Manarella Connebeth

Manarella Connebeth of Salin (8 July 1095-19 February 1128), was the first wife of Emperor Sawdu IV of Baland, who briefly became the Balish empress consort.

Early years
Born on 8 July 1095, Manarella Connebeth was born in Palace of Eilinsupwa, Andaw, Duchy of Salin. She was the eldest daughter of Chandra VII, Duke of Salin, and his wife, Savannamaya, the daughter of Aguillarma, Queen of Jasume, the daughter of Thusuaye I, Balish emperor, so Manarella was a great granddaughter of Thusuaye I, and her future husband, Sawdu IV, was her cousin. Manarella has three brothers and two sisters, including Chandra VIII and Oraj III, the future Dukes of Salin. Her sister, Madhri Connebeth, later became a nun, and her another sister, Sumanee Orajta, was Duchess of Loha by marriage.

Chandra VII and his wife raised their children separately. Manarella grew up with her younger brother Chandra VIII and received education together. They hardly met any other younger brothers and sisters before the age of 15, and they seldom met their parents, because Chandra VII was always very busy, and Savannamaya died after giving birth to her last child, Reramonsi. Because of this, Manarella and Chandra VIII were closest. Chandra VIII later helped Manarella in assisting her husband Sawdu to the throne.

Manarella was engaged to Prince Sawdu, son of Emperor Thusuaye II of Baland, when she was very young. This marriage was concluded with the help of Sawdu's uncle Kyantalin. Sawdu's mother, Empress Ausabether, told her husband to fulfill this engagement before she died, and left her pearl necklace to Manarella. However, Thusuaye II did not take his wife's entrustment into consideration. He did not have any communication with Salin, nor did he express his intention to take Manarella to the Nanwa court. Soon after, Thusuaye II married Madhri of Bolgne, which made Salin feel uneasy. Chandra VII worried that Thusuaye II did not intend to let Manarella become the Crown Princess of Baland, because Madhri was obviously more popular with the Emperor than Ausabether. At that time, people speculated that if Madhri gave birth to a son, then Sawdu would be replaced as the heir.

Crown princess
In 1111, Empress Madhri died in hemorrhage after giving birth to a daughter. In the same year, Thusuaye II planned to marry Hsinpame, Princess of Sayamati. At the suggestion of Empress Dowager Muhatana, he also decided to fulfill the engagement between his son and Manarella, and the two marriages were carried out at the same time. In September, Manarella came to Nanwa, but compared with the future empress Hsinpame, she was obviously treated coldly by the court. Hsinpame was very beautiful, Manarella not, let alone Hsinpame was the future empress, but Manarella was just the crown princess.

On 10 October 1111, Manarella and crown prince Sawdu married in the Little Ethong Palace. At the same time, the emperor and Hsinpame married. According to the records at that time, Hsinpame attracted almost everyone's attention at the wedding, including Prince Sawdu. It is said that Sawdu was very dissatisfied with his wife's appearance, because Ophia, a previous Balish empress from Salin, was famous for her beauty. As her offspring, Manarella was plain, which made Sawdu very unhappy.

Manarella did not have much record in the period of crown princess, and her relationship with her husband was not very good in this period. Sawdu obviously had a special feeling for his stepmother. Although the two had never done anything out of line, Sawdu enjoyed spending time with Hsinpame. Manarella, who was left by her husband, could only live in court in a low-key way. She had no power or influence, but her relationship with Hsinpame was unexpectedly good, so Hsinpame often persuaded Sawdu to accompany his wife.

Duchess of Reiya
In 1113, Minsi, Duke of Thiwarik, overthrew Thusuaye II, became emperor Minsi III, and married Empress Hsinpame as his wife. With Hsinpame giving birth to her son Hsinpalay the next year, Sawdu also lost the status of crown prince, and he was forced to leave the court, but he was very unwilling. His main title in this period was Duke of Reiya. Manarella left the palace with her husband. Like her husband, she was not content with the title of Duchess, but she knew that Sawdu could not compete with the emperor at this time, so she persuaded her husband to reconcile with the emperor. At the same time, she used her friendship with Hsinpame, hoping that the empress could say good things for them in front of Minsi III.

All the children of Manarella were born during this period. She had two sons and three daughters. Both sons died early. One daughter was stillborn and the other daughter Princess Manarella died in infancy. Therefore, the only child of her survived was Princess Manice. Later, she married her uncle Oraj III, Duke of Salin and became Duchess of Salin.

In the late reign of Minsi III, Sawdu began his plan to wrest the throne. Manarella was his main supporter and adviser. Because of Manarella, he also got the secret help from Salin. In 1127, Sawdu officially declared himself the legitimate heir of the throne, then declared war on Minsi III. His army had won a great victory. After Sawdu was captured accidentally in May, Manarella started the army in Tawdaung. Under the command of her and some other advisers, Sawdu's army successfully surrounded the capital, Nanwa, and in August, Minsi III helplessly declared surrender, and gave his crown to Sawdu, which can be said that the throne was captured by Manarella for Sawdu.

Empress of Baland
Sawdu became the emperor on 2 August 1127 as Sawdu IV. At the same time, Manarella also became the empress, whose only surviving son Sawdu Reramonsi replaced Hsinpalay as the crown prince.

Manarella's career as the empress was very short, but she still played a great role. Because of his wife's great help before he ascended the throne, Sawdu IV trusted her very much, almost to the point of obedience. Many people believed that Manarella was ruler de facto of the Empire. Sawdu IV had always coveted Hsinpame. Now he was the emperor and wanted to make Hsinpame his mistress. It is said that he once coerced Hsinpame into submission by threatening Hsinpame's son. Manarella stopped Sawdu IV. She let Hsinpame live in a temple on the outskirts of Nanwa and put Hsinpalay under her protection, so that the emperor could not lay hands on Hsinpame and her son.

Manarella died in the Nanwa Palace on 19 February 1128, may due to lack of some vitamins because she had abnormal eating habits. Sawdu IV was very sad about his wife's death. He ordered a grand funeral for the empress. Manarella was entombed in Yanimen on 3 April 1128. Her son, Prince Sawdu Reramonsi, died in the same year. Sawdu IV, who lost his wife and son in just a few months, has been a little bit insane since then. The next year, because of no heir, Sawdu IV married Hsinpame, so Hsinpame became Empress of Baland for the third time.