Funday Times

This article is part of a continuing series on the 'Mahavamsa', the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
King Detutis
1. The minister Dathasiva was also referred to as Dalasiva. Prince Detutis provided him with an army. He was instructed to go to the west and conquer that area. The prince set up camp at the village called 'Siripita'. When King Agbo heard this, he summoned his brother, Prince Mana, who was then the ruler of the south. King Agbo 111 requested his brother to march towards the south and save the area from the power of Dalasiva.

2. As requested, Prince Mana went there with the army. Dalasiva knew he was approaching and he waited in readiness to fight. The two armies met face to face and a severe battle followed. It went on for a long time and lots of lives were lost. The loss was more for the minister. Realising defeat was near, he gradually retreated and fled.

3. The minister Dalasiva came as far as a place called Mayenvewa. King Agbo's soldiers were there and they managed to stop his advance. When Prince Detutis got to know this, he took his army and went to the capital city. The 'Mahavamsa' says that his armies poured as if the sea was flowing towards the land. To face this huge army, King Agbo too advanced, accompanied by the royal army.

4. King Agbo was majestically riding his elephant. Prince Detutis who was not afraid of this, marched forward and the battle began. The fighting became severe and streams of blood flowed through. As time went on, the royal army became weakened. Armies of Detutis were gaining in strength. They were strong and skilled fighters. The king realized that it was difficult to win in the fighting. He retreated.

5. His army did not know that the king was retreating. The king fled on elephant back. He sailed to India and took up residence there. Because of this, King Agbo's period of rule was limited to only six months. Prince Detutis won the battle and conquered the city. In 628A.D., he was crowned as Detutis 111.

6. Just as previous kings, he also tried to rule the country righteously. He offered the village named 'Mahadaragiri' to Abhayagiri Vihara. He donated other villages to the Mahavihara and the Jetavana Vihara too. The two villages, Mayilagana and Dimbulagana were offered to the priest Mahanaga. In this way, the king offered a number of villages to different temples.

7. The king then offered robes to all the monks of the land. He spent a lot of money in repairing and rebuilding religious centres. Whilst he was engaged in these religious activities, there arose a few trouble spots in the country. King Agbo's brothers were instrumental in creating unrest here and there. They were hiding in those places. So King Detutis had to go to fight them. First, he went to Kalawewa. He settled the troubles there and stayed a while.

8. In the meantime, Agbo 111 who went to India, came back to the country, with a Tamil army. They too came to Kalawewa and set up camp there. When they started to fight, it was clear that things were not in favour of King Detutis. He sent his minister Dalasiva to India to bring another army.

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