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The Fall of Kandy: Sitawaka's Conquest in 1582 CE
In 1582 CE, the Kingdom of Sitawaka, under the rule of King Rajasinha I, achieved a significant military victory by capturing the Kingdom of Kandy, a rival Sinhalese kingdom in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This event marked a pivotal moment in the island's history, as Sitawaka sought to consolidate power and resist Portuguese colonial encroachment.
By the late 16th century, Sri Lanka was a fractured land, with multiple kingdoms vying for dominance. The Portuguese had established a foothold in the coastal regions, while the interior was controlled by Sinhalese kingdoms such as Kotte, Sitawaka, and Kandy. Sitawaka, under the ambitious and militaristic King Rajasinha I, emerged as a formidable force, seeking to unify the island under its rule.
Kandy, though smaller and less powerful, was strategically significant due to its mountainous terrain, which made it difficult to conquer. It had also become a refuge for those resisting Sitawaka's expansion. The Kandyans, led by King Karalliyadde Bandara, maintained a tenuous independence but were increasingly pressured by Sitawaka's growing power.
In 1582, Rajasinha I launched a decisive campaign against Kandy. Utilizing superior military tactics and leveraging his army's experience from previous campaigns, Rajasinha managed to overcome Kandy's natural defenses. The fall of Kandy was not just a military victory but also a symbolic one, as it demonstrated Sitawaka's dominance over the island's interior.
Following the conquest, Rajasinha I sought to integrate Kandy into his kingdom, though resistance from the Kandyans persisted. The fall of Kandy also had broader implications for the region, as it weakened the Sinhalese resistance to Portuguese influence and set the stage for future conflicts.
The conquest of Kandy was short-lived, as Rajasinha I's death in 1593 led to the rapid decline of Sitawaka's power. Kandy eventually regained its independence and emerged as a key player in Sri Lanka's resistance to colonial rule. The events of 1582, however, remain a testament to the complex and often violent struggles for power in Sri Lanka during this turbulent period.
This chapter highlights the dynamic interplay between local kingdoms and external forces, illustrating how the fall of Kandy was both a culmination of Sitawaka's ambitions and a precursor to the island's future struggles.