Queen Anula (47–42 BC) is a figure of fascination and infamy in Sri Lankan history. She holds the distinction of being the first queen regnant of Sri Lanka and arguably the first female head of state in Asia. However, her path to power was paved with the bodies of her husbands.
The First Queen Regnant
Anula began her political career as the consort of King Chora Naga. But she was not content with being a mere figurehead. The Mahavamsa portrays her as a woman of immense ambition who refused to be sidelined in a male-dominated court. When her husbands failed to meet her expectations or stood in her way, she took matters into her own hands.
A Reign of Poison
Historical chronicles accuse Anula of poisoning at least four of her husbands—including a palace guard, a carpenter, and a wood carrier—whom she had elevated to the throne. For five years, she wielded absolute power, ruling through these puppet kings before eventually discarding them. Her reign was a chaotic period of intrigue that scandalized the conservative monastic community.
The End of an Era
Anula’s rule came to a fiery end when King Kutakanna Tissa, a member of the royal lineage who had fled in fear of her, returned with an army. He besieged the palace and, according to legend, burned Anula alive. Despite her brutal reputation, her reign demonstrated that a woman could wield supreme power in ancient Sri Lanka, challenging the gender norms of her time.