Mahinda V of Anuradhapura facts for kids

Mahinda V was a king who ruled the Kingdom of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka during the 11th century. He is a very important figure in history because he was the very last king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. This kingdom had been powerful for a long time. Mahinda V was also the last king from the House of Lambakanna II, a royal family that had ruled for many years.

His time as king was very difficult. In 993, a powerful army from the Chola kingdom invaded Sri Lanka. This invasion was led by Rajaraja Chola I. Because of this attack, King Mahinda V had to leave his capital city, Anuradhapura. He fled to Ruhuna, which is the southern part of Sri Lanka. Sadly, he was later captured and taken to India. He died there in 1029, still a prisoner.

Who Was Mahinda V?

Mahinda V became king in 982 and ruled until 1017. His father was Mahinda IV, who was also a king. Mahinda V had a son named Kassapa, who later became known as Vikramabahu. Vikramabahu would later try to regain control of the kingdom.

Mahinda V took over from his predecessor, Sena V. His rule marked the end of a long era for the Anuradhapura Kingdom. After he was captured, the Chola king, Rajaraja Chola I, took control of Anuradhapura. However, Mahinda V's son, Vikramabahu, continued to rule in Ruhuna.

A Kingdom in Trouble

Historical records, like the ancient book called the Mahavamsa, tell us that Mahinda V's rule was not strong. The country faced many problems during his time. There was a lot of extreme poverty, meaning people were very poor.

One of the biggest issues was that King Mahinda V found it hard to collect taxes. This meant the government did not have enough money. Because of this, he couldn't pay his own army. When soldiers don't get paid, they often refuse to follow orders. This made the kingdom even weaker and harder to defend.

The Chola Invasion

The weakness of the kingdom made it vulnerable to outside attacks. In 993, the powerful Chola empire from India launched a major invasion. Their leader, Rajaraja Chola I, was a very strong ruler. The Chola army successfully captured Anuradhapura, the capital city.

This forced King Mahinda V to leave his home and flee south to Ruhuna. He tried to continue his rule from there, but the Chola control over the northern parts of Sri Lanka was firm. The invasion changed the course of Sri Lankan history forever, ending the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

Life as a Prisoner

After fleeing to Ruhuna, Mahinda V was eventually captured by the Chola forces. He was then taken across the sea to India. He spent the rest of his life as a prisoner. King Mahinda V died in 1029 while still in captivity. His capture and death marked the complete downfall of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

See also

• List of Sri Lankan monarchs