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Manavanna of Anuradhapura

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Manavamma
King of Anuradhapura
Reign684 A.D. - 718 A.D.
PredecessorUnhanagara Hatthadatha
SuccessorAggabodhi V
IssueAggabodhi V
Kassapa III
Mahinda I
DynastyHouse of Lambakanna II
FatherKassapa II of Anuradhapura
ReligionBuddhist

Manavamma was King of Anuradhapura from 684 to 718. He succeeded Unhanagara Hatthadatha as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Aggabodhi V.

As a king, Manavamma ended the 50 year long civil strife in the country. This period was somewhat like The War of the Roses in England du to the fact that it was fought between the Lambakarna and Moiriyan dynasties .Manawanna was also the first king who took name Sena (Become head of army by consent and become true essence of power of army) in his monarchy name.

Manavamma was a son of King Kassapa II of Anuradhapura, who came to power around 650 A.D. He ruled the country for around 9 years. Conflict arose for gaining power after the death of Kassapa II. Manavamma did not get involved and went into hiding for his own safety and shortly after his marriage, he fled to India.

While the time King Dathopatissa was searching for Manavamma, who fled to the Pallawa Kingdom in India where he befriended the Pallava king, Narasinghewarman I, and served under him. At that time was helped king Narasinghewarman to fight against King Pulukesin II who ruled Chalukya empire and fought on the battlefield that king Narasinghewarman defeated king Pulakesin II in A.D.642.

Narasinghewarman gave Prince Manavamma armed forces to recapture Sri Lanka which had been captured by Dathopatissa II while Manavamma was away. While the two were fighting, the Pallava king fell ill, and Manavamma returned to India to attend to him. Some places said that when prince Manavanna captured Anuradhapura there was flew a rumour within army that the prince suffering from serious illness and the army was demoralised by that. Heard that the Dathopathissa king who fled to ruhuna due to fear of the prince came back to Anuradhapura with his Tamil mercenary armies.So prince Manavanna had to flee back to the Pallava kingdom. After arriving in India, Manavamma served Narasinghewarman for another 20 years and received another chance to conquer Sri Lanka. However, for this, he had to wait a long time through three(four Kings) reign changes to fulfil his ambition. According to sources found in the Pallava kingdom period it stated that king Narasinghewarman claimed Sri Lanka in his time but it was not stated in any place in Sri Lanka.

At that time puppet king, Haththadata was placed on the throne by Tamil minister Poththukuththa and got huge pressure and dislike from civilians in Sri Lanka. So hearing this prince Manavamma wanted to take the throne back.

When the prince give the idea to the Pallava king he agreed with the idea and decided to give support to him. But with previous experience army was not much interested in this battle and for this reason, the Pallava king was permitted to wear the prince, King's robe. After that prepare for battle. The then Pallava king, Narasinghewarman II, sent Manavamma to Sri Lanka with the army where he recaptured Sri Lanka from the then king, Haththadata I. King Haththadata fled Anuradhapura and was captured and killed by the army. The minister, Poththakuththa worked as a power player also fled and was poisoned by a village head who was once his friend due to not offending the king. He took the throne in 684 A.D.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ {{Cite book |title=History, Grade 7 |publisher=Education Publications Department, Sri Lanka |year=2015 |isbn=978-955-25-0660-4 |location|
    Chapter III. (2022). Retrieved 23 May 2022, from http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap03.html
    Funday Times. (2022). Retrieved 23 May 2022, from https://www.sundaytimes.lk/060312/funday/1.html
    Rambukwelle, P. (1993). Commentary on Sinhala kingship. Colombo: P.B. Rambukwelle.
Manavanna of Anuradhapura
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Anuradhapura
684–718 		Succeeded by


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