Foreign mercenaries in ancient Sri Lanka

Kamalika Pieris

A ‘mercenary’ is a hired soldier fighting in a foreign army. The Sinhala army employed foreign mercenaries and had a separate division for them.

This division was known as the Agampodi division in the medieval period. Most of the mercenaries came from south India. Tamils, Keralas and Andhras were brought into Sri Lanka to fight in the Sinhala king’s army. Nissanka Algakkonara, chief minister of Buvanekabahu V (1372-1408) employed Tamil mercenaries at Kotte.

The first mercenaries came from the Tamil kingdom. They were brought in to help in wars of succession. Sinhala princes, who could not find military support in the island, went to the Tamil kingdom for troops. The first to do this was Ilanaga (33-34 AD) followed by Abhayanaga. (231-240) and Moggallana (491-508).

The seventh century saw a large influx of these Tamil mercenaries. They arrived on five occasions to participate in the power struggles of local princes. Three of these occurred in the reigns of Silameghavanna (619-628), Aggabodhi III (629-639), and Dathopatissa I (639-650).

These mercenaries were in a difficult position once the war they came to fight ended. Those who had helped the king, as in the case of soldiers brought in by Dathopatissa I and Aggabodhi I were given priviledges.

They were protected by the king and became difficult to control. They created trouble over payments and were encouraged to live on pillage and plunder.

Those who served under Dathopatissa I are said to have plundered temples and burnt down the king’s palace and the Temple of the Tooth. Dathopatissa’s successor Kassapa II (650-659) tried to expel them. But the soldiers resisted the orders to return. They ‘seized the town’ and the palace had to give in.

Tamil generals like Pottahakuta, Potthasala and Mahakanda had been given high office. They were not satisfied with that. They wanted a king they could control. They objected to Dappula I (659 AD).

Therefore Dappula only lasted one year. Potthakuttha, then a powerful minister, nominated Haththadatha, a nephew of Dathopatissa I as king. Hatthadatha (659-667) who had fled to India returned with a Tamil army and took the throne with the support of the local Tamils. Great numbers of Tamils living in Rajarata joined him. Tamil power reached its highest point during his time. The senapati and chief minister were Tamils. Haththadatha was a puppet ruler. .

A set of professional Tamil soldiers known as Velaikkara were employed in the service of Vijayabahu I (1055 - 1110). These Vellaikkara soldiers were put in charge of Buddhist temples. Vellaikkara inscription at Polonnaruwa indicates that the Temple of the Tooth relic was in the custody of the Velaikkaras. It states that a Maha thera named Mogallana, in association with some ministers of state, entrusted the custody of the temple of tooth relic to Velaikkaras.

The temple was built on the orders of Vijayabahu I by Deva Senapati. The Tamil inscription at Mayilawewa says that a dandanayake named Kanavati stationed four units of the Velaikkara army at Ututturai and placed Buddhist temple named ‘Vikkirama Calamekanperumpalli” under their protection.

These Velaikkaras also were difficult to control. An invasion into South India planned by Vijayabahu I (1055-1110) had to be abandoned since the Velaikkara troops carried out an uprising. They were ‘thoroughly subdued’ thereafter.

The Velaikkaras together with Kerala and Sinhala soldiers are said to have staged a rebellion during the reign of Parakrama bahu I. This was severely crushed. The Velaikkaras helped Vikramabahu I (1111-1132) to come to power.

Gajabahu II (1132-1153) was also dependent upon them. Both kings were Saivites, and Tamil Hindus were in a position of advantage during their rule. Several Tamil inscriptions can be dated to the reigns of Vikramabahu I and Gajabahu II.

Rajput mercenaries from north India arrived in the time of Vijayabahu IV (1270-1272) ruling at Dambadeniya. They were brought in by the general Mitta to prevent Bhuvaneka bahu I (1272-1284) from coming to the throne. But the Rajputs refused to fight against Bhuvaneka bahu I saying he was the legitimate successor and the rebellion failed.

These Rajputs may have settled in Sri Lanka. P.E.E.Fernando has pointed out that names like Suba, Amara, Rupa, Jaya, Vira such as Vijayatunga, Jayapala, Rajakaruna, Devaraja and Vimalasena are of Rajput origin. Some names are associated only with Rajputs, such as Satarasinha.

Muslims have also been employed as mercenaries in the army. Marco Polo who was in Sri Lanka in 1292 AD, said Sri Lanka hired Muslim soldiers. Marginolli who visited Sri Lanka in 1349 also commented on the fact that there were Muslim soldiers fighting in the armies of this country. I think that these Muslims would have come from south India.