Samarakone Rala

Don Diaz Abeysundere Samarakone (Chevalier) - Head Mudaliyar of Portuguese Ceylon also referred to as Samarakone Mudaliyanse Ralahami in Mahawansa or Don Diaz Abeysundere Samarakone Fernández Mudaliyar was a Military Chief and Minister in the Royal Court in the Kingdom of Kotte and later served as the Head Mudaliyar Military Chief of Portuguese Ceylon.[1]

He was born to a family of Chieftains of the Kotte Kingdom. With the growing influence and solidarity of the Portuguese with the then King Weera Parakramabahu VIII and later his heir King Don Juan Dharmapala of Kotte, Samarakone Rala proved his loyalty to the Portuguese which earned him the titles of Diaz and Fernández. He belonged to a Govigama family named Abeysundere Samarakone Mudaliyanse in Hakmana which is confirmed in Rajavaliya and Mahawansa, despite the attempts of certain clans and castes attempting to distort history by stating he belonged to the Karawa caste due to the honorary titles he was awarded by the Portuguese. According to multiple records he was the first to be awarded the Knighthood of Order of the Christ in Asia.[2] Being known to the Portuguese as a Military Chief of the Kotte Kingdom, due to his Military Skills and brilliance as well as loyalty he was the Captain as well as the first and only Maha Mudaliyar of Ceylon appointed by the Portuguese.[3] This family is one of the most influential aristocrats in the Kotte Kingdom and later Portuguese Ceylon. According to historical records including the Mahawansa Samarakone Ralahami was offered the Throne of Seetwaka by King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe but refused and remained loyal to the Portuguese as per the Commands of his former King, King Don Juan Dharmapala.[4]

Special Notes

• He was appointed the Dissave by the Portuguese for the Matara Dissavaniya (Province).

• He was appointed the Captain of the Uduwara Fort built by the Portuguese in Ceylon.[5]

• He was appointed the Captain of Gaua, which was the then Headquarters of the Portuguese in Asia.[6]

• At the time of his death he was the Captain of Homuz.[7]

• He was the first Asian to be awarded the Order of the Christ Knighthood.

Family

1. Maha Mudaliyar Don Diaz Fernández Abeysundere Samarakone (Chevalier) – Head Mudaliyar of Portuguese Ceylon

1.2.Dona Balaethana Abeysundera Samarakone + Mudaliyar Don David Samarakone Wijesinha of Kandaboda Pattu (Son of Muhandiram Caroliz Wijesinha/ grand-son of Mudaliyar Don Cornelius Wijesinha of Weligam Koralaya).
1.2.3. Dona Kaluethana Wijesinha + Don Simon Samarakone Wijesinha (first cousin)
1.2.3.4.Don David Samarakone Wijesinha (Registrar of Getamanna+ lady from the Wijesekara family of Madugoda Walauwa
1.2.3.4.5.Don Miguel Samarakone Wijesinha
1.2.3.4.5.Don Juan Samarakone Wijesinha + Bala Ethana Konda Liyanaarachchi of Weliwarusa Getamanna
1.2.3.4.5.6.Son
1.2.3.4.5.6.Son

(following the death of Don Juan, Don Miguel (brother) married Balaethana and the following were born)

1.2.3.4.5.6.Son
1.2.3.4.5.6.Don David Samarakone Wijesinha + Dona Catherine Wickramasinghe of the Warnabharana Wickramasinghe family.
1.2.3.4.5.6.7. Muhandiram Don Aelias Samarakone Wijesinha + Lady from the Kitalagama Rajapaksa Yapa family.
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.Somawathie Wijesinha + James Dias Ratnatunga of Aranwela Walawwa
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.Seelawathie Wijesinha + Richard Dias Amaradivakara of Kottasa Walawwa

(Following the death of the lady from the Kitalagama Rajapaksa Yapa family, Don Aelias married a lady from the Madawala Abeysiriwardene Kulatunga family from Madawala Walawwa, and the following were born)

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. Wimalawathie Wijesinha + Samuel St.David de Saa Bandaranayake of Wehalla Walawwa
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. Edward Gunapala Wijesinha + Placida Amarasekara
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. Francis Sumathipala Wijesinha + Indra Gunaratne of Kirama Walawwa
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. Sam Senapala Wijesinha (former Secretary General of Parliament (Sri Lanka) + Mukta Wickremesinghe
1.2.3.4.5.6.7. Don Cornelius Samarakone Wijesinha of Danuketiya

(following the death of Dona Catherine, a lady from the Dissanayaka family of Nakulugamuwa Walawwa was married to Don David and the following were born)

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.Son
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.Son
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.Son
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.daughter
1.2.3.4.5.6.daughter
1.2.3. Dona Dingiriethana Wijesinha + Don Simon Wijetunga Hatharasinghe
1.2.3. Don Simon Appuhamy Wijesinha (ordained as Ven.Karatota Sri Dharmarana Thero)

References
  1. [Mahā-Nāma, Sumaṅgala, H.S. and Silva, B.A. de (1877) The mahawansa. Colombo: William Henry Herbert, Government Printer. ]
  2. [Gamagē, N.J. (1980) Karatoṭa Nā Himi. Tihagoda: Nimal Jē. Gamagē. ]
  3. [Roberts, N. (2006) Galle as quiet as asleep. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Vijitha Yapa Publications.. ]
  4. [Mahā-Nāma, Sumaṅgala, H.S. and Silva, B.A. de (1877) The mahawansa. Colombo: William Henry Herbert, Government Printer. ]
  5. "Lakshman illangakoon ඉලංගකෝන්ගේ විවරණය : ප්‍රශස්ති නොගැයුනු වීරයෝ - 3 (අවසාන කොටස)". 7 February 2017.
  6. "Lakshman illangakoon ඉලංගකෝන්ගේ විවරණය : ප්‍රශස්ති නොගැයුනු වීරයෝ - 3 (අවසාන කොටස)". 7 February 2017.
  7. "Lakshman illangakoon ඉලංගකෝන්ගේ විවරණය : ප්‍රශස්ති නොගැයුනු වීරයෝ - 3 (අවසාන කොටස)". 7 February 2017.
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