Dona Catherina of Kandy

Kusumāsana Devi (died 10 July 1613), also known as , was the ruling Queen of Kandy in 1581. She was deposed, but became the queen consort of Kandy by marriage to Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy from 1594 to 1604.

Life In her infancy, she and her father Karaliyadde Bandara fled the kingdom to the Portuguese. Later she was baptised by the Portuguese and named .

Queen regnant After the death of her father in 1581, the Portuguese installed her as a client ruler in the Campaign of Danture. She was at this point a teenager. She succeeded her father Karaliyadde Bandara as king of Kandy. The attempt was a disaster, with Portuguese forces completely wiped out. She was deposed by Rajasinha I of the Kingdom of Sitawaka in the same year she ascended the throne.

Dona Catherina was installed as Empress of Ceylon by the Portuguese. B. P. Aryatilake did not recognize her title of "Empress" because the term was used by foreign invaders to set up local rulers against each other. On the other hand, A. Denis N. Fernando recognized her title of "Empress" because the King of Kandy styled himself as Emperor of Ceylon in some letters.

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. 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. 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, Surya and Santana. She also had three children by King Senerath: Kumarasingha Astana, Vijayapala Astane and Deva Astane. Earlier she had a son, Prince Philip Jnr. from her first husband, Yamasinghe Bandara, who died a few weeks after birth. Mahastana 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 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

A biographical tele series was aired in the 2019 in TV Derana, where Vidhushi Uththara portrayed the role.