Anuradhapura kingdom
ancient Sinhalese kingdom
The Kingdom of Anuradhapura (Sinhala: අනුරාධපුර රාජධානිය, translit: Anurādhapura Rājadhāniya, named for its capital city, was the second established Sinhalese kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka. According to the Mahāvaṃsa, it was founded by King Pandukabhaya in 437 BC, whose authority extended throughout the country.
Buddhism played a major role in the Anuradhapura period, influencing its culture, laws, and methods of governance. The society and the culture were revolutionized when the faith was introduced during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. This cultural change was further strengthened by the arrival of the tooth relic of the Buddha in Sri Lanka and the patronage extended by her rulers.
During the Anuradhapura era, the country was invaded by South Indians several times. Rulers such as Dutthagamani, Valagamba, and Dhatusena are noted for defeating South Indian invaders and unifying the country. Other rulers such as Sena II are notable for dispatching forces to South India, and gaining several victories such as the sacking of Madurai in 862.
The kingdom was largely based on agriculture, hence the construction of irrigation works was a major achievement of the Anuradhapura kingdom, ensuring water supply in the dry zone and helping the country grow mostly self-sufficient. Several kings, most notably Vasabha and Mahasena, constructed large reservoirs and canals, forming an extensive and sophisticated irrigation network across the Rajarata region during the Anuradhapura period.
“Anuradhapura kingdom” enters the record as ancient Sinhalese kingdom. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Anuradhapura, kingdom and ancient can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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