Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 1469 – 1815
Hill kingdom that outlasted the Portuguese and Dutch until the Kandyan Convention of 1815.
- Capital
- Senkadagala (Kandy)
- Region
- Sri Lanka
- Duration
- 346 years
- Main period
- Mughal Empire
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Vimaladharmasuriya I King1590 – 1604
- Rajasinghe II King1635 – 1687Allied with the Dutch against the Portuguese.
- Sri Vikrama Rajasinha King1798 – 1815Last king of Kandy.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 1469 | Kingdom of Kandy emerges | Kandy |
| 1815 | Kandyan Convention The whole of Sri Lanka passes to British rule. The Kandyan kingdom ended and all Sri Lanka came under British rule. |
Kandy |
Sites & monuments
Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
Religious monument · c. 1595
📚 Recommended reading on the Kingdom of Kandy
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Kingdom of Kandy for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 346 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 300 years
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Overlap: 57 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 346 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 346 years
Vijayanagara Empire ★
South · 1336 – 1646
Overlap: 177 years
Bahmani Sultanate ★
Deccan · 1347 – 1527
Overlap: 58 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 346 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 310 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 289 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 215 years
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Overlap: 141 years
Nawabs of Bengal ★
East · 1717 – 1765
Overlap: 48 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 91 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 297 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 346 years
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Overlap: 150 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 346 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 117 years
Samma Dynasty
Northwest · 1351 – 1524
Overlap: 55 years
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Overlap: 107 years
Timurid Empire (Herat)
Northwest · 1370 – 1507
Overlap: 38 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 93 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 104 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 128 years
Gajapati Kingdom
East · 1434 – 1541
Overlap: 72 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 146 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 196 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 84 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 127 years
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Overlap: 160 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 300 years
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Overlap: 169 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 207 years
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Overlap: 205 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 280 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 256 years
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Overlap: 209 years
Portuguese Hooghly
Coastal · 1579 – 1632
Overlap: 53 years
Portuguese Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1597 – 1658
Overlap: 61 years