Background
He was born in c. 1445 and grew up with his brothers Sri Rajasinghe, Dharma Parakramabahu IX, and Raigam Bandara.
He was born in c. 1445 and grew up with his brothers Sri Rajasinghe, Dharma Parakramabahu IX, and Raigam Bandara.
He also had a sister who was married to Manamperi Arachchi. At the time he was reigning as a Viceroy at Udugampola. He came to the throne in 1513 Anno Domini
Vijaya Bahu had two wives.
Anula produced three sons to Vijaya Bahu: Bhuvaneka Bahu, Mayadunne and Maha Raigam Bandara.
He also took a queen from Kiravella who had a son called Deva Rajasinghe. Jaya Vira II, who was married to Mayadunne"s cousin, was reigning as the King of Kandy.
They planned an attack on Kotte, and Vijaya Bahu struggled to assemble an army, as no one was willing to cause harm to the royal princes. They responded by asking for Ekanayaka Mudaliyar and Kandure Bandara to be sent to them, as they had participated in planning their deaths.
Ekanayaka Mudaliyar was able to escape, however Kandure Bandara was brutally murdered.
Following this, the young prince Deva Rajasinghe was confronted by Mayadunne, and informed him that his father had a secret army waiting for them at Kudawatta. An encounter between the army of Vijaya Bahu and Mayadunne"s men was avoided, and Mayadunne led his men straight for the palace in Kotte. Then it was decided that the king should die, however no Sinhalese accepted this task.
Following the death of the Vijaya Bahu VII, the kingdom was divided between the three brothers and a new form of government commenced.
Bhuvaneka Bahu VII took the kingdom of Kotte, Mayadunne took Sitavaka and Rayigam Bandara had Raigam.