Devanampiya Tissa 307 B.C. 247
Uttiya 267
Mahasiva 257
Suratissa 247
Sena and Guttika 237
Asela 215
Elara 205
Duttha Gamani 161
Saddha Tissa 137
Thulanthana 119
Lanja Tissa 119
Khallata Naga 109
Vatta Gamani 104
Five Tamils 103
Vatta Gamani (restored) 88
Mahachuli Maha Tissa 76
Chore Naga 62
Tissa 50
Siva 47
Vatuka 47
Daru Bhatika Tissa 47
Niliya 47
Anula 47
Kutakanna Tissa 42
Bhatikabhaya 20
Mahadathika Maha Naga A.D. 9
Amanda Gamani 21
Kanirajanu Tissa 30
Chulabhaya 33
Sivali 35
Interregnum of three years
Ila Naga 38
Chandamukha Siva 44
Yassalalaka Tissa 52
Subharaja 60
Vasabha 66
Vankanasika Tissa 110
Gaja Bahu I 113
Mahalla Naga 135
Bhatika Tissa 141
Kanittha Tissa 165
Khujja Naga 193
Kuncha Naga 195
Siri Naga I 196
Voharika Tissa 215
Abhaya Naga 237
Siri Naga II 245
Vijaya Kumara 247
Sangha Tissa 248
Sanghabodhi {Siri Sangabo) 252
Gothakabhaya 254
Jettha Tissa I 267
Mahasena 277
Siri Meghavanna 304 c. 340
Jettha Tissa II 332
Buddhadasa 341
Upatissa 370
Mahanama 412 c. 428
Sotthi Sona 434
Chhattagahaka 434
Mitta Sena 435
Six Tamils 436
Dhatusena 463
Kassapa I 479 c. 527 Sigiriya.
Moggallana I 497 Anuradhapura.
Kumara Dhatusena 515
Kittisena 524
Siva 524
Upatissa II 525
Amba Samanera Silakala 526
Dathappabhuti 539
Moggallana II 540
Kittisiri Meghavanna 560
Maha Naga 561
Aggabodhi I 564
Aggabodhi II 598 c. 609
Sangha Tissa 608
Dalla Moggallana 608
Silameghavanna 614
Aggabodhi III 623
Jettha Tissa III 623
Aggabodhi III (restored) 624
Dathopatissa I 640
Kassapa II 652
Dappula I 661
Dathopatissa II 664
Aggabodhi IV 673
Datta 689
Unhanagara Hatthadatha 691
Mahavamma 691
Aggabodhi V 726
Kassapa III 732
Mahinda I 738
Aggabodhi VI 741
Aggabodhi VII 781 Polonnaruwa
Mahinda II 787 Anuradhapura
Dappula II (Udaya) 807 ? 790
Mahinda III 812
Aggabodhi VIII 816
Dappula III 827
Aggabodhi IX 843
Sena I 846 ? 819/20 Polonnaruwa
Sena II 866
Udaya I 901
Kassapa IV 912
Kassapa V 929
Dappula IV 939 ? c. 918/9
Dappula V 940
Udaya II 952
Sena III 955
Udaya III 964 ? c. 942/3.
Sena IV 972
Mahinda IV 975
Sena V 991
Mahinda V 1001 Deported c. 1017. Anuradhapura.
Kassapa on Vikrama Bahu 1037
Kitti I 1049
Mahalana Kitti 1049
Vikrama Pandya 1052 Ruhuna.
Jagatipala 1053
Parakrama 1057
Lokissara 1059
Vijaya Bahu I 1056-1111 Polonnaruwa.
Jaya Bahu I 1108-1145/6 Polonnaruwa and Ruhuna.
Vikrama Bahu I 1111-1132 Polonnaruwa.
Gaja Bahu II 1131-1153
Parakrama Bahu I 1153-1186
Vijaya Bahu II 1186-1187
Mahinda VI 1187
Nissanka Malla 1187-1196
Vira Bahu I 1196
Vikrama Bahu II 1196
Codaganga 1196-1197
Lilavati (1) 1197-1200
Sahasa Malla 1200-1202
Kalyanavati 1202-1208
Dharmasoka 1208-1209
Anikanga 1209
Lilavati (2) 1209-1210
Lokissara 1210-1211
Lilavati (3) 1211-1212
Parakrama Pandya 1212-1215
Magha 1215-1236
Vijaya Bahu III c. 1220-1224 Dambadeniya.
Parakrama Bahu II 1234-1269
Vijaya Bahu IV 1267/8-1270
Bhuvanaika Bahu I 1271-1283 Dambadeniya and Yapahu.
Interregnum 1283-1302
Parakrama Bahu III c. 1302-1310 Polonnaruwa.
Bhuvanaika Bahu II ? 1310-1325/6 Kurunagala.
Parakrama Bahu IV 1325/6
Bhuvanaika Bahu III 1325/6
Jaya (Vijaya) Bahu 1325/6
Bhuvanaika Bahu IV 1344/5-1353/4 Gampola
Parakrama Bahu V 1344/5-1359 Dedigama and Gampola
Vikrama Bahu III c. 1357-1374 Gampola
Bhuvanaika Bahu V 1372/3-1404/5 or 1406/7 Gampola.
Vira Bahu II 1391/2-1396/7 Rayigama
Vira Alakesvara (?Vijaya Bahu VI) c. 1397-1409 Rayigama.
Parakrama Bahu Epa ? 1409-1412
Parakrama Bahu VI c. 1412-1467 Kotte.
Jaya Bahu II c. 1467-1472/3
Bhuvanaika Bahu VI 1472/3-1480/1
Parakrama Bahu VII c. 1480/1-1484
Parakrama Bahu VIII c. 1484-1518 7
Parakrama Bahu IX 1509-1528 Kelaniya.
Vijaya Bahu VII 1509-1521 Kotte
Bhuvanaika Bahu VII 1521-1551
Dharmapala 1551-1597
KINGS OF SITAWAKA
Mayadunne 1521-1581
Rajasinha I 1554-1593
Rajasurya 1593-1594
KINGS OF KANDY
Vimala Dharma Surya I 1590-1604
Senarat 1604-1635
Rajasinha II 1629-1687
Vimala Dharma Surya II 1687-1707
Narendra Sinha 1707-1739
Vijaya Rajasinha 1739-1747
Kirtisri 1747-1781
Rajadhirarajasinha 1781-1798
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha 1798-1815