Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was a state in Tamil south and Sri Lanka (South Asia) that lasted from 1070 to 1232 CE, about 162 years. Its people spoke Indo-Aryan languages (Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala).

Vijayabahu I drove out the Cholas in 1070 and ruled from Polonnaruwa. Parakramabahu I built the Parakrama Samudra reservoir and sent a fleet to Burma, and Kalinga Magha's invasion in 1215 wrecked the kingdom.

See Kingdom of Polonnaruwa on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1070 to 1232 CE

Duration

162 years

Type

State

Region

Tamil south and Sri Lanka, South Asia

Language family

Indo-Aryan

Capital

Polonnaruwa

Came from

• Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE

Became

• Dambadeniya kingdom c. 1220 to 1345 CE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 1192 Second Battle of Tarain
• 1193 Nalanda sacked

Neighbours in South Asia

• Chola Empire 848 to 1279 CE
• Ahom Kingdom 1228 to 1826 CE
• Pala Empire c. 750 to 1161 CE
• Delhi Sultanate 1206 to 1526 CE
• Hoysala Empire c. 1026 to 1343 CE
• Western Chalukyas 973 to 1189 CE
• Ghaznavid Empire 977 to 1186 CE
• Kakatiya dynasty 1163 to 1323 CE
• Seuna Yadava dynasty 1187 to 1317 CE
• Pandya dynasty (second empire) c. 1216 to 1345 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Abbasid Caliphate 750 to 1258 CE, Middle East
• Kievan Rus 882 to 1240 CE, Europe

Questions