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Migapulle Arachchi was a feudal lord from the Jaffna Kingdom who became a rebel leader just after its annexation by the Portuguese Empire in 1619.^[1] His title Arachchi, is a title given to the commanders of Lascarins or native military forces.^[2]

Variations

They are also known by other names including the Ciṉṉa Mikkappiḷḷai or Ciṉṉa Mīkāppiḷḷai also known as Chinna Migapillai.

History

After the death of Ethirimana Cinkam, the king of Jaffna Kingdom, there were three claimants to the throne. Cankili II usurped the throne by killing the other claimants, Arasakasari the latter king's brother and Periya Pillai Arachchi a powerful Karaiyar chieftain and father of Migapulle.^[3] Migapulle fled to Mannar with the two princesses of Jaffna kingdom to the Portuguese and embraced Catholic Christianity, and was baptised as Dom Luis. Migapulle joined other Christian mudaliyars such as Dom Pedro and with other local support who were dissatisfied with the cruel rule of Cankili and rose to revolt.^[4] Cankili put down the uprising by inviting Raghunatha Nayak, who sent his captain Varunakulattan (also known as Khem Nayak) and a force of 5000 men.^[5]

Cankili II was under the Portuguese made the governor of Jaffna in 1617 and paid tribute to them on the promise that he had no contact with the Karaiyar captains.^[6]^[7] The Portuguese conquered the Jaffna kingdom in 1619 and sent Cankili II to Goa where he was beheaded. Six revolts were led by Karaiyar captains between 1620 and 1621.^[3] Migapulle went to India and invited Raghunatha Nayak on March 1620, the king of Thanjavur Nayak kingdom.^[8]^[9] They were eventually defeated by the Portuguese and a second rebellion was led by Varunakulattan, under the support of the Thanjavur Nayak.^[3] They were finally defeated in February 1621 by Phillippe de Oliveira.^[8]^[10] The rebellion was put down with excessive brutality against the civilian population including mass murder and mutilations.^[11]

Notes

^ Sabaratnam, Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle, Chapter 5
^ Arasaratnam, Sinnappah (1958). Dutch power in Ceylon, 1658-1687. University of London: School of Oriental and African Studies. p. 449.
^ ^a ^b ^c Vriddhagirisan, V. (1995). Nayaks of Tanjore. Asian Educational Services. pp. 6, 78, 80. ISBN 9788120609969.
^ Peradeniya, University of Ceylon (1959). History of Ceylon: From c1500 to c1800. University of Ceylon Press Board. p. 116. ISBN 9789555890045.
^ DeSilva, Chandra Richard (1972). The Portuguese in Ceylon, 1617-1638. University of London: School of Oriental and African Studies. pp. 42–43.
^ Rambukwelle, P. B. (1996). The Period of Eight Kings. P.B. Rambukwelle. p. 96. ISBN 9789559556527.
^ DeSilva, Chandra Richard (1972). The Portuguese in Ceylon, 1617-1638. University of London: School of Oriental and African Studies. p. 95.
^ ^a ^b Abeyasinghe, Tikiri (1986). Jaffna under the Portuguese. Lake House Investments. pp. 11–12. ISBN 9789555520003.
^ Hellmann-Rajanayagam, Dagmar (2007). Von Jaffna nach Kilinocchi: Wandel des politischen Bewusstseins der Tamilen in Sri Lanka (in German). Ergon. p. 104. ISBN 9783899135442.
^ Gnanaprakasar, A Critical History of Jaffna, p.161-166
^ Pieris, Paulus Edward (1999). Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658. Asian Educational Services. p. 206. ISBN 9788120613720.

References

Sabaratnam, T.M (2010). Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle, Chapter 5: Tamils lose sovereignty. United States: sangam.org. Accessed 25-02-2016
Vriddhagirisan, V (2007). Nayaks of Tanjore. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 6, 80–81, 91–92. ISBN 978-8120609969.
Abeysinghe, Tikiri (2005). Jaffna under the Portuguese. Colombo: Stamford Lake. p. 66. ISBN 955-1131-70-1.
Gnanaprakasar, Swamy (2003). A Critical History of Jaffna. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 122. ISBN 81-206-1686-3.
Pieris, Paulus Edward (2000). Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 290. ISBN 81-206-1372-4.