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. Initially he 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. 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 of 1620 with the help of Thanjavur Nayak's and local support. It was finally defeated in February of 1621 by Felipe de Oliveira the captain major of Jaffna.^[1][2]The rebellion was put down with excessive brutality against the civilian population including mass murder and mutilations.^[3]

Notes

1. ^ Abeysinghe, Jaffna under the Portuguese, p.11-12
2. ^ Gnanaprakasar, A Critical History of Jaffna, p.161-166
3. ^ Peiris,Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658,p.206

References

• Abeysinghe, Tikiri (2005). Jaffna under the Portuguese. Colombo: Stamford Lake. pp. 66. ISBN 9-55-1131-70-1. 
• Gnanaprakasar, Swamy (2003). A Critical History of Jaffna. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 122. ISBN 81-206-1686-3. 
• Pieris, Paulus Edward (2000). Ceylon and the Portuguese, 1505-1658. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 290. ISBN 81-206-1372-4.