Tamil Blue Star - Vijajapaaku

Vijajapaaku 1

Reign: 1070-1110

Coronation: 1072/1073

Predecessor: Kulothunga Chola I (as the Chola emperor)

Successor: Jayabahu I

Reign: 1055-1070

Predecessor: Kassapa VII

Successor: Himself as King of Polonnaruwa

Born: Keerthi 1039

Ruhuna, Mummudichola Mandalam, Chola Empire
(modern day Matara, Sri Lanka)

Died: 1110 (aged 71)
Polonnaruwa, Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
(modern day Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka)

Consort: Leelavati of Kannauj
Thilokasundari of Kalinga

House: House of Vijayabahu

Dynasty: Polonnaruwa

Father: Moggallana of Ruhuna

Mother: Lokitha

Religion: Buddhism

Vijayabahu I (born Prince Keerthi) (ruled 1055–1110), also known as Vijayabahu the Great, was a medieval king of Sri Lanka. Born to a royal bloodline, Vijayabahu grew up under Chola occupation. He assumed rulership of the Ruhuna principality in the southern parts of the country in 1055. Following a seventeen-year-long campaign, he successfully drove the Cholas out of the island in 1070 reuniting the country for the first time in over a century. During his reign, he re-established Buddhism in Sri Lanka and repaired much of the damage caused to infrastructure during the wars. He offered the Thihoshin Pagoda(Lord of Sri Lanka Buddha image) to Burma king Alaungsithu and it is now still in Pakokku.

Sri Lanka