Jaffna Kingdom
This article is about the specific polity Jaffna Kingdom and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.
If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics
Was a historical kingdom in Sri-Lanka. It came into existence around the town of Jaffna on the Jaffna peninsula and was traditionally thought to have been established after the invasion of Kalinga Magha from Kalinga in India.
Establishment
January 1216: The widely accepted view is that the Kingdom of the Aryacakravarti dynasty in Jaffna began in 1215 with the invasion of a previously unknown chieftain called Magha, who claimed to be from Kalinga in modern India. He deposed the ruling Parakrama Pandyan II, a foreigner from the Pandyan Dynasty who was ruling the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa at the time with the help of his soldiers and mercenaries from the Kalinga. After the conquest of Rajarata, he moved the capital to the Jaffna peninsula which was more secured by heavy Vanni forest.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Was an expedition against the Jaffna kingdom by the Kotte kingdom.
January 1451: The first campaign in 1450 led by King Parakramabahu VI of the Kingdom of Kotte successfully defeated the tributary Vanni states of the Jaffna kingdom. However, they were unable to fully subdue the Jaffna kingdom itself, led by King Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan.
Were a series of wars between the native kingdoms of modern-day Sri Lanka and the Portuguese Empire.
2.1.Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom
Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom.
October 1560: The Portuguese invasion of Jaffna kingdom in 1560 AD was the first expedition against the Jaffna kingdom by the Portuguese Empire. It was led by Viceroy Dom Constantino de Bragança. The Portuguese conquered northern Jaffna kingdom including Nallur, and the island of Mannar. The king of Jaffna escaped in the interior (Vanna).
January 1561: The king of Jaffna, Cankili I, managed to escape and regained the capital through a pact that he made with the Portuguese. He subsequently incited a peoples' rebellion against the Portuguese, resulting in their withdrawing their forces from Nallur.
October 1591: The Portuguese, led by André Furtado, mounted a military campaign against the Jaffna kingdom from Mannar.
December 1591: The Portuguese captured the kingdom of Jaffna, killed the king, and installed Ethirimana Cinkam as the new ruler.
January 1618: With the death of Pararasasekaran in 1617, Cankili II, an usurper, took control of the throne after killing the regent nominated by the Ethirimanna Cinkam.
July 1619: By June 1619, there were two Portuguese expeditions: a naval expedition that was repulsed led by the Varunakulattan, also known as Khem Nayak, and a land expedition by Phillippe de Oliveira and his army of 5000 was able to defeat Cankili. Cankili, along with every surviving member of the royal family, was captured and taken to Goa, where he was hanged. Jaffna was annexed to the Portuguese Crown.
January 1233: The emergance of these chieftaincies were a direct result of the breakdown of central authority and the collapse of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa in the 13th century, as well as the establishment of the Jaffna Kingdom in the Jaffna Peninsula.
January 1259: Sri Lanka was invaded by Pandya ruler Jatavarman Sundara I in 1258.
January 1310: Northern Sri Lanka remained under Pandya control until c. 1308-09 CE.
January 1326: The Vanni Chieftaincies are inglobated into the Jaffna Kingdom.
January 1451: During 1450-1467, the Jaffna Kingdom briefly lost its independence to the Kingdom of Kotte. The Jaffna Kingdom was ruled by King Kanakasooriya Cinkaiariyan and the Kingdom of Kotte was ruled by King Parakramabahu VI.
January 1468: The Jaffna kingdom freed itself from the domain of Kotte.
Disestablishment
July 1619: By June 1619, there were two Portuguese expeditions: a naval expedition that was repulsed led by the Varunakulattan, also known as Khem Nayak, and a land expedition by Phillippe de Oliveira and his army of 5000 was able to defeat Cankili. Cankili, along with every surviving member of the royal family, was captured and taken to Goa, where he was hanged. Jaffna was annexed to the Portuguese Crown.
