Rise to political dominance During the 1350s due to periodic invasions of the western region of Sri Lanka by the northern based
Jaffna kingdom, many regions had begun to pay tribute and taxes to the
Aryacakravarti kings. The third member of the family to figure in historical accounts, known only as Nissanka Alakēśvara, was a minister of
Vikramabahu III fortified a marshy region around present day
Colombo region, on the marshes to the south of the
Kelani River. He called the fortress Jayewardhanapura, and the area became known as
Kotte, "The fort". By 1369 Alakesvara drove out the tax collectors and attacked the encampments of soldiers from Jaffna kingdom who attempted to invade the Sinhalese kingdoms at
Chilaw and
Negombo killing a large number of them and forcing the rest to retreat. The Aryacakravarti launched a second invasion attempt during the reign of
Bhuvanaikabahu V, landing in the southern kingdom by land and sea. Although the king initially fled his capital, his army defeated the force that approached along the ground in
Matale. Alakēśvara simultaneously attacked the troops that arrived by sea, routing them at
Dematagoda, and destroying their ships at
Panadura. Although most Sinhalese sources mention that he was able to defeat the invaders, there is a conflicting epigraph by the Kings of Jaffna known as the
Kotagama inscription detailing how the King of Jaffna had prevailed. Subsequently, local sources are clear that he began to be viewed as a credible leader and overshadowed the actual king and came to be considered as the real power.
End of the family's power After Alakeswara's death, established as between 1382 and 1392, there was disunity in his family with family members fighting each other for power and procession. Kumara Alakesvara, half-brother of
Bhuvanaikabahu V controlled the region from 1386 to 1387 and was followed by
Vira Alakesvara from 1387 onwards until 1391, when he was ousted by the rival claimants relative. He came back to power with the help of foreign mercenaries in 1399. He ruled until 1411 when he confronted the visiting Chinese Admiral
Zheng He resulting in a
war. Zheng captured and took him to China, returning him to the country a year later. However the humiliation suffered due to this incident, and the decades of infighting within the family, greatly diminished its political power. ==List of title holders==