Migapulle Arachchi

Migapulle Arachchi, also Dom Luis Migapulle Arachchi or Chinna Migapillai, was a rebel leader from the Jaffna Kingdom just after its annexation by the Portuguese Empire in 1619.[1] Considered to be a son of Periyapillai,[2] he initially began as a pro-Portuguese feudal lord (or mudaliyar in Tamil) who opposed the usurper Cankili II but after Cankili's defeat he turned against Portuguese rule. In March 1620, he invited Thanjavur Nayak king Raghunatha Nayak to send in troops to liberate the territory.[1][3] Local people anxious to rid the country of foreigners rose in support. The rebellion lasted a month and was finally defeated with the arrival of reinforcements from Portuguese holdings in Colombo and Nagapattinam. Migapulle also led a second rebellion in December 1620 with the help of Khem Nayak, the captain of Raghunatha Nayak and local support.[3] It was finally defeated in February 1621 by Felipe de Oliveira the captain major of Jaffna.[4][5] The rebellion was put down with excessive brutality against the civilian population including mass murder and mutilations.[6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Sabaratnam, Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle, Chapter 5
  2. ↑ Vriddhagirisan, Nayaks of Tanjore, p. 6,80,91-92
  3. 1 2 Vriddhagirisan, Nayaks of Tanjore, p.91-92
  4. ↑ Abeysinghe, Jaffna under the Portuguese, p.11-12
  5. ↑ Gnanaprakasar, A Critical History of Jaffna, p.161-166
  6. ↑ Peiris,Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658,p.206

References

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