Kusumasana Devi
Kusumāsana Devi | |
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Roman Catholicism
prev. Theravada Buddhism |
Kusumāsana Devi (died 10 July 1613), also known as Dona Catherina, was ruling
Life
In her infancy, she and her father
Queen regnant
After the death of her father in 1581, the Portuguese installed her as a
Queen consort
In 1594, she became the Queen Consort to Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy to solidify his rule after the defeat of King Rajasinhe I three years prior.[1][2] Finally, she married her former brother-in-law Senarat who succeeded to the throne following the death of King Vimaladharmasuriya in 1604, also to solidify his legitimacy as ruler.[2] Her ascendancy was contingent on converting to Buddhism, but she secretly taught Catholicism to her subjects during her life.
She had three children by King Vimaladharmasuriya - Mahastana Adahasin, Surya Mahadahasin and Santana Adahasin.[who?] She also had three children, Kumarasingha Astana, Vijayapala Astane and Deva Astane by King Senerath Bandara. Earlier she had a son, Prince Philip Jnr. from her first husband, Yamasinghe Bandara and died few weeks after birth. Mahastana Adahasin died in 1612 after six days of sickness. Her youngest son Mahastane later succeeded his father as King Rajasinhe II, known for the agreement with the Dutch to end Portuguese rule.
She fell sick after her son Mahastane Adahasin died in 1612, with her illness attributed to excessive grief by Philippus Baldaeus. She died on 10 July 1613 at the age of 35.
In popular culture
- Portrayed by Vidhushi Uththara in the 2019 TV Derana TV series Kusumasana Devi.
See also
References
Citations
- ^ a b Obeyesekere 2017, p. 161.
- ^ a b Rajiva Wijesinha: Political Principles and Their Practice in Sri Lanka
Bibliography
- Obeyesekere, Gananath (2017). "Between the Portuguese and the Nāyakas: the many faces of the Kandyan Kingdom, 1591– 1765". In Biedermann, Zoltan; Strathern, Alan (eds.). Sri Lanka at the crossroads of history. London: UCL Press. ISBN 9781911307846.
External links