King Senarath was an important ruler in Sri Lankan history, especially during the Kandyan era. He ruled from 1604 CE to 1635 CE, with Kandy as his capital. His reign was a challenging period, marked by Portuguese invasions and internal conflicts.
Ascension to the Throne and Family Background
King Senarath is considered the successor to King Vimaladharmasuriya I. However, there are no clear early records regarding what happened after the death of Vimaladharmasuriya I. According to many sources, he was a cousin or brother of Vimaladharmasuriya I. To legitimize his claim to the throne, he married Queen Dona Catharina, the deceased king’s widow, and her two daughters.
Reign and Challenges
It is mentioned that King Senarath did not possess all the qualities expected of a king. Throughout his reign, Portuguese forces frequently invaded the Kandyan highlands, and he was unable to repel them effectively. Several rebellions also arose against him during his rule to suppress internal factions aligned with the Portuguese. Most of his military campaigns, except for the Battle of Randeniwela, were unsuccessful.
Battle of Randeniwela
King Senarath was a ruler who desired a peaceful reign. For this reason, he entered into a peace treaty with the Portuguese in 1617. However, the Portuguese broke this treaty and initiated the Battle of Randeniwela under Constantino de Sá. In this battle, the Sinhala forces were led by Prince Mahastana, and his youngest son, Prince Devarajasinghe (later Rajasinghe II), made a significant contribution to the success of the battle. The Portuguese suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Randeniwela. A large number of Portuguese, including their leader Constantino de Sá, were killed.
Succession
When the time came to divide the kingdom among his two step-children and his biological son, King Senarath deceived the other two and bequeathed the main part of the kingdom, including Kandy, to his biological son, Prince Rajasinghe II. His two step-sons died shortly after, and some sources suggest that King Senarath was responsible for eliminating these potential heirs. Thus, Prince Rajasinghe II became the sole heir to the kingdom.
Legacy
Despite ruling during a challenging period, King Senarath managed to secure the survival of the Kandyan Kingdom and hand over the throne to his capable son, Rajasinghe II. Although his reign was fraught with difficulties, the victory in the Battle of Randeniwela and ensuring the continuity of the dynasty can be considered his most notable contributions.