Queen Anula of Anuradhapura: Sri Lanka’s first femme fatale ruler

Queen Anula of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first female ruler, left a bloody trail of poisoned husbands in her quest for power. During her short five-year reign in the 1st century BC, she eliminated at least four consorts to govern the kingdom of Rajarata on her own. In a time of war, treachery, and unstable rule, Anula’s ruthless ambition made her reign one of the most notorious and murderous in ancient history.