Rajasinha II of Kandy

Rajasinha II of Kandy. Rajasinha II (c. 1608 – 25 November 1687) was the Sinhalese monarch of the Kingdom of Kandy in central Sri Lanka from 1635 until his death. His long reign was defined by a complex and shifting foreign policy, first expelling the Portuguese with the aid of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), and then resisting Dutch colonial ambitions. His rule is a critical case study in indigenous resistance and strategic diplomacy during the era of Dutch colonization in Southeast Asia.

Early Life and Accession

Born around 1608, Rajasinha II was a son of King Senarat and his Sinhalese queen. His early life coincided with a period of intense pressure on the kingdom from Portuguese coastal possessions, which sought to conquer the interior highlands. He ascended the throne in 1635 following his father's death, inheriting a realm that was a bastion of Sinhalese sovereignty and Buddhist tradition against European colonialism. His accession came at a time when the Dutch East India Company was expanding its power in the Indian Ocean, presenting a new potential ally against the Portuguese.

Conflict with the Portuguese

Rajasinha II's primary initial objective was to end Portuguese dominance over the island's coastal regions. The Portuguese-Sinhalese War had been ongoing for over a century. Early in his reign, he sustained military pressure, leading campaigns that harassed Portuguese forts. A decisive turning point was the Battle of Gannoruwa in 1638, where his forces inflicted a catastrophic defeat on a major Portuguese army. This victory demonstrated the strength of Kandyan forces and crippled Portuguese military power on the island, setting the stage for a strategic pivot in foreign policy.

Alliance and Rivalry with the Dutch

Following the victory at Gannoruwa, Rajasinha II formalized an alliance with the Dutch East India Company through the Treaty of Batticaloa (1638). The treaty promised Dutch military assistance to expel the Portuguese in exchange for a monopoly on the island's lucrative cinnamon trade and reimbursement for military expenses. This period exemplifies the complex dynamics of Dutch colonization in Southeast Asia, where the VOC leveraged local conflicts to establish its own economic and territorial control. By 1658, the Dutch had successfully ousted the Portuguese from all their coastal strongholds, including Colombo and Galle. However, the alliance quickly soured as the Dutch refused to hand over the captured forts to Kandy, instead consolidating their own colony, Dutch Ceylon. Rajasinha II spent the latter decades of his reign in a state of intermittent warfare and tense diplomacy with his former allies, attempting to break the Dutch trade monopoly and resist their encroachment.

Military Campaigns and Expansion

Rajasinha II was an active military campaigner beyond the conflict with European powers. He sought to consolidate and expand Kandyan authority, particularly in the eastern regions of the island. His forces conducted campaigns against local Vanniar chieftains who resisted central rule or collaborated with foreign powers. He also faced and suppressed several internal rebellions, including one led by his own son. While the kingdom's borders fluctuated, his reign is noted for maintaining Kandyan independence and military readiness against superior European naval and technological power, relying on guerrilla tactics and the difficult terrain of the Kandyan region.

Administration and Internal Policies

Internally, Rajasinha II's administration was characterized by traditional Sinhalese kingship structures. He was a patron of Theravada Buddhism, supporting temples and the monastic community to reinforce the kingdom's cultural and religious identity. The economy remained primarily agrarian, with royal control over land (Rajakariya) and the valuable spice trade, though the latter was severely constrained by the Dutch monopoly. His court at Kandy was a center of Sinhalese arts and culture. However, his rule also faced challenges from powerful regional nobles (Radala) and the constant economic strain of funding military campaigns against the Dutch.

Legacy and Succession

Rajasinha II died on 25 November 1687 in Kandy and was succeeded by his son, Vimaladharmasuriya II. His legacy is that of a resilient monarch who preserved the Kingdom of Kandy's independence during a pivotal period. While he successfully removed the Portuguese, his alliance inadvertently facilitated the establishment of a new, more formidable colonial power in the Dutch East India Company. His reign highlights the precarious position of indigenous states within the system of European imperial rivalry in Asia. Historians view him as a key figure in the resistance to colonialism in Sri Lanka, whose strategies of alliance and confrontation directly shaped the island's colonial history for the next century.