Portuguese invasion of the Jaffna kingdom (1560)

Portuguese invasion of Jaffna kingdom (1560)
Part of Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom
Date1560
Location
Nallur, Jaffna
Result
  • Portuguese captured the capital
  • Pact between Portuguese and Jaffna kingdom
  • Portuguese failed to subdue Jaffna, but Mannar Island and surrounding controlled by the Portuguese
Belligerents
Portuguese Empire Jaffna kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Dom Constantino de Bragança Cankili I
Strength
1,200 soldiers 2,000 soldiers (first attack)
Unknown (Defending capital)
Casualties and losses
Few Heavy

The Portuguese invasion of Jaffna kingdom in 1560 AD was the first expedition against the Jaffna kingdom by the Portuguese Empire. It was led by Viceroy Dom Constantino de Bragança and resulted in the capture of the capital, Nallur. The king of Jaffna, Cankili I, managed to escape and regained the capital through a pact that he made with the Portuguese. He subsequently incited a peoples' rebellion against the Portuguese, resulting in their withdrawing their forces from Nallur. The Jaffna kingdom, however, lost its sovereignty over Mannar Island and its main town, Mannar.[1][2]

  1. ^ S.G, Perera (1932). A History of Ceylon for schools 1 – The Portuguese and the Dutch periods 1505–1796. Vol. I. Colombo: The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon.
  2. ^ Pieris, P. E. (1920). Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505–1658. Asian Educational Services. p. 314. ISBN 8120613724.