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The Kingdom of Rajarata^{[dubious – discuss]} is the name given to the kingdom that ruled the northern part of Sri Lanka from approximately the 5th Century BCE to the early 13th Century CE^{[citation needed]}^[1]^[2]. It was centered around the ancient cities of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara,Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa.^{[citation needed]} Rajarata was under direct administration of the King.^{[citation needed]} Other areas (Malaya rata,Ruhunu rata) were ruled by brothers of the King who was called by "Mapa" and "Epa".^{[citation needed]}

The geographical designation Rajarata (Raja = king, rata = country, or preferably area, thus the area of King) is the name given to the region of Sri Lanka from which these monarchs ruled.

History and Kingdoms

The first kingdom in Rajarata was established by Prince Vijaya in 543 BC.^{[citation needed]} He was settled place near to the delta of the Malvathu River between Chilaw and Mannar. Myths said prince Vijaya married to a local princess Kuveni to take the control of the Rajarata.^{[citation needed]} With the help of Kuveni he betrayed and killed all the regional leaders^[3]. After dead of prince Vijaya, administration center was moved towards the country side along the "Malvathu oya". The river was perfectly suited to do agricultural work. First 3 administrative centers (Tambapanni,Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura) situated close to Malvathu oya. King Pandukabhaya, a price who had local (Yaksha tribe) blood and Sinha blood, was able to form a stable kingdom in Anuradhapura. He had support from all the tribes in all part of the island.^[4]

Administrating centers in Rajarata.^{[citation needed]}

Tambapanni - Prince Vijaya - Founded in 543 BC^{[citation needed]}
Upatissa Nuwara - Founded by King Upatissa in 505 BC^[5]
Anuradhapura - Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 377 BC^{[citation needed]}
Sigiriya - Built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE), but after the death of the king center moved to Anuradhapura.^{[citation needed]}
Polonnaruwa - Founded by King Vijayabahu I^{[citation needed]}

Settlements

Prince Vijaya and his clan settled in Tambapanni, near the Malvatu oya delta. Mahavamsa reveals that successive settlements by various groups came from India between period of price Vijaya to King Pandukabhaya, tend to settle along with Malvathu oya. In 377 BC King Pandukabhaya moved the administrative center to Anuradhapura. Most of the settlement were based on rivers and rain water reservoirs to support agricultural lifestyle. Yodha wewa area in Mannar District by King Dhatusena^[6], Eropathana in Vavuniya District, Padawiya area in Anuradhapura District and Mullaitivu District by King Moggallana II^[7] proves that the this golden civilization of ancient Sri Lanka is spread to southern boundary of the Vanni forest.^{[citation needed]} Heavy Vanni forest acted as a huge barrier to colonize above the southern border of the forest. Tank's build on Anuradhapura era (Giant's, Padaviya, Minneriya, Kantale, Mahavillachchiya,Thabbowa,Kala) shows the early settlements in Rajarata area.

Initial settlements based near rivers.^{[citation needed]}

Malvathu oya - Anuradhapura, Upatissa nuwara, Tambapanni^{[citation needed]}
Mahaweli river - Pollonnaruwa^{[citation needed]}
Deduru oya - Sigiriya, Yapahuwa^{[citation needed]}

Boundaries of Rajarata

Boundaries of the three divisions (Rata)^[8]

Raja rata - Area between Deduru oya and Mahaweli river.
Ruhunu rata -Area between Mahaweli river and Kalu gaga (Kaluthara District).
Malaya rata - Area between Deduru oya and Kalu gaga (Kaluthara District).

Falling of Rajarata

In 1215 Kalinga Magha invaded Rajarata with an army of 24,000.^{[citation needed]} After the conquest of Rajarata, Magha established his capital in Pollonnaruwa.^{[citation needed]} Then Kalinga forces extended power to the Malaya Rata. During the rise of Kingdom of Dambadeniya under the king Vijayabahu III (1220- 1224 AC), Magha lost the control in Malaya Rata. Resistance was extended from natives to the Magha's administration at Pollonnaruwa. Sinhalese gathered around a series of inaccessible towns, fortresses, mountainous like Yapahuwa and Gangadoni under army generals (Subha, Sankha etc.). Due to rising threat, Pandyan troop established administration center in Jaffna Peninsula which was more secured by heavy Vanni forest. Later Rajarata was annexed by king Parakramabahu II(1236–70).^{[citation needed]} His power extended over Rohana, the central hills, Rajarata and the Vanni^[9] . Sinhalese tried to re-establish the administrative center in Rajarata but many battles placed in the country with the armies from south India under different invaders, administration center was moved away from Rajarata by Sinhalese. But the Pandyan defeat in South India was weaken the Tamil power in Sri Lanka. The last Pandyan ruler of Madurai, was defeated and expelled in 1323 by Malik Kafur, the army general of the Muslim empire Delhi Sultanate.^[10]. The falling of Pandyan was a very significant history event to Sri Lanka.

It leads to following events

Military rulers "Aryacakravarti", who appointed as minister of Pandyan empire, made the Jaffna administrative center independent from Pandyans and established Jaffna kingdom and Arya Chakrawarthi dynasty.
Lost the Tamil power in the Vanni. Tamils too withdrawn from Vanni to Jafna Peninsula.^[11]Population was very low in this area until British starting Tamil Colonization south to Parantan
Area bellow Vanni forest stabilized under Sinhala Kingdom

Also ancient Rajarata (before 13th century) divided into three parts.^{[citation needed]}

Jaffna kingdom - Jaffna peninsula, Ruled by Arya Chakrawarthi dynasty^{[citation needed]}
Rajarata - Area bellow the Vanni. Ruled by Sinhalese kingdoms^{[citation needed]}
Vanni Area - Area which covers the Vanni forest, Abandon area between Sinhala Kingdom and Jafna Kingdom^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Surgery in an ancient kingdom
^ Padaviya: the Eastern Capital of the Rajarata Kingdom
^ Vijaya marries Kuveni, wins kingdom
^ A tale of two nation
^ The Mahávansi, the Rájá-ratnácari, and the Rájá-vali. Parbury, Allen, and Co. 1833.
^ Yoda Wewa - Mannar District amazinglanka.com
^ The Sri Lanka Reader History, Culture, Politics by John Clifford Holt, Robin Kirk, Orin Starn page 55
^ Short History of Ceylon By Humphrey William Codrington page 2
^ A history of Sri Lanka by K. M. De Silva Page 82
^ The History of Sri Lanka By Patrick Peebles page 31
^ A Histroy of Sri Lanka K.M. De Silva, p. 64.

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[1] Surgery in an ancient kingdom

[2] Padaviya: the Eastern Capital of the Rajarata Kingdom

[3] Vijaya marries Kuveni, wins kingdom

[4] A tale of two nation

[5] The Mahávansi, the Rájá-ratnácari, and the Rájá-vali. Parbury, Allen, and Co. 1833.

[6] Yoda Wewa - Mannar District amazinglanka.com

[7] The Sri Lanka Reader History, Culture, Politics by John Clifford Holt, Robin Kirk, Orin Starn page 55

[book1-8] Short History of Ceylon By Humphrey William Codrington page 2

[9] A history of Sri Lanka by K. M. De Silva Page 82

[10] The History of Sri Lanka By Patrick Peebles page 31

[11] A Histroy of Sri Lanka K.M. De Silva, p. 64.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Important locations of Anuradhapura Kingdom.png|frame|thumbnail|50px|alt=Administration centers of Sri Lanka before 13th Century]]
-The '''Kingdom of Rajarata'''{{Dubious|date=November 2012|reason=Most historians (including K. M. De Silva, H. W. Codrington, Patrick Peebles) don not consider this to be a single kingdom, but rather a succession of different kingdoms.}} <ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/111030/Plus/plus_01.html Surgery in an ancient kingdom]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/07/16/fea03.asp Padaviya: the Eastern Capital of the Rajarata Kingdom]</ref> is the name given to the kingdom that ruled the [[Sri Lanka]] from northern part of [[Sri Lanka]] from approximately the 5th Century BCE <ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html The Island]</ref> to the early 13th Century CE
+The '''Kingdom of Rajarata'''{{Dubious|date=November 2012|reason=Most historians (including K. M. De Silva, H. W. Codrington, Patrick Peebles) don not consider this to be a single kingdom, but rather a succession of different kingdoms.}} is the name given to the kingdom that ruled the northern part of [[Sri Lanka]] from approximately the 5th Century BCE to the early 13th Century CE{{Citation needed|date=November 2012|reason=Neither of the two given refs state that this kingdom lasted for 18 centuries}}<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/111030/Plus/plus_01.html Surgery in an ancient kingdom]</ref><ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/07/16/fea03.asp Padaviya: the Eastern Capital of the Rajarata Kingdom]</ref>. It was centered around the ancient cities of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara,Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}} Rajarata was under direct administration of the King.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}} Other areas (Malaya rata,Ruhunu rata) were ruled by brothers of the King who was called by "Mapa" and "Epa".{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
-<ref>[http://www.island.lk/2002/01/27/featur01.html The Island]</ref>. It was centered around the ancient cities of Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara,Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html Sunday Times] </ref><ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/10/13/artscop12.html Daily News]</ref> Rajarata was under direct administration of the King. Other areas (Malaya rata,Ruhunu rata) were ruled by sub kings (often brothers of the King) who was called by "Mapa" and "Epa".<ref>[History of Sri Lanka. KM De Silva ] page 21 onwards</ref>
 The geographical designation Rajarata (''Raja'' = king, ''rata'' = country, or preferably area, thus the area of King) is the name given to the region of [[Sri Lanka]] from which these  monarchs ruled.
 == History and Kingdoms ==
-Rajarata, the first kingdom in Sri Lanka was established by [[Prince Vijaya]] in 543 BC.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html Sunday Times]</ref> He was settled place near to the delta of the Malvathu River between [[Chilaw]] and [[Mannar,_Sri_Lanka|Mannar]]. Myths said prince Vijaya married to a local princess [[Kuveni]] and take the control of the Rajarata. With the help of Kuveni he betrayed and killed all the regional leaders<ref>[http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/13/jun02.asp Vijaya marries Kuveni, wins kingdom]</ref>. After dead of prince Vijaya, administration center was moved towards the country side along the "Malvathu oya". The river was perfectly suited to do agricultural work. First 3 administrative centers (Tambapanni,Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura) situated close to Malvathu oya.
+The first kingdom in Rajarata was established by [[Prince Vijaya]] in 543 BC.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}} He was settled place near to the delta of the Malvathu River between [[Chilaw]] and [[Mannar,_Sri_Lanka|Mannar]]. Myths said prince Vijaya married to a local princess [[Kuveni]] to take the control of the Rajarata.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}} With the help of Kuveni he betrayed and killed all the regional leaders<ref>[http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/13/jun02.asp Vijaya marries Kuveni, wins kingdom]</ref>. After dead of prince Vijaya, administration center was moved towards the country side along the "Malvathu oya". The river was perfectly suited to do agricultural work. First 3 administrative centers (Tambapanni,Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura) situated close to Malvathu oya.
 King [[Pandukabhaya]], a price who had local (Yaksha tribe) blood and Sinha blood, was able to form a stable kingdom in Anuradhapura. He had support from all the tribes in all part of the island.<ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=502 A tale of two nation]</ref>
-Administrating centers in Rajarata.
+Administrating centers in Rajarata.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
-# [[Kingdom_of_Tambapanni | Tambapanni ]] - [[Prince Vijaya]] - Founded in 543 BC
+# [[Kingdom_of_Tambapanni | Tambapanni ]] - [[Prince Vijaya]] - Founded in 543 BC{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
 # [[Kingdom_of_Upatissa_Nuwara|Upatissa Nuwara]] - Founded by King [[Upatissa_of_Sri_Lanka|Upatissa]] in 505 BC<ref>{{cite book|title=The Mahávansi, the Rájá-ratnácari, and the Rájá-vali|year=1833|publisher=Parbury, Allen, and Co.|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=l6zG7t_xQVcC&pg=PA176&lpg=PA176&dq=Upatissa+Nuwara&source=bl&ots=RNsZJvJSYI&sig=Qn3bh7RHyz7ah7a-GHQyLdMUafY&hl=en&ei=6NRYS_H9GpLo7AOI-ISkCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CCAQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Upatissa%20Nuwara&f=false}}</ref>
-# [[Anuradhapura_Kingdom|Anuradhapura]] - Founded by King [[Pandukabhaya]] in 377 BC
+# [[Anuradhapura_Kingdom|Anuradhapura]] - Founded by King [[Pandukabhaya]] in 377 BC{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
-# [[Sigiriya]] - Built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE), but after the death of the king center moved to Anuradhapura.
+# [[Sigiriya]] - Built by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE), but after the death of the king center moved to Anuradhapura.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
-# [[Kingdom_of_Polonnaruwa|Polonnaruwa]] - Founded by King [[Vijayabahu I]]
+# [[Kingdom_of_Polonnaruwa|Polonnaruwa]] - Founded by King [[Vijayabahu I]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
 == Settlements ==
-Prince Vijaya and his clan settled in Tambapanni, near the Malvatu oya delta. [[Mahavamsa]] reveals that successive settlements by varies groups came from India between period of price Vijaya to King Pandukabhaya, tend to settle along with Malvathu oya. In 377 BC King Pandukabhaya moved the administrative center to [[Anuradhapura]]. Most of the settlement were based on rivers and rain water reservoirs to support agricultural lifestyle.
+Prince Vijaya and his clan settled in Tambapanni, near the Malvatu oya delta. [[Mahavamsa]] reveals that successive settlements by various groups came from India between period of price Vijaya to King Pandukabhaya, tend to settle along with Malvathu oya. In 377 BC King Pandukabhaya moved the administrative center to [[Anuradhapura]]. Most of the settlement were based on rivers and rain water reservoirs to support agricultural lifestyle.
 Yodha wewa area in [[Mannar_District |Mannar District]] by King Dhatusena<ref>[http://amazinglanka.com/tanks/yoda-mannar/index.php Yoda Wewa - Mannar District] amazinglanka.com</ref>, Eropathana in [[Vavuniya District]], Padawiya area in [[Anuradhapura District]] and [[Mullaitivu District]]
 by King Moggallana II<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Kj_aWm4DeFEC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=Moggallana+II+padaviya&source=bl&ots=F-w3Y8zasC&sig=OvCpLJvtQGLhfOoSulqobhxSa58&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fRu6T57fPNHciQKnoviGAg&ved=0CEkQ6AEwAw The Sri Lanka Reader History, Culture, Politics] by John Clifford Holt, Robin Kirk, Orin Starn page 55 </ref> proves that the this golden civilization of ancient Sri Lanka is spread to southern boundary of the [[Vanni forest]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}} Heavy [[Vanni forest]] acted as a huge barrier to colonize above the southern border of the forest. Tank's build on Anuradhapura era (Giant's, Padaviya, Minneriya, Kantale, Mahavillachchiya,Thabbowa,Kala) shows the early settlements in Rajarata area.
@@ Line 27: / Line 26: @@
 * Mahaweli river - Pollonnaruwa{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
 * Deduru oya - Sigiriya, Yapahuwa{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
 == Boundaries of Rajarata ==

v t e Districts of Sri Lanka
Central Province	Kandy Matale Nuwara Eliya
Eastern Province	Ampara Batticaloa Trincomalee
North Central Province	Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa
Northern Province	Jaffna Kilinochchi Mannar Mullaitivu Vavuniya
North Western Province	Kurunegala Puttalam
Sabaragamuwa Province	Kegalle Ratnapura
Southern Province	Galle Hambantota Matara
Uva Province	Badulla Monaragala
Western Province	Colombo Gampaha Kalutara