Battle of Gannoruwa
Gannoruwa, near Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka
What happened
King Rajasinghe II of Kandy fought a Portuguese army under Captain General Diogo de Melo de Castro. Portugal controlled much of Sri Lanka's coast, but the mountain kingdom of Kandy was still ruled by its own king. A Portuguese army marched inland and found Kandy empty, because its people had left. On the way back, Kandyan forces blocked the routes and attacked, and the Portuguese army was almost entirely destroyed; Melo fell.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the last battle between the Portuguese and the Kandyans, and Portugal never attacked Kandy again. Kandy stayed independent.
What came next
Two months later Rajasinghe signed a treaty with the Dutch. With Dutch help the Portuguese were driven out of Sri Lanka by 1658, but the Dutch then became Kandy's new rival.
Did you know?
Before the battle Rajasinghe vowed to offer his crown and sword at a shrine if he won, and afterwards he kept his promise.
Timeline
- 1630Kandy defeats an earlier Portuguese attack.
- 28 March 1638Kandy wins at Gannoruwa.
- 23 May 1638Rajasinghe signs a treaty with the Dutch.
- 1658The Dutch drive the Portuguese out of Sri Lanka.
- 6 December 1687Rajasinghe II dies.