Heir apparent

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For the fantasy novel, see Heir Apparent (novel).

An heir apparent is an heir who (short of a fundamental change in the situation) cannot be displaced from inheriting; the term is used in contrast to heir presumptive, the term for a conditional heir who is currently in line to inherit but could be displaced at any time in the future. Today these terms are most commonly used for heirs to hereditary titles, particularly monarchies. It is also used metaphorically to indicate someone who is the apparent "anointed" successor to any position of power, e.g., a political or corporate leader.

The phrase is only occasionally found used as a title, but as such it is usually capitalized ("Heir Apparent"). Most monarchies give the heir apparent the title of "Crown Prince" or have or had a more specific version, such as Prince of Orange in the Netherlands, Prince of Asturias in Spain or Prince of Wales in the United Kingdom. See crown prince for more examples.

This article is concerned primarily with heirs apparent in a hereditary system regulated by laws of primogeniture; it does not consider cases where a monarch has a say in naming his or her own heir.

Contents [hide] 1 Heir apparent versus heir presumptive 1.1 Daughters in male-preference primogeniture 1.2 Women as heirs apparent 2 Displacement of heirs apparent 2.1 Some notable examples of heirs apparent who lost that status 2.2 Breaching of the legal qualifications of heirs apparent 3 Heirs Apparent who never inherited the throne 4 Heirs Apparent as of 2009 5 Notes

[edit] Heir apparent versus heir presumptive

In a hereditary system governed by some form of primogeniture, an heir apparent is easy to identify: he or she is somebody whose place as first in the line of succession to the title or throne is secure irrespective of future births that may occur. An heir presumptive, by contrast, can always be "bumped down" in the succession by the birth of somebody more closely related in a legal sense (according to that form of primogeniture) to the current title-holder.

The clearest example occurs in the case of a title-holder with no children. If at any time he or she produces children, they will rank ahead of whatever more "distant" relative (the title-holder's sibling, perhaps, or a nephew or cousin) was previously heir presumptive.

For the purposes of many legal systems, it is assumed that childbirth is always possible, irrespective of age or health status. The possibility of a fertile octogenarian, although nonexistent in reality, is never ruled out. In such circumstances a person may be, in a practical sense, the heir apparent but still, legally speaking, heir presumptive.

[edit] Daughters in male-preference primogeniture

The United Kingdom uses male-preference primogeniture: that is to say, daughters (and their lines) may inherit but only in default of sons (and theirs). That is, a female has just as much right to a place in the order of succession as a male would, but she ranks behind all her brothers, regardless of age.

Thus in the normal run of things even an only daughter will not be her father's (or mother's) heiress apparent, since at any time a brother might be born who, although younger, would become heir apparent. Hence she is only an heiress presumptive.

For example, Queen Elizabeth II was heiress presumptive during the reign of her father, King George VI, because at any stage up to his death, George could have fathered a legitimate son. Indeed, when Queen Victoria succeeded her uncle King William IV, the wording of the proclamation even gave as a caveat:

"saving the rights of any issue of his late Majesty King William IV, which may be born of his late Majesty's consort."

Here, provision was made in case William's wife Queen Adelaide was pregnant at the moment of his death — since such a child, when born, would have displaced Victoria from her uncle's throne.^[1]

[edit] Women as heirs apparent

Obviously, in a system of absolute primogeniture which does not take sex into account, a female heir apparent is not surprising; several European monarchies have within the last few decades adopted such a system and furnish practical examples: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the oldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and is his heir apparent; Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium and Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway are all heirs apparent to their fathers (who are in each case heir apparent to their respective countries' thrones). However, Crown Princess Victoria was not heiress apparent from birth (in 1977), but was given the status in 1980, following a change in the Swedish Act of Succession. Her younger brother, Carl Philip (born 1979) was thus heir apparent for a few months.

But even in legal systems (such as the UK's) that apply male-preference primogeniture female heirs apparent are by no means impossible: if a male heir apparent dies leaving no sons but at least one daughter, then the daughter (the eldest daughter) would replace her father as heir apparent to whatever throne or title is concerned, but only when it has become clear that the widow of the deceased isn't pregnant. Then, as the representative of her father's line she would place ahead of any more distant relatives. Such a situation has not to date occurred with the English or British throne; several times an heir apparent has died, but each example has either been childless or left a son or sons.

In one special case, however, England and Scotland had a female heir apparent. The Revolution settlement that established William and Mary as joint monarchs in 1689 only gave the power of continuing the succession through issue to Mary II, the eldest daughter of the previous king, James II. William, by contrast, was to reign for life only, and his children, if he had any (as he did not) by a wife other than Mary would be placed in his original place (as Mary's first cousin) in the line of succession -- after Mary's younger sister Anne. Thus, although after Mary's death William continued to reign, he had no power to beget direct heirs,^[2] and Anne became the heir apparent for the remainder of William's reign. She eventually succeeded him as Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Not everybody, furthermore, is a complete stickler for avoiding the term "heir apparent" in cases where an heir presumptive has no practical prospect of being unseated; for instance, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois, Isabel of Brazil and the future Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg were each declared heirs-apparent (though the former renounced her succession rights in favor of her son).

[edit] Displacement of heirs apparent

The position of an heir apparent is normally unshakable: it can be assumed they will inherit. Sometimes, however, extraordinary events intervene, the obvious example being an untimely death.

[edit] Some notable examples of heirs apparent who lost that status

• James Francis Edward Stuart, the infant son of King James II & VII (of England and Scotland respectively), who was deposed as the King's legal heir apparent when parliament, after it declared that James had de facto abdicated, offered the throne not to the Prince James, whom his father was raising as a Roman Catholic, but to James's oldest daughter, the young prince's much older half-sister, the Protestant Mary (along with her husband, Prince William of Orange). When the exiled King James died in 1701, his Jacobite supporters proclaimed the exiled Prince James Francis Edward as King James III of England and James VIII of Scotland; but neither he nor his descendents were ever successful in their bids for the throne.
• Crown Prince Gustav (later known as Gustav, Prince of Vasa), son of Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, who lost his place when his father was deposed and replaced by his aged uncle, the Duke Carl, who became Charles XIII of Sweden in 1809. The aged King Charles XIII did not have surviving sons, and Prince Gustav was the only living male of the whole dynasty (besides his deposed father), but the prince was never regarded as heir of Charles XIII, although there were groups in the Riksdag and elsewhere in Sweden who desired to preserve him, and, in the subsequent constitutional elections, supported his election as his great-uncle's successor. Instead, the government proceeded to have a new crown prince elected (which was the proper constitutional action, if no male heir was left in the dynasty), and the Riksdag elected first August, Prince of Augustenborg, and then, after the death of the latter, the Prince of Ponte Corvo (Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte).
• Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, who at his birth in 1979 was heir apparent to the throne of Sweden. A year later a change in that country's succession laws instituted absolute primogeniture, whereupon Carl Philip was supplanted as heir apparent by his elder sister Victoria.

[edit] Breaching of the legal qualifications of heirs apparent

In some jurisdictions, an heir apparent can automatically lose that status by breaching certain constitutional rules. Today, for example:

• a British Prince of Wales would lose his status as heir apparent if he
  • became a Catholic, or
  • married a Catholic
• a Crown Prince/Princess of Sweden would lose his/her status if he/she
  • married without the approval of the monarch
  • married the heir to another throne, which is always contrary to Swedish law
• a Dutch Prince/Princess of Orange would lose his/her status as heir to the throne if he/she
  • married without the approval of the Dutch parliament
  • should decide to renounce it
• a Spanish Prince of Asturias would lose his status if he married against the express prohibition of the monarch or the Cortes.

[edit] Heirs Apparent who never inherited the throne

• William Adelin (1103-1120) — the only legitimate son of King Henry I of England who was drowned in the White Ship disaster off the coast of Barfleur in the English Channel in 1120. His cousin Stephen allegedly left the ship at the last minute before it sailed. As a direct result of William's death, Stephen later usurped the English throne from William's sister Matilda, resulting in the period known as the Anarchy.
• Edward, the Black Prince (1330-1376) - eldest son of King Edward III of England; victor of the Battle of Poitiers; he died before his father, who was instead succeeded by the Black Prince's son Richard II
• Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (1453-1471) - only son of King Henry VI of England; his father was deposed in 1461 and restored to the throne in 1470. Edward was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.
• Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486-1502) — eldest son of King Henry VII of England and first husband of Catherine of Aragon. His sudden death within four months of his marriage led to the succession to the throne of his younger brother, as Henry VIII, who also married his widow. The question of whether Catherine had lost her virginity to Arthur was central to Henry's later demand for a marriage annulment, and in turn the entire Protestant Reformation in England.
• Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1594-1612) - eldest son of King
• Louis, le grand Dauphin (1661-1711) - Son of Louis XIV, King of France and of Navarre. He died before his father, and the throne was eventually inherited by the Grand Dauphin's grandson who became Louis XV
• Yinreng (1674-1725) — Yinreng was an heir apparent to the imperial throne of Qing Dynasty of China. During the course of his life, Yinreng was deprived of his position twice by the Kangxi Emperor.
• Louis, Dauphin and Duke of Burgundy (1682-1712) - eldest son of Louis, le grand dauphin, and grandson of Louis XIV, he died of measles less than a year after his father. It would be his son, Louis XV who would ultimately succeed Louis XIV
• Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707-1751) — the Prince of Wales and heir apparent of George II of Great Britain. He died in 1751, nine years before his father.
• Louis, Dauphin of France (1729-1765) - Son of Louis XV, King of France and Navarre. He died before his father, and the throne was eventually inherited by his son, who became Louis XVI
• Crown Prince Sado of Joseon (Korea) (1735-1762) — Sado was heir apparent to King Yeongjo of Joseon (Korea). His lifelong erratic behavior caused his father to force him to commit suicide by locking him in a rice chest, where he died in a span of 8 days; Sado's son succeeded his grandfather as King Jeongjo of Joseon.
• Louis-Antoine, Dauphin and Duke of Angouleme (1775-1844) — eldest son and heir apparent of King Charles X of France. Charles however abdicated, together with Louis himself, in favour of Louis' nephew the young Henri, only for the throne to be seized by a cousin, King Louis-Philippe of France in 1830.
• Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1810-1842), eldest son of Louis-Philippe of France; a popular young liberal, died in a carriage accident six years before his father's overthrow
• Philippe, comte de Paris (1838-1894), eldest son of Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans; heir apparent to his grandfather Louis-Philippe after his father's death. Attempts to put him on the throne after Louis Philippe's abdication were unsuccessful, and he became the Orléanist pretender
• William, Prince of Orange (1843-1879), eldest son of William III of the the Netherlands by his first wife; forbidden by his father to marry his chosen bride, he lived a life of debauchery in Paris and predeceased his father
• Alexander, Prince of Orange (1851-1884), third son of William III of the Netherlands by his first wife; died of typhus before his father
• Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (1858-1889) — only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. He committed suicide with his mistress in 1889.
• Crown Prince Luís Filipe of Portugal (1887-1908) — Heir apparent to King Carlos. The joint assassination of the king and his heir apparent in 1908 left the throne to the teenage Manuel II of Portugal and Portugal eventually became a republic in 1910.
• Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia (1904-1918) — youngest child and only son of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and heir apparent to the Russian throne. When Nicholas abdicated in March 1917, he also abdicated in the name of his son, which was, in effect, against the law in Russia. However the monarchy was abolished only days later, so it made little difference. Alexei was murdered in 1918 along with the rest of his family. Many people continued to believe he escaped his killers, since his body (along with that of one his sisters) was not found with the rest of his family's and servant's remains until 2007.^[3]
• Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples (b. 1937) who become the crown prince of Italy after the accession to the throne of his father Umberto II who lost the throne one month later.
• Leka, Crown Prince of Albania (b.1939) — The son of Zog I who was expelled by the Italians two days after Leka's birth
• Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia (b.1945) - the son of Peter II, who was deposed by the Communists when Alexander was only a few months old.

[edit] Heirs Apparent as of 2009

• HRH Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the heir apparent to the throne of Bahrain.
• HRH Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant is the heir apparent to the throne of Belgium.
• HRH Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah is the heir apparent to the throne of Brunei.
• HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark.
• Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is the heir apparent to the throne of Dubai.
• HIH Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan is the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan.
• HRH Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the heir apparent to the throne of Kuwait. (He was nominated as such.)
• HRH Prince Lerotholi Seeiso is the heir apparent to the throne of Lesotho.
• HSH Prince Alois of Liechtenstein is the heir apparent to the throne of Liechtenstein.
• HRH Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg is the heir apparent to the throne of Luxembourg.
• HRH Crown Prince Moulay Hassan is the heir apparent to the throne of Morocco.
• HRH Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.
• HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway.
• HRH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani is the heir apparent to the throne of Qatar.
• HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud is the heir apparent to the throne of Saudi Arabia.
• HRH the Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias is the heir apparent to the throne of Spain.
• HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland is the heiress apparent to the throne of Sweden.
• HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is the heir apparent to the throne of Thailand.
• HRH The Prince of Wales is equally the heir apparent to the United Kingdom and the fifteen other Commonwealth realms.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Proclamations of Accessions of British Sovereigns (1547-1952)
2. ^ “King James’ Parliament: The succession of William and Mary - begins 13/2/1689”, The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons: volume 2: 1680-1695 (1742), pp. 255-77. [1] Accessed: 16 February 2007.
3. ^ BBC NEWS | Europe | Tsar's lost children identified

Kashyapa I of Sri Lanka

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Kashyapa I (Kassapa I)
King of Sri Lanka
Reign	473-495
Predecessor	Dhatusena
Successor	Moggallana I
Royal House	Anuradhapura Kingdom
Father	Dhatusena

Kashyapa I, also known as Kassapa I, was a king of Sri Lanka, who ruled the country from 473 to 495 AD. He was the second king of the royal Moriyan dynasty of Sri Lanka. Kashyapa is credited with the construction of the Sigiriya citadel and the surrounding city.^[1][2] He acquired the throne by overthrowing his father, King Dhatusena, and usurping his brother and rightful heir to the throne, Moggallana, in a palace coup. He imprisoned and later executed his father. Kashyapa was also known as Pithru Ghathaka Kashyapa (Kashyapa the Patricide), after this incident. He was later defeated by Moggallana, who had fled to South India and returned with an army to regain the throne. Kashyapa was killed in the battle that ensued.

Contents [hide] 1 Acquiring the throne 2 Construction of the city and citadel at Sigiriya 3 Defeat and death 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Acquiring the throne

Though Kashyapa was the son of the king, he was not the heir to the throne. Moggallana was the son of the royal consort and the rightful heir to the throne, while Kassapa was born to a non-royal concubine. However, Kashyapa sought to acquire the throne by usurping Moggallana. He was assisted by the general of the king’s army, Migara, who sought vengeance for a disagreement between him and the king. Assisted and encouraged by Migara, Kashyapa carried out a palace coup and overthrew Dhatusena.^[3]

Dhatusena was imprisoned, and Kashyapa became the king of the country in 473, as the second king in the Moriyan dynasty of Sri Lanka. However, Moggallana managed to escape and fled to South India, fearing that his brother would assassinate him. Migara led Kashyapa to believe that Dhatusena had treasures of large wealth hidden away, and Kashyapa demanded these treasures from the imprisoned king. Dhatusena took Kashyapa to the Kalaweva, a large irrigation tank he had constructed, and told him that it was the only treasure he had. Enraged at this, Kashyapa had Dhatusena executed by burying him alive in the bund wall of the Kalaweva.^[3]

[edit] Construction of the city and citadel at Sigiriya

The Sigiriya rock and its surrounding gardens

Kashyapa was disgraced among the public and the bikkhus, and he received the name Pithru Ghathaka Kashyapa, meaning Kashyapa the Patricide. Because of this, and fearing an attack from Moggallana, Kashyapa moved his capital and residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure location of Sigiriya. At Sigiriya, he constructed a large citadel and elaborate city. His palace was built on top of the Sigiriya rock.^[4]

Sigiriya was a large rock rising above the surrounding plain, offering a wide view in all directions. It was chosen as the capital because of the strategic advantage this would give the defenders during an attack. Large ramparts and moats were built around the city. An elaborate and large garden was built around the rock.^[5] These gardens consisted a number of pools, fountains and other structures. A complex underground irrigation system supplied water to these pools and fountains, and the fountains are functional to this day.^[1]

The constructions on top of the Sigiriya rock include the king’s palace among several other buildings and pools. The Sigiriya frescoes, which depict maidens carrying flowers, were also created during Kashyapa’s reign at Sigiriya.^[1]

[edit] Defeat and death

Moggallana organised an army in South India and returned to Sri Lanka to claim his right to the throne. In the battle that ensued in the plains surrounding Sigiriya, Kashyapa’s army was defeated,^[3] and he killed himself with his own sword. Kashyapa’s reign as king of Sri Lanka ended with this defeat in 495, and Moggallana became the king as Moggallana I.

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Bandaranayake, Senake. Sigiriya. Central Cultural Fund of Sri Lanka. pp. 5,6. ISBN 955-613-111-6.
2. ^ Mihindukulasuroya Susantha Fernando (2005-10-29). "Mysteries of Sigiriya and its landscape garden". Daily News. http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/10/29/fea04.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-26.
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Sigiriya". Discover Sri Lanka. http://discover.lankanest.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=77. Retrieved on 2008-10-26.
4. ^ Hansima Vitharanage (2007-01-09). "Sigiriya frescos? the surviving verdict for the marvel of human creativity". The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka. http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1469&Itemid=52. Retrieved on 2008-10-26.
5. ^ "Major Cultural Assets in Sri Lanka". Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka. http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/arch_assets.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-26.

Kashyapa I of Sri Lanka King of Sri Lanka
Regnal titles
Preceded by Dhatusena	Kings of Rajarata 473 AD–495 AD	Succeeded by Moggallana I

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashyapa_I_of_Sri_Lanka"

Categories: Kings of Sri Lanka | History of Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan people | Sinhalese people | 495 deaths | 5th-century rulers

Dhatusena of Sri Lanka

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Dhatusena (Dasenkeli)
King of Sri Lanka
Reign	455-473
Predecessor	Pithiya
Successor	Kassapa I
Royal House	Anuradhapura Kingdom
Mother	Sangha

Dhatusena was a king of Sri Lanka who ruled from 455 to 473. He was the first king of the royal Moriyan dynasty of Sri Lanka. In some records, he is also identified as Dasenkeli. Dhatusena reunited the country under his rule after twenty six years, defeating the South Indian invaders that were ruling the country at that time. Dhatusena made eighteen irrigation tanks, a large irrigation canal known as Yodha Ela, and the Avukana statue, a large statue of Lord Buddha.^[1][2][3]

Contents [hide] 1 Early life and becoming king 2 Services as king 3 Death 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Early life and becoming king

Dhatusena was the son of Sangha, the daughter of King Mahanama who ruled from 410 to 432.^[4] The country was invaded in 433 by six Tamil leaders from South India, known as the six Dravidians. They overthrew the Sri Lankan monarch and ruled the country for twenty six years, from 433 to 459. During this time, Sinhalese leaders abandoned Rajarata and fled to the Ruhuna municipality in the south of the country. Ruhuna was used as the base for resistance against the invading rulers.

Dhatusena was raised by his uncle, a Buddhist monk named Mahanama. The Tamil rulers were searching for Dhatusena, and his uncle ordained him as a Buddhist monk to disguise him. Dhatusena later organised a resistance movement against the Tamil rulers and led a rebellion against them. Dhatusena claimed the kingship of the country in 455. By the time Dhatusena started the rebellion, three of the six Tamil rulers were already dead, and in the battles that occurred during the rebellion, two more were killed. The final battle took place in 459, where the last king, Pithiya, was killed.^[4] Having successfully defeated the Pandyan invaders, Dhatusena was crowned as the king of Sri Lanka in 459, taking Anuradhapura as his capital.

[edit] Services as king

The Avukana Buddha Statue which was created during the reign of Dhatusena

Dhatusena built eighteen irrigation tanks in order to develop agriculture in the country.^[1] Among these tanks are the Kalavewa and Balaluwewa, which are interconnected and cover an area of 6,380 acres (2,580 ha).^[5]

He also constructed the Yodha Ela, also known as Jayaganga, an irrigation canal carrying water from Kalawewa to Tissawewa tank in Aunuradhapura.^[3][6]

The Avukana statue, a 13-metre (43 ft) high statue of Lord Buddha, is also a creation of Dhatusena.^[2]

[edit] Death

Dhatusena had two sons, Moggallana and Kassapa. Moggallana was the son of the royal consort and the rightful heir to the throne, while Kassapa was born to a non-royal concubine. Dhatusena’s daughter was married to his sister’s son and the general of his army, Migara. Following an argument between his daughter and sister, Dhatusena ordered his sister to be killed. In reprisal, Migara encouraged and assisted Kassapa to overthrow the king and take the throne. Kassapa eventually rebelled against Dhatusena and overthrew him. Dhatusena was imprisoned and Kassapa became the king of the country in 473.

Migara led Kassapa to believe that Dhatusena had hidden treasures of great wealth and persuaded him to find these. When asked to lead Kassapa to where these treasures were hidden, Dhatusena led him to the Kalavewa and taking water into his hands, claimed that this was the only treasure he had. Enraged at this, Kassapa had him killed by burying him alive in the bund of the Kalaweva.^[1][5]

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Mahasena and Dhatusena". sri-lanka.50webs.com. http://sri-lanka.50webs.com/documents/word/sri-lanka-history-007-mahasena.doc. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Aukana Buddha History". aukanabuddha.info. http://www.aukanabuddha.info/history.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.
3. ^ ^{a b} Gamini Jayasinghe (2007-10-15). "A museum for Sigiriya Rock fortress". Daily Mirror. http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/10/15/feat/01.asp. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.
4. ^ ^{a b} "The latter Anuradhapura Period". Rootsweb. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lkawgw/slm-kings.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.
5. ^ ^{a b} "King Dhatusena". sigiriya.gq.nu. http://sigiriya.gq.nu/kingd.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.
6. ^ D. G. A. Perera. "Redeploying the armed forces". The Island. http://www.island.lk/2008/05/01/opinion1.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-25.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhatusena_of_Sri_Lanka"

Categories: Kings of Sri Lanka | History of Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan people | Sinhalese people | 473 deaths | 5th-century rulers

Avukana Buddha Statue

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The Buddha statue of Avukana in Sri Lanka

The Avukana Buddha Statue is one of the tallest statues of Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Anuradhapura District. The 13 meters (38 feet 10) high statue is carved out of solid granite and dates back to the reign of King Dhatusena in the 5th century. It faces Kala wewa, one of the largest man made reservoirs in Sri Lanka.

[edit] See also

• Buddhism
• Anuradhapura

[edit] External links

• Avukana: The tallest Buddha statue in Sri Lanka
• Sacred Places: Avukana
• Images of Avukana Buddha Statue

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Categories: Anuradhapura | History of Sri Lanka | Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka | Colossal Buddha statues | Sri Lanka stubs | Sri Lankan history stubs

Anuradhapura

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Anuradhapura
Kuttam Pokuna
Anuradhapura Location in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 8°21′N 80°23′E / 8.35°N 80.383°E / 8.35; 80.383
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	North Central Province
Established	4th century BC
Area
- Total	2,771.8 sq mi (7,179 km2)
- Land	2,573 sq mi (6,664 km2)
- Water	198.8 sq mi (515 km2)
Population (2001)
- Total	53,151
- Density	20.7/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zone	Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)

Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala, அனுராதபுரம் in Tamil), is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.

The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya.

From the 4th century BC, it was the capital of Sri Lanka until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).

Contents [hide] 1 The city 1.1 Beginnings 1.2 Buddhism and Anuradhapura 1.3 The great building era 1.4 The city grows 1.5 The great city 1.6 In ruins 1.7 Ancient ruins 1.8 Ruins of Anuradhapura 1.8.1 Eight Great Places of Veneration in Anuradhapura - Atamasthana 1.8.2 Other structures 1.8.3 Other ruins 2 Demographics 3 See also 4 Maps 5 References 6 External links

[edit] The city

Protohistoric Iron Age

Although according to historical records the city was founded in the 5th century BC, the archaeological data put the date as far back as the 10th century BC^{[citation needed]}. Very little evidence was available about the period before the 5th century BC (i.e. the protohistoric period), though excavations have revealed information about the earlier inhabitants of the city.

Further excavations in Anuradhapura have uncovered information about the existence of a protohistoric habitation of humans in the citadel. The protohistoric Iron Age which spans from 900 to 600 BC, marked the appearance of iron technology, pottery, the horse, domestic cattle and paddy cultivation. In the time period 700 to 600 BC the settlement in Anuradhapura had grown over an area of at least 50 ha. The city was strategically situated of major ports northwest and northeast, it was surrounded by irrigable and fertile land. The city was also buried deep in the jungle providing natural defence from invaders.

Lower Early Historic period

The Lower Early Historic period, spanning from 500 to 250 BC, is studied on the lines of the chronicles. During this time King Pandukabhaya formally planned the city, with gates, quarters for traders etc. The city at the time would have covered an area of 1 square kilometre which makes it one of the largest in the continent at the time.

[edit] Beginnings

Sacred City of Anuradhapura*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Sri Lanka
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii, vi
Reference	200
Region**	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	1982 (6th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

The layout of Anuradhapura as described in the Mahavamsa:

"He laid out four suburbs as well as the Abhaya-tank, the common cemetery, the place of execution, and the chapel of the Queens of the West, the banyan-tree of Vessavana and the Palmyra-palm of the Demon of Maladies, the ground set apart for the Yonas and the house of the Great Sacrifice; all these he laid out near the west gate." Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger

"A hermitage was made for many ascetics; eastward of that same cemetery the ruler built a house for the nigantha Jotiya.(...) On the further side of Jotiya's house and on this side of the Gamani tank he likewise built a monastery for wandering mendicant monks, and a dwelling for the ajivakas and a residence for the brahmans, and in this place and that he built a lying-in shelter and a hall for those recovering from sickness." Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger

It is said that King Pandukabhaya made it his capital in the 4th century BC, and that he also laid out the town and its suburbs according to a well organised plan. He constructed a reservoir named Abhayavapi. He established shrines for yakkhas such as Kalawela and Cittaraja. He housed the Yaksini-Cetiya in the form of a mare within the royal precincts and offerings were made to all these demi-gods every year. He chose the sites for the cemetery and for the place of execution, the Chapel of the Western Queen, the Pacchimarajini, the Vessavana Banyan Tree, the Palm of the Vyadhadeva, the Yona Quarter and the House of the Great Sacrifice. The slaves or Candalas were assigned their duties and a village was set apart for them. They build dwellings for Niganthas, for wandering ascetics and for Ajivakas and Brahmanas. He established, the village boundaries. The tradition that King Pandukabhaya made Anuradhapura the capital city of Sri Lanka as early as the fourth century BC had been very important.

The administrative and sanitary arrangements be made for the city and the shrines he provided indicate that over the years the city developed according to an original master plan. His son Mutasiva, succeeded to the throne. During his reign of sixty years, he maintained Anuradhapura as his capital and further laid out the Mahameghavana Garden which was to play an important role in the early history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was in the period of his successor, his son Devanampiya Tissa, that Buddhism was first introduced this island 236 years after the passing away of the Buddha. Emperor Ashoka in India was a contemporary of Devanampiya Tissa. Historically this period is considered to extend from 250 to 210 BC. This is the point at which a kingship began and a civilization developed based on one of the most significant religions of South Asia, Buddhism.

[edit] Buddhism and Anuradhapura

With the introduction of Buddhism, the city gained more prominence and the great building era began. The Mahavansa states that King Kutakannatissa built the first city wall to a height of seven cubits with a moat in front of the wall. This fortification was further enlarged by raising the wall a further 11 cubits to 18 cubits by King Vasabha. The king also added fortified gatehouses at the entrances of which the ruins can be seen to date. The Mahavamsa also states that soothsayers and architects were consulted in the construction.

[edit] The great building era

The Ruwanveli Saya Stupa in Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura

Moon stone

[edit] The city grows

The city's popularity grew both as a ritual centre and as the administrative centre, a large population was attracted to the city for permanent settlement. Thus the living facilities were improved to accommodate the expanding population. King Vasabha constructed many ponds which were fed by a network of subterranean channels which were constructed to supply water to the city. Tissa and Abhayavapi tanks were built, the Nuwara weva was built and the Malwatu Oya was dammed to build the Nachchaduwa wewa which was 4408 acres (17.84 km²) in size.

Parks were also provided in the city. The Ranmasu Uyana below the bund of Tissavapi or Tisa weva was one such, but it was strictly reserved for the members of the royal family. Health care and education were two other aspects to which the authorities paid attention. There were several hospitals in the city. In the forth century King Upatissa II provided quarters and homes for the crippled and the blind. King Buddhadasa (337-365 AD), himself a physician of great repute, appointed a physician to be in charge of every ten villages. For the maintenance of these physicians, one tenth of the income from the fields was set apart. He also set up refuges for the sick in every village. Physicians were also appointed to look after the animals. Kassapa V (914-923 AD) founded a hospital close to the southern gate of Anuradhapura. General Sena in the tenth century is believed to have built a hospital close to the ceremonial street (Managala Veediya). The history of medical care began early, for in the fourth century BC King Pandukhabaya, in the course of sanitizing the town constructed a hospital. A large workforce was entrusted with the task of keeping the city clean.

Large lakes were also constructed by the city's rulers to irrigate paddy lands and also to supply water to the city. Nuwara wewa and Tissa wewa are among the best known lakes in the city.

[edit] The great city

Anuradhapura attained its highest magnificence about the commencement of the Christian era. The city had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world, situated in the dry zone of the country the administration built many tanks to irrigate the land. Most of these tanks still survive.

[edit] In ruins

The ruins consist of three classes of buildings, dagobas, monastic buildings, and pokunas. The dagobas are bell-shaped masses of masonry, varying from a few feet to over 1100 ft (340 m) in circumference. Some of them contain enough masonry to build a town for twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Remains of the monastic buildings are to be found in every direction in the shape of raised stone platforms, foundations and stone pillars. The most famous is the Brazen Palace erected by King Dutugamunu about 164 BC. The pokunas are bathing-tanks or tanks for the supply of drinking water, which are scattered everywhere through the jungle. The city also contains a sacred Bo-Tree, which is said to date back to the year 245 BC.

[edit] Ancient ruins

Main article: Ancient constructions of Sri Lanka

Main article: Architecture of ancient Sri Lanka

[edit] Ruins of Anuradhapura

[edit] Eight Great Places of Veneration in Anuradhapura - Atamasthana

The Bodhi Tree at the Sri Maha Bodhiya is protected by several other satellite trees.

Abhayagiri Dagaba.

• Sri Maha Bodhiya
• Ruwanwelisaya
• Thuparamaya
• Lovamahapaya
• Abhayagiri Dagaba
• Jetavanarama
• Mirisaveti Stupa
• Lankarama

[edit] Other structures

• Isurumuniya
• Magul Uyana
• Vessagiri
• Rathna Prasadaya
• Queen's Palace
• Dakkhina Stupa
• Sela Cetiya
• Naka Vihara
• Kiribath Vehera
• Kuttam Pokuna
• Samadhi Statue
• Toluwila Statue

[edit] Other ruins

In the sacred city of Anuradhapura and in the vicinity are a large number of ruins. These have not been identified properly and many have been destroyed either by Tamil invaders or by vandals. Neither the tourists nor the pilgrims had paid much attention to these ruins and information regarding this is meager. Although Avukana is not situated in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the pilgrims never fail to pay homage to this statue.

[edit] Demographics

Ethnicity	Population	% Of Total
Sinhalese	51,775	91.42
Sri Lankan Moors	3,825	6.75
Sri Lankan Tamils	850	1.50
Indian Tamils	45	0.08
Other (including Burgher, Malay)	137	0.24
Total	56,632	100

Source: www.statistics.gov.lk - Census 2001

[edit] See also

• Avukana Buddha Statue
• Sigiriya
• Polonnaruwa
• Buddhism
• World Heritage List
• Mihintale
• Thammannakulama
• Place names in Sri Lanka

[edit] Maps

• Detailed map of Sri Lanka

[edit] References

• Harischandra, B. W.: The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Reprint. New Delhi, Asian Educational Services, 1998.
• Nissanka, H.S.S.: Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka : The Oldest Historical Tree in the World, New Delhi 1996, (Reprint. Vikas)
• R. A. E. Coningham.: The Origins of the Brahmi Script Reconsidered: The New Evidence from Anuradhapura, Minerva 8(2): 27-31, 1995.
• R. A. E. Coningham.: Anuradhapura Citadel Archaeological Project: Preliminary Results of a Season of Geophysical Survey. South Asian Studies 10: 179-188, 1994.
• A. Seneviratne.: Ancient Anuradhapura The Monastic City, Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. p. 310, 1994.
• S. M. Burrows, The Buried Cities of Ceylon - A Guide Book to Anuradhapura and Polonaruwa Reprint, p. 120, 1999.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Anuradhapura

• More Information and Images about Anuradhapura
• Full text of the Mahavamsa, Chap.X
• The Sacred City of Anuradhapura
• UNESCO World Heritage List - Sacred City of Anuradhapura
• Anuradhapura
• The Official Website of the Ancient Tantirimale Viharaya
• Official website of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board
• Anuradhapura in AsiaExplorers
• List of traditional names for cities in the North and East

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