Kalantha Mihadela, Queen of Sayamati

Kalantha Mihadela (17 February 892-29 July 930), was queen consort of Sayamati from 912 until her death as the first and most beloved wife of Lebinande II, King of Sayamati. Her personality was merely known, but she was usually recognized as an evil woman, and apparently exerted a tremendous influence on her husband.

Background
Kalantha was the second daughter of Chandra Mihadela, Count of Barbaz, by his wife Kesara of Insa, daughter of Kanaunt, Eadien Crown Prince. Her father was the heir to Enser I Mihadela, Duke of Kausaung, however, he died before became the duke. Kalantha and her siblings was under the care of their mother Kesara, who was in a bad relationship with her mother-in-law, Anmariela of Hullijeau, as Anmariela believed that Kesara brought bad luck to her son and finally killed him. Kalantha had 2 brothers and 1 sister. Her eldest brother Chandra I succeeded as Duke of Kausaung; another brother Joan Alan Mihadela later became Governor of Zarburi after Kausaung took this land from Maharapura in 917. Her elder sister Manicia Mihadela was Duchess of Limgoo by her marriage to Jules, Duke of Limgoo.

Kalantha was beatuiful, charming and petite, but many historians predicted that she was with physical disability. She had only one half-length portrait saved until now, in which her hands were not shown. According to some notes from courtiers who had seen her, she never showed her right hand in public, and there were records that even in her full-length portraits, which were lost or destroyed, her right hand were not painted. So it was proper to predict she was born without right hand or lost her right hand accidently.

Marriage negotiations
Her mother Kesara wanted to betroth her to Eadien emperor Kanaunt II's son, Crown Prince Henther Welsuque, but Kanaunt II chose Sayamatian princess Moshacca, who was the heiress of Yorte and had proper age to marry Henther Welsuque. Kanaunt II suggested Kesara to tie a knot between her daughter and Isacca Oraj, Prince of Basha, son and heir of King Joan II of Sayamati and brother of Moshacca, thus Kalantha can become Queen of Sayamati in the future. Unluckily, Prince Isacca Oraj died in 899. Although Joan II had his second son Nipofe Joan in 904, he refused to arrange a 12-year older bride for his son. It was said Kesara secretly negociated with Hsindra that betroth Kalantha to King Isacca IV of Hsindra, when Hsindra and Eadien empire were hostile to each other, but there's no official record about it.

In 908, Kalantha's brother Chandra I succeeded as Duke of Kausaung. Chandra I tried to choose a good marriage for his sister, soon his chance came. The next year, King Joan II of Sayamati died without an heir, so the new king should be his nephew Lebinande of Singuti according to the law. Nevertheless, Emperor Kanaunt II claimed that Joan II still had a daughter alive, Moshacca, who should be crowned as queen of Sayamati, and her husband Henther Welsuque as king. In this struggle, Chandra I supported Lebinande, as he saw the hope of making his sister queen of Sayamati by wedding her to the new king. Finally, Lebinande won who gained majority support as Moshacca gave up her right of inheritance to the Sayamatian throne before her marriage and most of countries didn't want to witness Eadien power growing. Lebinande of Singuti became King Lebinande II of Sayamati, then, as Chandra I had wished, the new king began to look for a bride to produce an heir as the prevention of Joan II's situation.

The Sayamatian court firstly decided to crown Princess Ophia of Hsindra as Lebinande's queen consort, but the negotiation failed. Chandra I expressed his friendship timely. As Kausaung and Hsindra was close in most of conditions, it's benefit to build a relationship with Kausaung. In July 911, Kalantha's portrait was presented to Lebinande II, and Lebinande felt satified. This marriage was consented.

Queen of Sayamati
In December 911, Kalantha arrived Fwabosi by her mother's company. She had resided in the Pziwa Palace for half a year to adapt to the new environment and was observed by rich-experienced doctors whether she was fertile. The king had dressed as servant to see his bride secretly sometimes, and it was believed he was attracted by Kalantha. During in the Pziwa Palace, Kalantha had received many presents from the king, but she refused to use them, and said that she was not a mistress, so she'll only use presents received after the wedding.

On 9 May 912, the wedding was celebrated in Ilkalo Temple, Kananive. Kalantha was officially crowned 5 months later on 14 October when she was pregnant with her first child. Lebinande II and Kalantha remained a close relationship through their whole marriage. This marriage will bring 4 sons and 3 daughters, but only two daughters, Kalantha and Eliana survived.

Kalantha's influence on politics had always been controversial, but when Kalantha was alive, King Lebinande II's ruling style was tougher, and after Kalantha's death, Lebinande became an indecisive man. Although there was not enough evidence, the majority of historians attribute it to the influence of Kalantha. Kalantha had been encouraging Lebinande to rebuild the relationship between Sayamati and Eadien Empire, which had soured during the reign of Joan II. When her eldest living daughter Kalantha was 6 years old, she sanctioned her marriage to Dumin Uton, Count of Jeesa, in what was seen as her efforts to repair the relationship between Sayamati and the Empire.

As the queen, Kalantha's image was not clear, and no one paid much attention to her at the time. Kalantha died on 29 July 930, at the age of 38. She was considered the dearest wife and true love of Lebinande II. After her death, Lebinande II's excessive nostalgia for her and the change of ruling style caused all kinds of speculation in the court and the people, and Kalantha's reputation also plummeted. She was considered to be an evil woman, exerting great influence over the king, and manipulated the king so ambitiously that even after her death, the king could not escape her influence; some folk accounts were even more outrageous, claiming that Kalantha used witchcraft to confuse the king. In fact, Kalantha's life story was rarely recorded, and the only thing related to politics was that she arranged the marriage of her daughter and the Count of Jeesa. There was no evidence that Kalantha exerted influence on politics and she was an evil woman. Hateful criticism of Kalantha has historically drawn rebuttals from some, such as the 19th-century historian Chandra Pubo who saw Kalantha as a model of a woman who was incriminated.

Issue
Kalantha Mihadela had 4 sons and 3 daughters in total.

1. A stillborn son (February 913)

2. Anmariela (14 June-27 December 915)

3. Isacca, Prince of Basha (20 December 916-18 July 928)

4. Lebinande Reramonsio (16 September 919-28 January 924)

5. Kalantha (2 April 921-29 March 974), married Dumin Uton, Count of Jeesa, with whom she had issue, 2 sons and 5 daughters.

6. A stillborn son (May 924)

7. Eliana (23 October 928-14 January 952), married Nanjamin, Count of Inmey, with whom she had issue, 1 son and 1 daughter.