Koimala facts for kids

Koimala Siri Mahaabarana Mahaa Radun, also known simply as Koimala, was a very important ruler in the history of the Maldives. He was the last king before the islands became Muslim. He ruled from 1117 AD to 1141 AD.

Koimala is famous for bringing all the islands of the Maldives together under one rule. This included islands from Minicoy (which is now part of India) all the way down to Addu in the south. Some old stories say he was the first Muslim ruler, but history books show that his nephew, Dhovemi of the Maldives, was the one who officially converted to Islam in 1153.

Stories About King Koimala

There are many interesting stories and legends about King Koimala. These tales help us understand how people in the Maldives remember their past.

The First Muslim King?

Some legends say that Koimala was the first ruler of the Maldives after the islands became Muslim. They call him Dharumavantha rasgefaanu. These stories also say he ruled from 1117 to 1141. It's believed he was the first king from the House of Theemuge, a very old royal family. Other stories suggest he was the fourth king of the Lunar Dynasty, a line of rulers started by King Balaadeettiya. Before Koimala, this family only ruled part of the Maldives.

However, if Koimala was the first Muslim king, it's hard to explain the huge Buddhist buildings found on many islands. These were built long before his time. Also, old writings from the 12th century show there was a royal family in the Maldives before Islam. These writings include letters from the king to Buddhist monks.

The Prince from India

One popular story says Koimala was a prince from India. He arrived by boat at the Malé Atoll. The people of Giraavaru saw his boat and welcomed him. They let Prince Koimala settle on a large sandbank. This sandbank was surrounded by water that looked red from fish blood.

Trees were planted on this sandbank, and the first tree to grow was a papaya tree. Over time, the local islanders accepted this northern prince as their ruler. A palace was built, and the island was officially named Maa-le, which we now call Malé. The island closest to it was named Hulhu-le (Hulhulé). Since then, Malé has been the main city and home of the Maldivian rulers.

The Prince from Sri Lanka

Another story says Koimala was a prince from Ceylon (the old name for Sri Lanka). This prince supposedly married the king of Ceylon's daughter. They traveled by boat to the Maldives. They stopped at Rasgetheemu island, which means "the King's Island," and Angolhitheem island, meaning "the island of servants."

The people of the Maldives were Buddhists at that time. When they learned that the visitors were royalty from the Buddhist kingdom of Ceylon, they invited them to stay. Eventually, they made Koimala their king at Rasgetheemu. The new king and his wife then moved to Malé. The original people of Malé Atoll, the Giraavaru, agreed to this. Before Koimala, it's thought that different atolls in the Maldives were ruled by women leaders.

After settling in Malé, Koimala sent boats to bring more people from his home country to live in Malé. The Giraavaru people, and perhaps other original Maldivians, usually only married within their own community.

Koimala's True Place in History

While Koimala might have been the first king to unite all of the Maldives, the stories of him being a prince might be mixed up with tales of other kings. For example, King Soorudasaruna-Adeettiya and King Balaadeettiya were also princes from the Kalinga Kingdom in India. They founded the Solar and Lunar Dynasties in the Maldives.

According to some old writings, Koimala, or Siri Mahaabarana, was the son of King Siri Bovana Aananda. He was the fourth king of the Lunar Dynasty. He was also the uncle of King Dhovemi, who became the first Sultan (Muslim king) of the Maldives.

Koimala's Kingdom: Malikaddu Dhemedhu

Koimala's kingdom was known as Malikaddu dhemedhu. This means "all that lies between Maliku and Addu". He even fought against some Indian groups to claim the two northernmost atolls for his new Maldivian kingdom.

His kingdom stretched across many atolls, from north to south. This shows how much of the Maldives he brought under his control.

Koimala was followed by his nephew, Dhovemi Kalaminja, who became king in 1141.