Sri Lankan History Questions - Dambadeniya to Gampola

                

1. What was the immediate reason for the decline of Plonnaruwa Kingdom?
2. Who was the last king of Polonnaruwa?
3. Who were the ‘Vanniyars’?
4. How did people like Commander Subha and Vanni Vijayabahu become important to the sovereignty of the country?
5. Who was the first king of Dambadeniya?
6. What were his most important services?
7. Who became the king of Dambadeniya after him?
8. What were the two new invasions he had to suppress?
9. Which South Indian emperor lent assistance in defeating Chandrabanu’s second invasion?

10.              What were the greatest contributions made by King Parakramabahu II?

11.              Who were the sons of Parakramabahu II that succeeded him?

12.              Who was the king that was poisoned by Commander Mitta?

13.              Give 3 reasons for the decision made by Buvanekabahu I to move the capital to Yapahuwa?

14.              Name the well-known explorer who had come to Sri Lanka in 1292?

15.              What were the greatest services of King Buwanekabahu I?

16.              Who lead the Pandyan invasion immediately after the death of Buwanekabahu I?

17.              Who brought back the Bowl and Tooth Relics from Pandya desh and ascended the throne at Polonnaruwa?

18.              Who usurped the throne in 1292 from his cousin?

19.              Name the person who led the riots that ended the reign of King Parakramabahu IV?

20.              Who was the first king to rule from Gampola?

21.              What were his greatest contributions?

22.              Name the person that served as the Prime minister for both Buwanekabahu IV and Parakramabahu V?

23.              Who assisted his brother-in-law Vickramabahu III seize the power of Gampola Kingdom?

24.              Who built a fortress in Kotte?

25.              Who attacked Gampola in 1381?

26.              Who ascended the throne of Gampola after the death of Vickramabahu III?

27.              Who was the ruler of Gampola in 1391?

28.              Name the leader of the Chinese emissaries that came to Sri Lanka in 1405?

29.              Where did they establish the Trilingual Stone Inscription?

30.              Name the provincial ruler that ran away to Dambadiva in the latter half of the 1390s after being defeated by his brother in battle.

31.              Who mover the capital to Kotte?

32.              Who became the king of the Upcountry in 1410?

33.              Name the ruler captured and taken to China by Commander Cheng Ho?

34.              Who is assumed to be ‘Yehipa Naina’ that was named as the agent of the Chinese emperor?

35.              What were the reasons for the decline of Gampola Kingdom?

Answers

1.      Magha invasions in 1215

2.      Parakrama Pandya (1212-1215)

3.      They were the leaders of small groups of people remained around the small tanks in the Vanni area.

4.      They built fortresses and maintained armies in safe places outside the areas controlled by Magha. These provincial rulers offered safe havens for those who were fleeing from Rajarata and safeguarded Buddhism. They also prevented the Kalinga army from advancing towards the southern parts of the country.

5.      Vanni Vijayabahu III 1232-1236

6.      Made the Tamil occupants of Maya Rata retreat to Polonnaruwa.

United the provincial rulers under his rule and established political stability.

Built a fortified citadel at Dambadeniya that later became the command centre of the future war against Magha.

Developed the agriculture in Maya Rata.

Brought the Tooth and Bowl Relics from Kotmale and enshrined them at a specially built Tooth Relic Chamber at Beligala.

Renovated Kelaniya Temple. Constructed Vijayasundararamaya- Dambadeniya and Vijayaba Temple- Wattala.

Commissioned the rewriting of the books destroyed by Magha’s army.    

7.      Parakramabahu II 1236- 1270

8.       1247- A Jawaka King called Chandrabanu

   1261- another invasion led by Chandrabanu 

9.      Pandya Emperor

10.  United the country by defeating Magha’s army.

Defeated two invasions launched by Chandrabanu successfully.

Sponsored the Dambadeni Katikawatha. Held annual Higher Ordination Ceremonies.

Composed ‘Visuddi Marga Sannaya’ and ‘Kavsilumina’.

11.  Bosath Vijayabahu IV 1270- 1272 and Buwanekabahu I 1272- 1284

12.  Bosath Vijayabahu IV 1270- 1272

13.  Some Vanniyars revolted against the rule of the king.

South Indian invasion led by Kalingarayar and Chodagangadeva.

Presence of Chandrabanu’s son (Sendamen) as the agent of the Pandya emperor in the northern parts.

14.  Marco Polo

15.  Built a more secure place to withstand possible enemy invasions in Yapahuwa.

Built a Relic Chamber for the Tooth and Bowl Relics at Yapahuwa.

Sent emissaries to establish direct trade links with Egypt

16.  A Pandya invader called Arya Chakrawarthi

17.  Parakramabahu III 1287

18.  Buwanekabahu II/ Sri Niwasa Buwanekabahu 1292

19.  Bodhi Mapa

20.  Vanni Buwanekabahu IV

21.  Shifted the kingdom to Kurunegala around AD 1300

Launched the second phase of the spread of Sinhalese culture in the wet zone of the South-western part of SL

22.  Senalankadhikara Senevirath

23.  Praburaja Nissanka Alagakkonara

24.  Praburaja Nissanka Alagakkonara

25.  Arya Chakrawarthi possibly as a retaliation for the defeat he suffered about 20 years ago at the hands of the Sinhalese troupes

26.  Buwanekabahu V (Prince Alakeshwara, son of Nissanka Alagakkonara) 1372-1391

27.  Dewamanthree/ Apa Veerabahu

28.  Commander Cheng Ho

29.  Galle

30.  Veera Alakeshwara

31.  Dewamanthree/ Apa Veerabahu

32.  Senkadagala Parakramabahu

33.  Veera Alakeshwara

34.  Senkadagala Parakramabahu

35.  Internal conflicts, invasions (South Indian/Chinese)