Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
Jaffna Kingdom
Kingdom
Level 2
c. 1215 – 1619
Tamil kingdom of the Aryacakravarti dynasty in northern Sri Lanka.
- Capital
- Nallur
- Region
- Sri Lanka
- Duration
- 404 years
- Main period
- Delhi Sultanate & Regional Kingdoms
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
12151300140015001619
Rulers
- Cankili I King1519 – 1561
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
📚 Recommended reading on the Jaffna Kingdom
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📄 Research papers
Paper🏛 Library access
Inscribing the Other, Inscribing the Self: Hindu-Muslim Identities in Pre-Colonial India
Uses Andhra inscriptions to show how identities were described in the Kakatiya and Sultanate era.
Paper🏛 Library access
Temple Desecration and Indo-Muslim States
A documented, case-by-case study of temple destruction and its political context, 1192–1760.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
The Pursuit of Persian: Language in Mughal Politics
How Persian became the language of Mughal government and of Hindu and Muslim elites alike.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
Early Use of Cannon and Musket in India: AD 1442–1526
Firearms in Indian warfare before Babur — the evidence from 1442 to 1526.
🕸 Connections 20 links
Explore connections full screen ↗Everything on YugMap linked to this page — and why. Hover a dot in the graph, or pick from the list.
🗂 Era 1
- Medieval IndiaPart of this era
⏳ Periods 1
- Delhi Sultanate & Regional KingdomsBelongs to this period
🏛 Kingdoms & empires 12
- Chola Empire 848 CE – 1279Existed at the same time (64 years)
- Sultanate of the Maldives 1153 – 1968Existed at the same time (404 years)
- Malla Dynasty of Nepal 1201 – 1769Existed at the same time (404 years)
- Delhi Sultanate 1206 – 1526Existed at the same time (311 years)
- Ahom Kingdom 1228 – 1826Existed at the same time (391 years)
- Mewar (Sisodia) 1326 – 1949Existed at the same time (293 years)
- Vijayanagara Empire 1336 – 1646Existed at the same time (283 years)
- Bahmani Sultanate 1347 – 1527Existed at the same time (180 years)
- Kingdom of Mysore 1399 – 1950Existed at the same time (220 years)
- Kingdom of Kandy 1469 – 1815Existed at the same time (150 years)
- Portuguese Estado da Índia 1505 – 1961Existed at the same time (114 years)
- Mughal Empire 1526 – 1857Existed at the same time (93 years)
👑 Rulers 1
- Cankili I 1519 – 1561Ruled it
🔧 Technology 1
- The first printing press September 1556Made or discovered in this time
📄 Research 3
- Inscribing the Other, Inscribing the Self: Hindu-Muslim Identities in Pre-Colon… Cynthia Talbot · 1995Research on this topic
- Temple Desecration and Indo-Muslim States Richard M. Eaton · 2000Research on this topic
- The Pursuit of Persian: Language in Mughal Politics Muzaffar Alam · 1998Research on this topic
📚 Books 1
- A History of Sri Lanka K. M. de SilvaRecommended reading
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Jaffna Kingdom for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Overlap: 64 years
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 404 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 404 years
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Overlap: 311 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 391 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 293 years
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Overlap: 283 years
Bahmani Sultanate ★
Deccan · 1347 – 1527
Overlap: 180 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 220 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 150 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 114 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 93 years
Guhilas of Medapata
West · c. 728 CE – 1303
Overlap: 88 years
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Overlap: 90 years
Chandela Dynasty
Central · c. 831 CE – 1315
Overlap: 100 years
Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
West · c. 940 CE – 1244
Overlap: 29 years
Hoysala Empire
South · c. 1026 – 1343
Overlap: 128 years
Soomra Dynasty
Northwest · c. 1026 – 1351
Overlap: 136 years
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Overlap: 219 years
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Overlap: 185 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 404 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 404 years
Kakatiya Dynasty
Deccan · c. 1163 – 1323
Overlap: 108 years
Seuna (Yadava) Dynasty
Deccan · c. 1187 – 1317
Overlap: 102 years
Pandya Empire (Second Empire)
South · c. 1190 – 1345
Overlap: 130 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 393 years
Madurai Sultanate
South · 1335 – 1378
Overlap: 43 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 247 years
Samma Dynasty
Northwest · 1351 – 1524
Overlap: 173 years
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Overlap: 224 years
Timurid Empire (Herat)
Northwest · 1370 – 1507
Overlap: 137 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 170 years
Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate
Gangetic Plain · 1394 – 1479
Overlap: 85 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 166 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 185 years
Gajapati Kingdom
East · 1434 – 1541
Overlap: 107 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 129 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 129 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 84 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 127 years