Hema Kalyani

Hema Kalyani
Maharani of Karangi
Maharani of Karangi
Reign	21 April 1806 – 4th April 1844
Coronation	16 June 1806
Predecessor	Avinashrao Ratta
Successor	Ravirajah
Born	Jayanthi 1785 Karangi Palace, Karangi, Kingdom of Karangi
Died	4 April 1844(1844-04-04) (aged 59) Marlowe Place, Alfsard, Estmere
Burial	Ratta Mausoleum, Karangi
Consort	Sir Horace Marlowe
Issue Detail	Rani Asha Ravirajah Dorian Marlowe Camilla Marlowe
Regnal name Hema Kalyani
Dynasty	Ratta dynasty
Religion	Zohism Sotirianity

Maharani Hema Kalyani (ಮಹರನಿ ಹೇಮ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಿ; born ಜಯಂತಿ Jayanthi, 1785 - 4th April 1844), sometimes referred to as Ko Jayanta in Padaratha, and commonly known as Catherine of Karangi in Estmere, after her baptismal name. A member of the Ratta clan, she married Sir Horace Marlowe and nominally converted to Sotirianity, creating a scandal in both Karangi and Estmere. Despite this, after the death of her nephew Avinashrao Ratta she was placed on the throne of Karangi and ruled for 38 years (21 April 1806 – 4th April 1844).

During her reign she became known as an avid reformer, keen to introduce Euclean advances in technology and science to Karangi, as well as improve the lives of ordinary people and the rights of women. Though fascinated by Estmerish culture in her youth, she became more conservative later in her reign and sought to protect Pumil culture and encourage the usage of the Pumil language in her court by Estmerish residents and courtiers. She became posthumously known as 'Ko Jayanta' (meaning King Victory, with Jayanta being the masculine form of Jayanthi alluding to her ruling in her own right) as a result of her reforms and strong-will.

By the time of her death in 1844 she was one of the richest people in the world, with her personal fortune estimated to be equivalent to $4 billion when adjusted for inflation. Despite difficult relations with Estmere in her later reign, she was described by John Smith as "the most noble and magnificent ruler in Satria [...] ruling a kingdom that is run alike heaven upon earth."

Early life

Admiral Dairton meeting with her father, Sri Ajay Rao in 1790

Born Jayanthi in 1785, Hema Kalyani was the youngest daughter of Sri Ajay Rao, the Maharaja of Karangi. Sri Ajay Rao had long been an ally of Estmere, a policy started by his father to ward off Etruria, and the Kingdom of Karangi became a protectorate of Estmere. This allowed Karangi to avoid being annexed by Estmere, as its rulers were known to be loyal and amiable to Estmerish interests. This was largely because they had been restored to the throne by Estmere after a half-century of exile after being usurped by the Chadaya dynasty.

Little is known of her childhood, as her place in the succession made it expected that she would be married off to other Satrian royalty or nobility. However the deaths of two of her elder brothers, and the long-term illness of her other brother, who would succeed their father in 1799 as Murali Rao, created some interest in her by the incumbent Resident, Claud Canham. The death of her brother in 1801 left her as the presumed heir to her young nephew, Avinashrao.

Marriage

An oil painting of her husband, Sir Horace Marlowe, circa. 1805

A portrait of 'Catherine of Karangi' in 1804

Reign

Portrait of Queen Hema Kalyani of Karangi, by Robert Daniell in 1810

Personal life and family

A photo of Sir Boyd Marlowe, an Estmerish general in the Great War and a descendant of Dorian Marlowe