Queen Supayalat (စုဖုရားလတ်), born on 13 December 1859 in Mandalay, stands as one of the most controversial figures in Burmese history. As the daughter of King Mindon and Queen Hsinbyumashin (also known as the Lady of the White Elephant), she rose to prominence through her marriage to her half-brother Thibaw, the last monarch of the Konbaung dynasty. Her life was marked by ambition, political intrigue, and an unyielding determination to consolidate power during one of Burma's most tumultuous periods.

A Reign Marked by Blood and Reform

When King Mindon passed away in 1878, Supayalat and Thibaw ascended the throne amid a bloody succession crisis. To secure their rule, she is widely believed to have sanctioned the execution of dozens of royal family members—a massacre that has cast a long shadow over her legacy. Though she consistently denied involvement, historians suggest the plan may have been orchestrated by her mother and key court ministers.

Supayalat was no mere consort; she was a formidable force in the court, wielding significant influence over Thibaw, who was often seen as a passive ruler. She broke with centuries of tradition by insisting on monogamy, refusing to allow her husband to take additional consorts. This was an unprecedented reform in Burmese royal history, though it came at a cost. Her fierce jealousy led to the execution of Daing Khin Khin, a secret concubine carrying Thibaw's child, an act that further cemented her reputation for ruthlessness.