Senarat of Kandy

Senarat Adahasin
King of Kandy
Reign 1604–1635
Predecessor Vimaladharmasuriya I
Successor Rajasinghe II
Born Sri Lanka
Died 1635
Sri Lanka
Burial Sri Lanka
Wives
Issue Kumarasinghe Hastanne
Vijayapala
Râjasimha II
House House of Dinajara

Senarat Adahasin was king of the Kingdom of Kandy from 1604 to 1635. he is said to be the successor to king Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy.However first hand accounts are not available on what happened after the death of Vimaladharmasuriya 1. he is said to be a cousin or brother of vimaladharmasuriya according to most sources. He was not a legitimate ruler hence he married not only Deceased kings widow Dona Catherina but also her two daughters as well to legitimize his claim to the throne.

He did not possess the qualities of a king and during his time Portuguese forces laid waste to the kandyan territory by frequent invasions, which were not effectively repulsed by him. During his reign several rebellions rose up against him and to quell those he aligned with the Portuguese.[1] Many of his military campaigns ended up in failure barring the Battle of Randenivela, success of which is however largely due to the Prince Kumarasinghe , his step son.

When the time came for him to divide his kingdom between his two stepsons & his own son, he tricked the other two & made Râjasimha II (his own son) inherit the main part of his kingdom including Kandy. His two stepsons died shortly after (Some say Senerath is responsible for this elimination of potential heirs to the throne and Rajasimha II became the sole heir to his kingdom.

See also

References

  1. Kandy Fights the Portuguese, C.Gaston Perera, Vijithayapa Publications,2007

Sources

Senarat of Kandy
Born: ? ? Died: ? 1635
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Vimaladharmasuriya I
King of Kandy
1604–1635
Succeeded by
Râjasimha II


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