1157 Ruhuna Rebellion, also known as the Rebellion of Queen Sugala, was a
revolt
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
led-by
Queen Sugala of
Ruhuna against the
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa ( si, පොළොන්නරුව රාජධානිය, Polonnaruwa Rājādhaniya) was the Sinhalese kingdom that expanded across the island of Sri Lanka and several overseas territories, from 1070 until 1232. ...
ruled by
Parakramabahu the Great. The rebellion was suppressed by the army of Parakramabahu, and the kingdom of Ruhuna was annexed as a part of
Polonnaruwa in 1158.
Background
After the death of King
Vikramabahu I, his son Prince
Gajabha became the king of Polonnaruwa. During this period, the king
Kithsirime of
Maya Rata
The Maya Rata (Principality of), also known as the Kingdom of Dakkinadesa, was a principality or an administrative region of the
Sinhalese kingdom. It was located in the Southwestern part of Sri Lanka, bordered the Deduru Oya. Its last capita ...
and Sri Vallabha of
Ruhuna fought against King
Gajabahu
Gajabahu I (lit. 'Elephant-Arm'), also known as Gajabahuka Gamani (c. 113 – 135 CE), was a Sinhalese people, Sinhalese king of Rajarata in Sri Lanka. He is renowned for his military prowess, religious benefactions, extensive involvement in So ...
, but Gajabahu's general Gokanna drove them out.
Keerthi Sri Megha, who ruled
Dakkhinadesa during this period, died and his sub-king
Parakramabahu ascended to the throne. Shortly after becoming king, Parakramabahu came to
Polonnaruwa with a large army and fought and defeated King Gajabahu, but with the intervention of the
Sangha Polonnaruwa kingdom was again handed over to King Gajabahu.
Revolt
After the demise of King Gajaba II, King Parakramabahu became the king of both Maya Rata and Polonnaruwa. But by this time Ruhuna was ruled by King
Manabharana II. Shortly afterwards, Manabharana died, and his ministers continued the invasion of Polonnaruwa led before by Manabharana under the leadership of his mother, Sugala Devi.
Katuwana was the site of Sugala's “defensive fortifications…for her warriors.”
By all accounts Sugala was a fearless military leader and “the queen had the strong loyalty of the people of the area, and her possession of the Alms Bowl and the Tooth Relic of the Buddha apparently gave her rule legitimacy.”
However, the revolt was suppressed “after a series of savage campaigns.”
Eventually Queen Sugala and her totems of power were captured, and Ruhuna was annexed by Polonnaruwa.
Aftermath
The annexation of Ruhuna united the whole of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
under one flag, and this lasted until the death of Parakramabahu the Great in 1187.
Further reading
* Adithiya, L.A.. ''Search for Sugala''. Sri Lanka, Travel Friends, 1980.
References
Bibliography
Codrington's Short History of Sri Lanka - Chapter IV* Nishantha Joseph, Sujeewa. ''Sinhalese Kings'' (in Sinhala). Jayasinghe Book Publishers. pp. 56–57. .
{{Polonnaruwa period topics
Polonnaruwa period