Introduction
Queen Anula (47 - 42 BCE) is a historical figure who became the first female ruler of Sri Lanka and also the first female ruler in Asia. She ruled the Anuradhapura Kingdom for five years, and historical texts, especially the Mahavamsa, contain numerous discrediting narratives about her reign. However, many scholars believe that the reluctance of society at the time to accept a female monarch and be ruled by a queen overshadowed her abilities and governance skills, highlighting instead the upheavals in her personal life. The primary source of information about her is the Mahavamsa (Ch. xxxiv and xxxv).
Rise to Power
Before Queen Anula’s reign, the political situation in Sri Lanka was extremely unstable. Palace intrigues and power struggles were prevalent. Queen Anula first rose to power as the consort of King Choranaga, who ascended the throne after King Valagamba. King Choranaga was the son of King Valagamba.
King Choranaga ruled the country for 12 years, after which he was poisoned by his consort, Queen Anula, according to the Mahavamsa. After King Choranaga, Kuda Tissa became king. He was the son of Mahakuli and, being a young child, is believed to have acted under Queen Anula’s control. However, he too was poisoned and killed by Queen Anula, after which she became the true ruler, governing according to her will.
Reign
During her five-year reign, Queen Anula married four different men. It is reported that she poisoned all of them, seized state power for herself, and ruled according to her desires.
- Shiva I: The first ruler brought to power by Queen Anula was Shiva, a palace guard. He ruled the country for one year and two months from 47 BCE, and was subsequently poisoned by Anula.
- Vatuka: After Shiva’s death, Vatuka, a Tamil carpenter, caught the Queen’s attention, and she married him. Vatuka also ruled for only about one year and two months, after which he was poisoned.
- Darubhatika: Anula’s affection then turned to Darubhatika, a firewood carrier. Although he adopted the royal name Tissa, he ruled for only one year and one month before being poisoned to death.
- Niliya: Anula’s final consort was a Tamil Brahmin named Niliya. His reign was limited to six months.
Queen Anula then ruled the country independently for the last 4 months of her reign, enjoying herself with thirty palace guards as the chief queen, without any consort. This pattern of behaviour is considered a defiance of all traditional customs and norms of the Rajarata elite. The fact that many of her companions were common men or non-noble Tamils also went against the traditions of society at the time. However, no specific information has been reported about her children or any political instability caused by her rule.
Deposition and Death
Queen Anula was eventually deposed by Kutakanna Tissa, the second son of Mahakuli Maha Tissa. The Mahavamsa states that Kutakanna Tissa had Queen Anula burned on a pyre. According to other sources, she might have been burned alive within her own palace, where she had killed many people.
Historical Significance and Criticism
Queen Anula’s character holds a unique place in Sri Lankan history. Her significance lies in being the country’s first female ruler and also the first female ruler in Asia. However, it is clear that the male-centric chroniclers of the time exaggerated the events of her personal life, thereby suppressing her political and administrative abilities. She was a character distinctly different from a traditional righteous queen, and she succeeded in consolidating her power and governing the state according to her will. Although her actions challenged the social norms of the era, her ability to maintain state power for five years is a testament to her unwavering determination.