No. 55. — 1904.] ALAKESWARA : HIS LIFE AND TIMES. 287 
probably leaving his nephew Vijaya Bahu in command,* 
Alakeswara returned to Rayigama, which he made 
his base, although he had constantly to divide his time 
between the two fortresses during the whole of this 
campaign. 
When he had completed his preparations, and they took 
him nearly twenty years, Alakeswara reviewed his army, 
and feeling that he was strong enough to take the field defied 
r 
the Tamil King by hanging the tax collectors, whom Arya 
Chakkrawarti had stationed in different parts of the country. 
When intelligence reached JaflEna of the revolt of Alakes- 
wara, Arya Chakkrawarti determined to finally crush the 
Sinhalese by a simultaneous attack on their two great strong- 
holds. He summoned to his aid a force of 100,003 men f 
from the Malabar Coast, the subjects of his great ally of Pan- 
diy a, in addition to his own army, and sent them forth in two 
divisions to make attacks on Gampola and Kotte, The 
force meant for the capture of Gampola marched overland 
and halted at Matale. On hearing this Bhuvaneka Bahu V., 
who had succeeded Wikkrama Bahu III., although he had a 
large army with him, could not muster up courage to fight 
the Tamils, and with a single follower fled from Gampola and 
sought the protection of his Minister at Rayigama. The 
Sinhalese monarchs from time immemorial had led their 
o 
people in war, and the rage of the army broke out in fierce 
denunciation of the king. What profiteth us a king," they 
asked, "who has deserted an army such as we are r''f and 
proceeded to take instant measures to repel the invaders. 
They realized that defeat meant certain bondage to the 
Tamil," and laid their plans most warily. The forces of the 
* Also called Vira Alakeswara. According to the inscription on an ancient 
sword in Mr. C M. Fernando's possession, he was ywm raj jo living in the 
palace of the Commander-in-Chief {Seneviraja Wdsala) at Kotte in 1373 
during these events. 
t Valentyn, loc. cit. 
X Rajavaliya^ p. 67. 
L 66-04 
