Any list of the most notorious queens of Southeast Asia would include the name SUPAYALAT. 

 

Recorded in history as bloody and vicious, Supayalat (1859-1925) was the last queen of Burma before British colonization. She married her half brother, Thibaw. According to historical accounts, Supayalat ordered the vast massacre of 80-100 people because she was afraid that they were Thibaw’s rivals and would ignite a major coup. It was a 3-day massacre in the royal palace and it was claimed that during those three days, Supayalat ordered a major feast and musical festivals all over the town to distract citizens’ attention. However, she denied the accusation of involving in the plot and it was believed that it was actually Supayalat’s mother that executed the bloody plot. 

 

King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat were forced to abdicate after the British occupied Burma. They were exiled to The British Raj in India. Only after Thibaw’s death that she was allowed to come back to Burma. 

 

 

Recommended movies and books: 

📔 The Glass Palace (Amitav Ghosh) 

📔 The King in Exile: The Fall of the Royal Family of Burma (Sudha Shah)