Meitei queens of Tripura

The royal marriage alliances between the Meitei royal family, Ningthouja dynasty () of Manipur kingdom and the Manikya dynasty of the Tripura kingdom brought good relationship between the two states as well as assimilation of the two cultures. The Tripuri kings married not only the Meitei princesses but also many other ladies of commoners' families of Meitei community (alias Manipuri ethnicity). Meitei queens were remembered for their contributions to the development of the Tripuri society. So, they were given high status in the royal house of Tripura.

## Early queens  
### Unnamed queen 
The first historically recorded matrimonial alliances between the Meitei kingdom and Tripura kingdom is mentioned in the Tripuri royal chronicle of "Sri Rajmala".  According to the book, Tripuri King Taidakshin, who was the grandson of King Trilochana, married a Meitei princess in 5th century CE. However, names of the princess as well as of her father was not mentioned.]]
Khuman Chanu Manmohini () was the daughter of Meitei Queen Bhanumati‘s sister. She was only 13 years when she was married to Tripuri King Birchandra Manikya (1862-1896), who was also the husband of her mother's sister. She built a temple and a pavilion near the present day ISKCON temple in Tripura.

### Queen Ratnamanjuri  
Ratnamanjuri (), also known as Dhaka Rani (), was a Meitei lady from Bengal (in present day Bangladesh). She was a queen of Tripuri King Radhakishore Manikya (1896–1909), the son of a Meitei queen. 1874, when Radhakishore was a prince, his father, King Birchandra Manikya went to Dhaka to meet British Governor Northbrook. On the way, he met Meitei King Debendra Singh () in Dhaka. Birchandra Manikya saw Princess Ratnamanjuri, the daughter of the Meitei king. He was charmed by the princess' beauty that he wanted to make her his daughter-in-law. Afterwards, princess Ratnamanjuri came to Agartala and got married to crown prince Radhakishore. As she came from Dhaka, she was also known as Dhaka Rani, among the Meitei people in Tripura. Queen Ratnamanjuri was the mother of the successive Tripuri King Birendrakishore Manikya.

### Queen Tulshibati 
Tulshibati () first queen of Tripuri King Radhakishore Manikya (1896–1909), the son of a Meitei queen. She was a daughter of a farmer from the village of Tarou (Nalgoriya) located far from Agartala. She was a kind social worker. She was known for her contributions to the development of the society of Tripura kingdom. She was credited for pioneering women's education in Tripura. She established the first girls' school in Tripura. It was *"Maharani Tulshibati Balika Vidyalaya"*, in Agartala. In 1905, she established a separate woman cell at the *Victoria Memorial Hospital* (now known as I.G.M) in Agartala. A market was 
established in her honor and was named as *"Ranirbazar"*. She was not educated but was good in compositions of songs and poems. She also built a temple of *"Sri Sri Radhamadhad"* at Nalgaria and a temple dedicated to *"Lainingthou Puthiba"* () at Abhoynagar. Moreover, she constructed temples in almost all the Meitei villages of Tripura such as Bishalgarh, Bamutia, Murabari, Daccabari etc. She also offered rent-free lands to the public for the construction of the temples and pavilions. She introduced the plantation of basil plants to the Tripuri royal palace, as its leaves were important religious offerings to deities.

### Queen Monomanjuri 
Monomanjuri () was one of the three Meitei queens of Tripuri King Radhakishore Manikya (1896–1909), the son of a Meitei queen. She was less popular in comparison to the other two Meitei queens of her time.

## Royal consorts 
In addition to the queens (termed as "Maharani"), there were also simple royal consorts (termed as "Rani") from Meitei community (Manipuri ethnicity) in the kingdom of Tripura.
* Tripuri King Birendrakishore Manikya (1909-1923) married ten Meitei ladies. However, none of them were given the status of Maharanis (queens).
* Tripuri King Birbikramkishore had three Meitei wives out of his seven wives. However, they were kept as simple Ranis and not Maharanis.

## Related pages 
* Meitei people in Tripura
* Meitei people in Assam
* Meitei people in Bangladesh
* Meitei people in Myanmar

## Bibliography 
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* Takhel Lairang, 14th edition, Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Tripura, Dec. 2011.
* Adhikari, Udainarayan., ― Social – Cultural Relations Among States in Pre – Independence India, A Study of Tripura & Manipur, Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi, 2010.
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* Singha, Sri Kailashchandra., ― Rajmala Ba Tripurar Itihas, Akkhar Publication, Agartala, 1405 Bangabda.
* Singha, L. Birmangal, & Ray, Pannalal., ― Itihaser Aloke Tripura – Manipur, Itihaski Mityengdagi Tripura - Manipur, Akkhar Publication, 2007.
* Singh, W. Ibohal., ― The History of Manipur (An Early Period), Manipur Commercial Co., Imphal, 1986.
* Sanajaoba, Naorem., ― Manipur Past and Present, vol-IV, Mittal publications, 2005.
* Singha, G.P., ― Researches into the History and Civilization of the Kiratas, New Delhi.

## References