Battle of Vijithapura
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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (October 2021) |
Battle of Vijithapura | |||||||||
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Part of Dutthagamani's campaign against Ellalan | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Duttagamini principality |
Chola Dynasty | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Dutthagamani | Ellalan † | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
Chola Army | |||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Heavy losses | Heavy losses |
The Battle of Vijithapura was a decisive battle fought in the campaign carried out by Sri Lankan king
After launching a campaign to regain the country from Elara, Dutthagamani captured a number of his strongholds before coming to the fortified city of Vijithapura. A four-month siege ensued, followed by a large assault where Dutthagamani's champions and royal elephant played a major part.[1] The chronicles focus a lot on these ten champions, and vividly describe some unusual "tests" that Dutthagamani carried out to find out their skills.
The battle ended in victory for Dutthagamani's forces and considerably weakened Elara's army, ultimately leading to his defeat and death. The exact location of Vijithapura is unknown, though historians have made some speculations on this. The battle is still regarded by Sri Lankans as a legendary event in the country's history, and has even been compared with victories of the Sri Lanka Army during the country's civil war.
Records
Dutthagamani's campaign against Elara is given in detail in the ancient chronicles of
Background
At the time of the battle,
Soon after he became the king in Ruhuna, Dutthagamani launched a campaign against Elara with the intention of "restoring and glorifying Buddhism" in the country.
Vijithapura
After these victories, Dutthagamani's army marched on to the "great fortress of
The city of Vijithapura, which the Mahavamsa refers to as Vijitha Nagara, had been founded nearly three hundred years ago by the brother in law of king
The control of Vijithapura was essential to both sides. The loss of the stronghold would be a largely demoralizing factor for Elara's forces and would significantly reduce their capability to resist Duthhagamani's advance. For Dutthagamani's forces, the capture of the city would mean that they could easily move on to Anuradhapura.[13]
Siege
Surviving troops of Elara's forces from previous battles retreated to Vijithapura, further strengthening its defenses.
Testing the warriors
The ancient chronicles mention two tests that Dutthagamani planned to find out these warriors' skill before the battle. For the first test, Dutthagamani asked the warriors to drink a large cauldron of
Final assault
Dutthagamani's army attacked all four gates of the city simultaneously. He led the main assault on the southern gate with Nandimithra, Suranimala and the elephant Kandula, while the attacks on the northern and western gates were led by Bharana, Khanjadeva, Phussadeva and Labhiyavasabha. The eastern gate was attacked by Mahasona, Gothaimbara, Theraputthabhaya and Velusumana.[15] The defenders of the eastern gates were routed by Velusumana after a cavalry attack, and Elara's forces withdrew into the city.[11]
Elara's archers, shooting from the walls, inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, while soldiers on top of the walls prevented any attempt to breach the wall by pouring down molten metal on them.[11] The elephant Kandula, attempting to break the southern gate, was injured in such an attack. After tending to his injuries and protecting him using thick animal hides, Dutthagamani encouraged Kandula and drove him against the wall. The wall was breached and Dutthagamani's army entered the city.[10] The ten champions, unwilling to enter through an opening made by another, destroyed the wall themselves in different places and broke into the city.[19] Led by them, Dutthagamani's army destroyed the defenders and took control of the fortress city of Vijithapura.[20] The survivors retreated to Anuradhapura.[21]
Aftermath
The capture of Vijithapura paved the way for Dutthagamani's army to advance on to Anuradhapura, and they proceeded immediately afterwards, capturing two more of Elara's strongholds on the way.[22] In the battle for Anuradhapura, Dutthagamani killed Elara in single combat and became the king of Anuradhapura, bringing the entire country under his rule.[4]
Modern culture and studies
The battle of Vijithapura is a legendary battle in Sri Lankan history and a significant milestone in Dutthagamani's campaign to restore Buddhism in the country. It is often referred to as Vijithapura maha satana (the great battle of Vijithapura). After the ending of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, General Sarath Fonseka, the then commander of the Sri Lanka Army, compared several battles they fought to that of Vijithapura.[23]
The exact location of the Vijithapura fortress is uncertain. A village with the same name near the ancient
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Edirisuriya, Chandra (2009-08-13). "Elephants a national treasure". The Island. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ Siriweera (2004), p. 31
- ^ GEIGER, WILH. "The Trustworthiness of Mahavamsa". THE Indian Historical Quarterly: 212–213.
- ^ a b Siriweera (2004), p. 33
- ^ Siriweera (2004), p. 30
- ^ Wijesooriya (2006), p. 58
- ^ a b Abesekara (1998), p. 31
- ^ Siriweera (2004), p. 32
- ^ Geiger (1994), p. 291
- ^ a b Wright (1999), p. 24
- ^ a b c d Moratuwagama (1996), p. 227
- ^ Senaveratna (1997) p. 124
- ^ Moratuwagama (1996), p. 226
- ^ Seneviratna, Anuradha (1983). Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla: Caves of infinite Buddhas. Central Cultural Fund. p. 9.
- ^ Abesekara (1998), p. 32
- ^ Abesekara (1998), p. 33
- ^ Moratuwagama (1996), p. 228
- ^ Abesekara (1998), p. 36
- ^ Senaveratna (1997) p. 129
- ^ Moratuwagama (1996), p. 229
- ^ Perera, Tissa Ravindra (2009-06-28). "Tigers in INGO clothing". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ Perera, Supun (2007-08-26). "The little ocean of Rajarata". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ de Silva, Theja (2009-04-12). "A destiny fulfilled". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ Siriweera (2004), p. 107
Sources
- Abesekara, E. A. (1998). ගැමුණු රජ සහ දස මහා යෝධයෝ—Gemunu Raja Saha Dasa Maha Yodhayo (King Gemunu and the Ten Giant Warriors) (in Sinhala). M. D. Gunasena and Company. ISBN 955-21-0009-7.
- Geiger, Wilhelm (1994). Mahāvaṃsa, the great chronicle of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0218-2.
- Moratuwagama, H. M. (1996). සිංහල ථුපවංසය—Sinhala Thupavansaya (Sinhala Thupavamsa) (in Sinhala). Rathna Publishers. ISBN 955-569-068-5.
- Senaveratna, John M. (1997). The story of the Sinhalese from the most ancient times up to the end of "the Mahavansa" or Great dynasty: Vijaya to Maha Sena, B.C. 543 to A.D.302. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1271-6.
- Siriweera, W. I. (2004). History of Sri Lanka. Dayawansa Jayakodi & Company. ISBN 955-551-257-4.
- Wijesooriya, S. (2006). A Concise Sinhala Mahavamsa. Participatory Development Forum. ISBN 955-9140-31-0.
- Wright, Arnold (1999). Twentieth century impressions of Ceylon: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1335-5.