King Buwanekabahu V (1371–1408 AD) presided over the twilight years of the Gampola Kingdom. His reign was characterized by internal strife, external threats, and the gradual erosion of royal authority, paving the way for the rise of the Kingdom of Kotte.
A Kingdom in Crisis
Buwanekabahu V inherited a kingdom that was already fracturing. The threat from the Arya Chakravarti kings of Jaffna was constant, and the central authority of Gampola was weak. The king often found himself unable to control the powerful regional chieftains who were asserting their independence.
The Power Behind the Throne
The real power during this period lay not with the king, but with the Alagakkonara family. Nissanka Alagakkonara, a brilliant general and statesman, effectively ruled the country, defending it against foreign invasions and building the fortress of Kotte. Buwanekabahu V was largely a figurehead, overshadowed by the military prowess of his ministers.
The End of an Era
By the end of Buwanekabahu V’s reign, the center of political gravity had shifted decisively to Kotte. The Gampola Kingdom faded into obscurity, and a new era of Sinhalese history began, centered on the coastal plains and the rising power of the Kotte dynasty.