Al-Sultana Khadeejah Sri Raadha Abaarana Mahaa Rehendhi (Dhivehi: އައްސުލްޠާނާ ޚަދީޖާ ސިރީ ރާދަ އަބާރަނަ މަހާރެހެންދި) or more famously known as just Rehendhi Khadeejah (Dhivehi: ރެހެންދި ޚަދީޖާ) meaning, Queen Khadeejah, was the Sultana of the Maldives from 1347 to 1380. She is one of the earliest female heads of state in a Muslim nation. She was the eldest daughter of Sultan Omar I of the Maldives. She was also half-sister of Raadhafathi who succeeded her after her (Khadijah's) final reign. Her first accession to the throne was in 1347 after deposing her own brother, Sultan Ahmed Shihabuddine, which lasted until 1363. In 1363 she was deposed by her vizier and husband Muhammad el-Jameel. However 1364 she came to the throne once more after deposing and assassinating her first husband. Her second reign lasted from 1364 to 1374 until she was deposed again, by her second husband and minister Abdullah I. In the third year after her deposition, she assassinated and deposed her second husband Abdullah I in 1376. Hence her third and final reign began in 1376 which lasted until 1380. Despite being deposed twice by her husbands she ruled the country for nearly 30 years. She was succeeded by Raadhafathi.
Preceded by Ahmed Shihabuddine |
Sultan of the Maldives 1347–1363 |
Succeeded by Mohamed el-Jameel |
Preceded by Mohamed el-Jameel |
Sultan of the Maldives 1364–1374 |
Succeeded by Abdullah I |
Preceded by Abdullah I |
Sultan of the Maldives 1376–1380 |
Succeeded by Raadhafathi |