Kassapa VI

Vikramabahu was born as Kassapa to King Mahinda V. His father had abandoned Anuradhapura and established himself in Ruhuna after the deterioration of his position under Chola rule.

Mahinda V was eventually captured by the Cholas and taken to the Chola country, where he remained until his death in 1029. At the time of his father's death, Kassapa was still a young prince, only about twelve years old.^[1]

The survival of the young prince was of considerable political importance. Kassapa was the surviving male representative of Mahinda V's royal line and therefore provided a focus for continued resistance to Chola authority in Sri Lanka.

After the death of Mahinda V, the people and political supporters of Ruhuna continued to protect the young prince. According to the historical account discussed by Amaradasa Liyanagamage, arrangements were made for Kassapa to assume royal authority, including the preparation of the royal insignia and other regalia associated with kingship.^[1]

Kassapa subsequently assumed the regnal name Vikramabāhu. His accession represented the continuation of the Sinhalese royal line in Ruhuna during the period when the Cholas controlled Rajarata.

Vikramabahu's position should therefore be distinguished from that of the Chola rulers who controlled the northern and central parts of the island. Although he belonged to the royal line of the Anuradhapura kingdom and could claim kingship over Sri Lanka, his effective political authority was concentrated in Ruhuna.

The Cholas attempted to eliminate the remaining Sinhalese royal authority in Ruhuna by capturing Vikramabāhu.

The Cūḷavaṃsa records that the Cholas sent a very large army to Ruhuna for this purpose. The force is given as 95,000 soldiers. Liyanagamage notes that the numerical figure may contain an element of exaggeration, as is common with figures preserved in medieval chronicles, but considers there to be good reason to believe that a powerful Chola army was actually sent against Ruhuna.^[1]

The expedition demonstrates the importance attached by the Cholas to eliminating the surviving royal centre in the south. Capturing Vikramabahu would have removed the principal dynastic focus around which opposition to Chola authority could be organized.

The Chola forces nevertheless encountered strong resistance.

Two of Vikramabahu's followers, Kitti and Buddha, played an important role in resisting the Chola attacks. They led forces loyal to Vikramabahu against the Chola army and opposed its attempts to achieve its objective in Ruhuna.^[1]

The resistance prevented the Chola expedition from achieving its principal purpose. Although the Cholas possessed substantial military resources and had conquered the major centres of Rajarata, they were unable to eliminate the political authority maintained by the Sinhalese royal house in Ruhuna.

The episode is significant because it demonstrates that Chola control of Sri Lanka was not uniform. Ruhuna remained capable of supporting organized military resistance and preserving an independent Sinhalese royal centre even after the conquest of Rajarata.

After securing his position in Ruhuna, Vikramabahu continued to strengthen his authority and prepare for a larger military confrontation with the Cholas.

The failure of the Chola expedition to capture him gave Vikramabahu an opportunity to consolidate his position. He subsequently made preparations to launch an offensive intended to recover territory from Chola control.^[1]

The preparations were significant because Vikramabahu was not merely attempting to preserve a refuge in Ruhuna. His objective was to challenge Chola power and restore the authority of his royal house beyond the southern principality.

The political circumstances, however, made such a campaign difficult. The Cholas retained control over Rajarata and its principal centres, while Vikramabahu's military resources were based primarily in Ruhuna.

Vikramabahu died around 1041 CE, before he could carry out the major campaign against the Cholas for which he had been preparing.

The Cūḷavaṃsa states that he died from illness while his preparations were still incomplete.^[2]

Liyanagamage emphasizes that Vikramabahu died while still a comparatively young ruler. His early death prevented the southern resistance from benefiting from the campaign he had been preparing and contributed to the continuation of political instability in Ruhuna.^[1]

His death therefore represented a significant setback for the Sinhalese resistance to Chola rule. The political and military struggle continued under subsequent rulers of Ruhuna until the rise of Vijayabahu I.

Vikramabahu was succeeded in Ruhuna by Mahalana-Kitti, who continued the struggle against Chola authority.

The political situation in Ruhuna subsequently became increasingly unstable, with several rulers and claimants competing for authority. Although the southern principality remained an important centre of resistance, no immediate successor was able to achieve Vikramabāhu's intended objective of expelling the Cholas from the island.

The resistance eventually entered a new phase under Vijayabahu I, who established himself in Ruhuna and spent many years fighting the Cholas. His eventual victory restored an independent Sinhalese kingdom and transferred the principal royal centre to Polonnaruwa.

Vikramabahu occupies an important position in the history of Sri Lanka's resistance to the Chola occupation.

His reign continued the royal line of Mahinda V in Ruhuna after the Chola conquest of Rajarata. His accession was particularly significant because he was only about twelve years old when his father died, yet the political forces in Ruhuna preserved him as the representative of the royal dynasty and organized his accession.^[1]

The Chola attempt to capture him demonstrates the political importance of his survival. The large expedition sent against Ruhuna, traditionally described as numbering 95,000 soldiers, was unable to accomplish its objective. Although the numerical figure should not be treated as an exact census of the Chola army, the episode indicates that the Cholas regarded Vikramabahu and the Ruhuna resistance as a serious threat.^[1]

The resistance led by Kitti and Buddha further demonstrates the ability of Vikramabahu's supporters to organize military opposition to the Cholas. Ruhuna consequently remained outside the Cholas' effective control to a greater extent than Rajarata and continued to provide a base for the surviving Sinhalese monarchy.^[1]

Vikramabahu's early death prevented him from carrying out the campaign he had been preparing against the Cholas. Nevertheless, the political tradition of resistance maintained in Ruhuna during his reign contributed to the later restoration of an independent Sri Lankan kingdom under Vijayabahu I.

• Mahavamsa
• List of monarchs of Sri Lanka
• History of Sri Lanka
• Polonnaruwa kingdom

• Kings & Rulers of Sri Lanka
• Codrington's Short History of Ceylon