Eliana of Basnoi, Queen of Sayamati

Eliana of Basnoi (19 November 998-30 April 1072), was Queen consort of Sayamati from 1012 until 1034 as wife of Joan III and mother of his successor, Isacca II. Her sister Renée was Eadien empress. She had lust for power as her sister, and exerted a tremendous influence on political issues. Not favored by her husband, she was with great dominance over her son, and wielded power as the queen mother. She was detested by Sayamatian people due to her ambitiousness, voracity and selfishness. After her son Isacca II was overthrowned by his half-brother Kensa of Gabriaunt (King Kensa I), she got insulted and banished, and died in exile eventually.

Early years
Eliana was born in the Verdulan, Basnoi, as the fourth daughter of Fabio II, Duke of Basnoi, and his wife Anmarie of Forle. She had 2 brothers and 5 sisters, including Fabio III who will become duke of Basnoi later and Renée, Empress of Eadien.

Eliana was the most ordinary one of four living daughters of Fabio II, who was with a common appearance, especially comapred with her fabulous sister Renée. Maybe because she was neglected in her childhood, she turned arrogant after she was selected as Queen of Sayamati, looking down on her sisters excluding Renée as they had lower status than her by marriage or never married. Her arrogance aroused her father and brother's dissatisfaction.

At that time, Hsindra allied with Maharapura, and even cancelled the marriage between King Fabio V and Eadien princess Joana to make Sirica of Maharapura queen of Hsindra, while the Eadien empire had allied with Sayamati for several years. These two alliances held hostile attitude to each other. In 1001, to avenge Eadien taking the Saungson Island from it, Maharapura invaded Laungshe in Eadien and gained the support of Hsindra. When Eadien troops came, Maharapura demanded Basnoi to consent Maharapura troops to go through Fattre, which lay in Basnoi, so Maharapura can withdraw its troops fluently. Basnoi refused to be involved in this dispute, and got warned from Hsinpalay the Great, therefore it didn't give its consent, causing a great loss for Maharapura troops. Suriya III, King of Maharapura tried to punish Basnoi. He invaded Fattre in 1008 after Hsinpalay's death by the reason of taking the Saungson Island back, and burned fields around, pushing Basnoi to team Eadien and Sayamati to a great extent, this as an important reason of Eliana being chosen as Sayamatian queen in the future.

Queen of Sayamati
In 1010, Madharia Anna of Palarra, Queen mother of Sayamati, ordered to choose a bride for her son, Joan III. Kanaunto de Kindo, the royal manager, suggested to choose a princess of Basnoi, as Basnoi had a close relationship with Sayamati in recent years, and Duke Fabio II and his wife had many children, so their daughters may also be fertile like their mother. This suggestion was permitted by Madharia Anna.

At that time, among Fabio's four living daughters, the eldest one Anmarie had become a nun, and the youngest Kedhuri was still a little girl. Only Renée and Eliana fit the age. Renée was the most suitable one who was only 2 years older than Joan III, already mature, and benefit to attract her husband and produce an heir due to her good appearance. Nevertheless, Madharia Anna vetoed Renée, taking Eliana instead, because Renée was with a bad reputation, regarded as fake, impious and indulgent, and for Madharia Anna who wanted to dominate her son like dominating her husband, a strong and attractive queen will be a threat for her. Eliana, ordinary, only 11 years old, not too young but easy to control, it's benefit for Madharia Anna to continue her power-holding if Eliana became the queen. Eliana's portrait was presented to Joan III, who neither be attracted, nor show disgust. Joan III agreed to marry Eliana as it's his mother's decision, but it will be proved a wrong choice in the future.

Fabio II prepared a large dowry for Eliana, his first married daughter. The next March, Eliana began her journey, then was arranged to reside in the Pziwa Palace after reaching Fwabosi, adapting the environment while waiting for the marriage as she was still too young to get married. Kalantha Mihadela, first wife of Lebinande II, had her marriage delayed for a half year, so Eliana's marriage-delayed was acceptable. However, a year passed, and Sayamati still have no plan to hold the marriage, which rendered Fabio II and some nobles dissatisfied. Madharia Anna explained that Eliana was still young, but nobles contradicted her by the fact that Orajta of Theebo became queen when she was only 14, and now Eliana was 13, enough to marry. Fabio even threated Sayamati to return some dowry if it still wanted to delay the wedding. Madharia Anna had to agree to hold the wedding in the summer. Many historians regarded the marriage delay as a mean of Madharia Anna to seize the power, as once Eliana became the queen, Madharia Anna was no longer the first lady of the realm.

On 2 August 1012, Joan III and Eliana got married in the Apina Palace. Anmarie of Basnoi, eldest sister of Eliana, came to Sayamati to bless her, and stayed with her until the end of that year. Although married, Eliana was still young, thus this couple didn't consummate their marriage. Later, Madharia Anna forbade the meeting of this couple. She claimed they should see each other after consummating the marriage. Eliana felt hostility from the queen mother, so their relationship got tense. As Madharia Anna had dominated the royal court and exerted a great influence on the king, Eliana can't confront her then, and she can only seek a chance. In this period, Eliana showed nice and kindly, enjoying a good reputation in the court.

By chance, Eliana learned that Madharia Anna was suspected of poisoning her father-in-law, King Oraj III of Sayamati. It's an unproven rumor, but Eliana regarded it as a weapon against the queen mother. To this end, Eliana paid a special visit to Joana de Dongulas, the last consort of Oraj III, who ruled over the court during the last period of Oraj III. It was said that Joana confirmed that this rumor was true to Eliana, but no hard evidence that Madharia Anna poisoned Oraj III. Eliana had this rumor spread throughout the court and the people, and even the Eadien ambassador's report to the emperor said that the queen mother was involved in poisoning Oraj III.

Eliana consummated the marriage with her husband about 3 years after the wedding. On 8 January 1016, she gave birth to her first son, future king Isacca II. As the mother of the future king, Eliana became powerful and many nobles took her side. She constantly persuaded Joan III to abandon his mother. Finally, in April 1017, Joan ordered the expulsion of Manicia Felonaz, Madharia Anna's most trusted lady-in-waiting, from the court in order to appease his pregnant wife. On 16 May, Eliana was crowned in the Ilkalo Temple, and her eldest son Isacca was crowned Prince of Basha, officially being declared him heir to the throne. Realizing that the court was in the hands of her daughter-in-law, Madharia Anna was forced to leave, and she retreated to Ranbin and later to Gwafoir for a long time.

Eliana entered her most glorious stage, in which period she enjoyed the power as the first lady, harmonious relationship with her husband, and had given birth to three sons, among whom the eldest was the heir to the throne. She also had a good reputation. Eliana's sister, Empress Renée, was deeply disgusted by Eadien people; by contrast, Eliana's reputation was good, so nobles and people are delightful, thinking she will be a model of the queen just like Anna of Mohal, but soon they will find that Eliana was as ambitious and greedy as her sister.

Having banished her mother-in-law, Eliana followed Madharia Anna's previous behavior of trying to control her husband as Madharia Anna had once controlled Diagar I. Eliana often tried to sow discord in Joan III's ear, trying to drive away those close to the king, and frequently interfered in political affairs, often changing the king's mind. This antagonized Joan III, who realized that his wife, like his mother, had a strong desire to dominate others. Soon, Eliana was abandoned, and Joan left her and moved to The Candarvid Hall in Dasaung, where he hung out with his mistresses. In 1019, a Maharapura noble girl named Kesara de Boltier captured the king's attention. In 1020 Kesara bore a son to the king, who named him Joan after himself, making Eliana felt angry and humiliated. The Queen Mother, Madharia Anna, who saw this as a good opportunity to deal with her troublesome daughter-in-law, also supported Kesara and gave her some jewels. Joan III and Kesara established another family in Dasaung, and Kesara gave birth to three sons and two daughters, the second son becoming Kensa I. Many nobles followed the king and moved to Dasaung, making Kesara the queen de facto, while Eliana and her children were neglected. Fearing that his daughter would indeed be replaced by Kesara, Fabio II went to Sayamati to ask Joan III if he intended to divorce Eliana. Joan III denied this and was forced by Fabio II to promise to meet Eliana at least three times a year. In her limited time with her husband together, Eliana gave birth to three more sons, but of all her children, only two survived, Isacca II and Muhatanio, Duke of Theebo.

Unable to control her husband, she controlled her son, making Isacca dependent on her, but Muhatanio, who could not inherit the throne, was neglected by his mother and raised by his grandmother, Madharia Anna. Eliana rallied some of the nobles around her to make a profit for herself in the government. Some of her courtiers were making money in the name of the queen, and because Eliana could benefit from it, she did not stop it. Soon, Eliana became one of the most unpopular people in Sayamati.

In 1021, Jakigan, Eadien Emperor was deposed, and Empress Renée decided to go to Sayamati with her son Rogathu to join her sister. But Eliana treated her elder sister coldly who had already lost her status as the empress. Renée can only leave Sayamati for Hsindra, where Jakigan's sister Joana was the queen. Eliana was also arrogant when her younger sister, Kedhuri, came to visit her, for she thought her sister's marriage - with a marquess - was not qulified her status. Eliana's indifference towards her sisters caused her father Fabio II and brother Fabio III's displeasure, which may be why Eliana did not receive support from Basnoi when Kensa I later overthrew Isacca II.

Queen dowager
In 1034, Joan III died and Isacca II came to the throne, and Eliana, as the king's mother, held the actual power. She began to take revenge on Kesara de Boltier. Kesara de Boltier was accused of treason and attempting to crown her son king, and she and her children were thrown into prison. Kesara had vehemently denied the allegation, and she had publicly defended herself in court, winning over many people. Fearing that the judge would acquit her, Eliana instructed the jailer to assassinate her. In the next February, Kesara de Boltier died in prison, said to have been strangled with a rope by the jailer at the behest of the Queen Mother. One of the justices, Dumin Tansra, was afraid that Eliana would continue to persecute Kesara's children, so he let Joan de Dodurre, a highly respected poet at the time, Defend Kesara's innocence and transfer Kesara's children to prison in Pandona for their safety.

Fortunately, after the death of Kesara, Eliana didn't pay too much attention to her children. Instead, she started enjoying power. Although Isacca II was eighteen years old enough to rule the kingdom, under his mother's perennial domination, he was cowardly and indecisive, and many things were handled by his mother and ministers. After the arrival of Enserina of Andon, wife of Isacca II, at the palace of Fwabosi, there were hopes that the new queen might be able to drive away Eliana the same way Eliana drove out Madharia Anna. But a month after the marriage, Isacca II left Enserina. Eliana was very dissatisfied with the fact that her son left the queen, and expressed sympathy for Enserina, but she did not do much to help her.

In July 1036, Kesara de Boltier was acquitted and her children were released. To prevent further persecution by Eliana, Kensa, the eldest son of Kesara, took his younger siblings to his mother's fief, Gabriaunt. He soon found that his mother received great sympathy among the people, and that the Queen Mother and the King were very unpopular. Ambitious and wanting to avenge his mother, Kensa led a rebellion in Barikali the following March against Isacca II, even taking the name of Queen Enserina. Furious, Eliana first took aim at Dumin Tansra and Joan de Dodurre, arresting them and charging them with treason, but the charge was dismissed. At the king's request, the court had to declare them interfering with justice, punished them, and Kesara de Boltier was again declared guilty.

Initially, Kensa was in a weak position, and many nobles and foreign monarchs were still on the side of Isacca II. The nobles took the opportunity to make demands on the king, hoping that he could return to the queen and give birth to a legal heir as soon as possible, but the king refused, and the queen mother was also asked to stop interfering in political affairs, she agreed, but did not do so. Kensa had the advantage of public opinion. He spread rumors that Enserina had been imprisoned, and that the queen dowager wanted to murder the queen in order to dominate the court. Subsequently, riots broke out in several regions adjacent to Gabriaunt, and some regions began to obey Kensa's orders. The Eadien Empire intervened in the matter in January 1039, and under the auspices of Min Gasi, chief minister of Eadien, Isacca II acquitted Kesara de Boltier and released Tansra and Dodurre, and promised not to hold Kensa and others accountable, but he still refused to return to his wife. Kensa no longer resisted his brother, but he was still worried about his persecution, so he refused to go to Fwabosi and sent his subordinate, Joan Dorresi, to the court to sign an agreement instead. The negotiations brought about two years of peace.

At the end of 1040, Kanaunto de Pavine, Count of Cuenta, was imprisoned on the charge of adultery with Queen Enserina, who fled to Gabriaunt and informed the public through Kensa that this was a plot by Isacca II to annul the marriage. Kensa protected Enserina and condemned Isacca II, who sent troops to burn down two villages on the border of Gabriaunt, and Kensa revolted again. This time, Kensa had received the support of many Eadien nobles headed by Enserina's brother Suriya, Duke of Andon. The Eadien imperial family had to consider the opinions of the nobles and no longer publicly supported Isacca like last time. Eliana and Isacca II also had a conflict. Eliana believed that today's situation was all due to Isacca II abandoning Enserina, and Isacca II intended to put the blame on his mother. On 3 July 1042, he personally met Kensa in Napordo, and in front of him tearfully accused his mother, blaming Eliana for the persecution of Kesara and the abandonment of Enserina. Kensa asked Isacca to exile the queen mother in exchange for his loyalty. Isacca II hesitated, saying that it would take a few days to consider. At this time, Eliana commanded an army to attack Apecabadiaro, the territory of Kensa's younger brother, Enser Kanaunto. Kensa immediately left Napordo, refusing to make any kind of reconciliation with the king.

Isacca had to go back to his mother, and he was said to have been placed under house arrest by the queen mother in the days that followed, an allegation that Kensa had made against Eliana, but without any substantial evidence. Kensa proposed many times for the king to come to negotiate in person, but was rejected. Eliana's attitude became extremely tough. In 1043, Kensa was listed as a wanted criminal, the Count of Cuenta was executed, and the king and Enserina's marriage was announced annulled. Enserina refused to admit the result, declaring that she would fight the king to the end, like Elanche of Jeesa. Enser, Prince of Origad, the heir of Hsindra (Enser I), went to meet Eliana Moshacca Mihadela, Queen of Maharapura in January 1045, and they decided to stand in the opposite side of Isacca II, and protested to the King for Enserina. The Pharaja was inconvenient to approve the invalidation of her marriage with Isacca because of Enserina's legal advantage, so he has been ignoring what happened in Sayamati, and now he was under pressure from Maharapura and Hsindra, and even the Eadien Empire tended to change its side, so finally in May, the Pharaja ordered Isacca II to rehabilitate Count of Cuenta and Enserina, and immediately let Enserina return to the court as queen. Isacca II refused, and Queen Eliana accused the Pharaja of unfairness. On 14 June, Enserina died. Kensa immediately trumpeted that she was assassinated by someone sent by Isacca II, although there was no evidence. Isacca II was completely discredited, and in July, the Pharaja excommunicated Isacca. Isacca II originally wanted to legalize his illegitimate son, Joan Reramonsio, but now that he lost the legal way. He still forcibly declared that Joan Reramonsio was the heir of Sayamati, making more nobles betrayed him.

On 12 March 1046, Kensa occupied the capital Fwabosi, and the parliament announced the dethrowing of King Isacca II, and Kensa became the king, namely Kensa I. Eliana refused to admit the result, but to no avail. When Kensa entered the palace, she refused to come out to greet him, and it was said that she also arranged to assassinate the new king, but without success.

Later years and death
After Kensa I ascended the throne, a meeting was held to discuss how to deal with the former king, Isacca II. Some nobles suggested that he should be exiled to his domain, but some nobles objected, thinking that this might bring Isacca back to power, and it would be better to keep him in the capital. In the end, King Kensa I decided to imprison him in Fwabosi's prison, because he was the legitimate son of Joan III and still has supporters. If he was exiled, he may get a chance to make a comeback. Isacca II was imprisoned in Galicana Manor, supported by the income of his domain plus an annuity of 1000 nelas. He was later transferred twice, and finally died in 1063, the seventeenth year of his captivity, and was buried in El Bahal. His wife Enserina, who was not recognized by him, was also buried with him as the queen.

For Queen dowager Eliana, Kensa I was not so tolerant. After all, Eliana was his mother-killing enemy. According to court documents at the time, the king had twice handed down the death sentence against Eliana, but the court rejected it because she had no evidence of treason and as the duly crowned queen, the death penalty was not applicable for her. Kensa I did not want to provide for her as he did to Isacca, so he wanted to banish Eliana to Theebo, the domain of her second son Muhatanio, and let Muhatanio come to provide for her, but Muhatanio refused because he was never cared for by his mother, neglected from birth, and raised by his grandmother Madharia Anna. Kensa I understood this, and severely reprimanded Eliana, humiliating her in public at the court.

In May 1047, Kensa I ordered the exile of Queen dowager Eliana to an inferior estate in Dowrighte, where she was imprisoned in a sunless room. Although accompanied by two servants, the two servants were not allowed to communicate with her in any form, and her correspondence with the outside world was also not allowed. In addition, her standard of support was very low, and Kensa I did not want to allocate funds from the royal treasury to support the mother-killing enemy, so he deducted a part of the income from Isacca II's territory to Eliana.

In 1049, Kensa I decided to marry Hecaébel, daughter of Fabio III, Duke of Basnoi, who was also Eliana's niece. Fabio III knew about the contradiction between Kensa and Eliana, so he told his daughter that don't get involved with this aunt. But after Hecaébel arrived in Sayamati, she decided to go to Dowrighte to visit Eliana first. Eliana was delighted that Hecaébel could become queen, thinking that her situation would be improved, and she begged Hecaébel to intercede with the king so that she could return to the court. Hecaébel agreed, but there was no follow-up to this matter, and Eliana’s life did not improve after that. Don’t know if Hecaébel didn’t intercede at all, or the king refused her request.

In 1063, after the death of Isacca II, Kensa I, believing that Eliana had no chance of making a comeback, decided to expel her. Eliana was exiled to Eadien, and although she was free, she had no relationship with Sayamati from then on, and Sayamati no longer supported her. Eliana lived in seclusion in Myubo in Eadien, and sometimes attended religious services at Woman's Temple of Bodhi. She was in correspondence with her niece, Queen Hecaébel, and the aunt and nephew hoped to meet each other again, but that was never going to happen.

On 30 April 1072, Eliana died. Sayamati refused to bury her. Kensa I had buried his mother Kesara and his father Joan III in El Bahal, leaving no place for Eliana. In the end, Eliana's youngest son, Muhatanio, paid for his mother's burial in the Woman's Temple of Bodhi.

Issue
She had 6 sons with her husband, King Joan III.