Rajarata: Difference between revisions

[[File:Anuradhapura Kingdom Infinity Resolution.svg|alt=Administration centers of Sri Lanka before the 13th century|thumb|{{legend|#BF00ED|Raja Rata}}{{legend|#ED72A5|Malaya Rata}}{{legend|#FCDF90|Ruhunu Rata}}]]

'''Rajarata''' ({{lang-si|රජරට|rajaraṭa|translit-std=ISO}} ({{IPA-si|rad͡ʒəraʈə|IPA}}); {{lang-ta|ரஜரட|rajaraṭa|translit-std=ISO}}; meaning "King's country") was one of three historical regions of the island of [[Sri Lanka]] for about 1,700 years from the 6th century BCE to the early 13th century CE.<ref>{{cite web|title=A series by Gaveshaka in association with Studio Times|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html|publisher=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|access-date=27 May 2014|archive-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221024025/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Several ancient cities, including Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, were established as capitals within the area by successive rulers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html|title=Funday Times|access-date=2014-05-26|archive-date=2013-02-21|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221024025/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040725/funday/2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Rajarata was under the direct administration of the King (raja/king, rata/country). Two other areas, Mayarata and Ruhunurata, were ruled by the king's brothers "Mapa" and "Epa"{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}} . The Magha invasion in the 13th century brought about the end of the Rajarata kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.island.lk/2002/01/27/featur01.html |title=The Island |access-date=2014-05-26 |archive-date=2017-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320063558/http://www.island.lk/2002/01/27/featur01.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/07/16/fea03.asp Padaviya: the Eastern Capital of the Rajarata Kingdom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128201228/http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/07/16/fea03.asp |date=2012-11-28 }}</ref>