Puspa of Whininte

Puspa of Whininte (16 October 842 - 8 March 912), was Empress of Baland from 866 to 872 as the second wife of Minsi II, the second monarch of the Hafra Dynasty. She came from an ordinary aristocratic family in Maharapura. Because of her extraction, she was often ridiculed and excluded by the imperial court. Puspa did not play any political role, and she did not wield the power as an empress, but she had a good reputation and was popular among the people.

Early life
Puspa is the youngest daughter of Shawekki, Viscount of Whininte in Maharapura, by his fourth wife, Ovia Masaung. Ovia was born in an aristocratic family that had been in decline for a long time. She became a mistress to Shawekki, who could be her father at her age. Finally, she married the viscount and gave birth to her daughter Puspa. However, in 851, Shawekki died, and his eldest son, Shawekki Yun, succeeded him as Viscount of Whininte. Ovia's attempt for many years was in vain, so she could only put all her hopes on her daughter. Ovia is an ambitious woman. She is determined to let her daughter go her old way and be a lover for those more senior nobles. She has trained Puspa to sing, dance, write poems and paint since childhood. However, Puspa's appearance is not outstanding and her talent is not intelligent, which makes Ovia very disappointed. Therefore, she is very irritable to Puspa and is prone to beating and scolding, which makes Puspa develop a submissive nature since her childhood.

First marriage as Marchioness of Bayin
Although Puspa is not beautiful and talented, she is still favored by Chandra, 6th Marquis of Bayin. Chandra has launched a fierce pursuit of her since 857, which makes 15-year-old Puspa not know how to response, but Ovia is very pleased. She feels the opportunity. At that time, Chandra's wife, Marchioness of Bayin is seriously ill. If Puspa can accept the love of Chandra, she may become the marchioness. Under the impetus of Ovia, Puspa started dating Chandra secretly, but she was too scared to agree to stay with Chandra for a long time, and never agree to consummate. Puspa's shyness and fear are all symbols of self-esteem in Chandra's view. He is more fascinated by Puspa and often gives jewelry to her. Ovia was very proud of these things. She often showed off her impending success and began to name herself "mother of the marchoiness". She was too publicity. These were soon spread to be heard by Chandra's wife. The seriously ill Marchioness suddenly knew that her husband had a mistress when she was ill, which frustrate her badly. She found Puspa and threatened her to leave her husband, but Ovia refused to give up the great opportunity and spread rumors that the marchioness was unfaithful to Chandra. The marchioness did not expect to be shaded, and she died with anger and shock. Chandra had not much sorrow about his wife's death. In that year, he took Puspa for his new wife. Puspa became Marchioness of Bayin, and gave birth to a son, Banya, 7th Marquis of Bayin, in 859. Puspa often entered the palace with her husband and served as a maid of honor to Queen Rioanna. In January 861, Chandra died in the battle of Malin, and Puspa, only 18, became a widow, and her son, Banya, only one and a half years old, became the new Marquis of Bayin.

Second marriage as Empress of Baland
In 864, shortly after the death of his first wife Atula, Minsi II, Emperor of Baland, made a marriage contract with Kurwana, daughter of King Brahna V of Maharapura, but at that time, some aristocrats attempted to break the contract between the empire and Maharapura. Lack of records, details about what actually happened at that time were unknown, and only the result that the marriage agreement between the emperor and Princess Kurwana was abolished can be found. In March 866, Brahna V brokered a marriage for Minsi II, and the bride was Puspa, the widow of 6th Marquis of Bayin. Many people speculated that there was the impetus of Ovia. On 12 April, Minsi II and Puspa finished their wedding in Tongtha Khin Temple, and entered Nanwa 5 days later. On 17 February 867, Puspa was officially crowned Empress of Baland.

Puspa was not happy in her second marriage. She was ridiculed and excluded by the court. The nobles of Baland felt that she was of a humble origin and did not deserve the high position of the Empress. Moreover, Kedhuri Para, Minsi II's chief mistress, said contemptuously after learning that Puspa had become the empress, "This foreign widow can't scare me!" Kedhuri is still powerful after Puspa's coming, just like the empress de facto in the court, and Puspa is just a shadow under her glory. The emperor himself had no feeling for his plain wife, and even missed his last wife, Empress Atula, although he didn't treat her well when she was alive. Puspa was gentle and kind. She did not care about the disesteem she received at the Palace of Baland. Instead, she devoted herself to the care of the children left by her predecessor, Atula. Most of the time, Puspa stayed in the palace and didn't show up easily. She almost never fulfilled her duties as an empress. Correspondingly, she never wield her power as the first lady.

Puspa is popular among Balish people, in part because Kedhuri Para's reputation is so bad. The relationship between Kedhuri Para and Crown Prince Reramonsi (future Reramonsi II) is increasingly tense. In September 870, the emperor came forward to mediate their relationship, and asked Puspa, who had been raising the prince, to persuade the prince to treat Kedhuri kindly. That was the first time recorded in history that Minsi II showed friendship with Puspa. Under the persuasion of Puspa, the crown prince at least on the surface, made peace with Kedhuri Para. Minsi II presented a manor in Konaw to Puspa as a token of thanks, but the relationship between the couple was still estranged.

Later years
On 23 August 872, Emperor Minsi II died, and 29-year-old Puspa was widowed again. Before his death, Minsi II expressed his repentance to Puspa, admitting that Puspa was always gentle and patient with him, but he gave her only indifference and impatience. After the funeral of Minsi II on 8 October, Puspa left Baland and returned to her son's territory, Bayin. Puspa didn't remarry, although she got a lot of inheritance from Minsi II, and her status as the empress dowager made her a popular candidate to be married at that time, even Brahna V considered proposing to Puspa when Queen Rioanna was seriously ill. In 875, accompanied by her son, she returned to Konaw's manor and lived for a few months. Later, in 878, the manor was given to her stepson, Reramonsi II, and his wife Anmarie as a wedding gift.

In 892, Kanaunt II ascended the throne and became the emperor. He invited Puspa to his coronation ceremony, but Puspa did not go. Due to the loss of historical materials, we know little about Puspa's later life, and the situation of Puspa's children and grandchildren is not clear. We don't know when her son Banya died. In 896, there was an increase in the allowance for Royal widows by the imperial family of Baland, and Puspa should be one of the beneficiaries of this increase. Puspa died in Bayin on 8 March 912, at the age of 69. In her will, she asked to donate all her property to the poor and the temple. The funeral of this former empress of Baland was conducted by the Maharapura royal family. She was buried in Nyuwra on 11 June that year and a white tower was built for her. Later, Kanaunt II tried to declare a war on Maharapura under the pretext of "burying the empress without permission", but his behavior was condemned by all countries and had to be stopped.