Khadijah of the Maldives
Al-Sultana Khadeejah Sri Raadha Abaarana Mahaa Rehendhi (Dhivehi: އައްސުލްޠާނާ ޚަދީޖާ ސިރީ ރާދަ އަބާރަނަ މަހާރެހެންދި; died 1380) 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 was one of the few female rulers in the recorded history of Maldives.
| Khadijah of the Maldives | |
|---|---|
| Lady of twelve thousand isles, the Sultana of the Maldives | |
| Reign | 1347–1363 (1st reign) 1364–1374 (2nd reign) 1376–1380 (3rd reign) |
| Predecessor | Ahmed Shihabuddine (1341–1347) Mohamed el-Jameel (1363–1364) Abdullah I (1374–1376) |
| Successor | Raadhafathi |
| Died | 1380 |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | Mohamed el-Jameel (1347–1364) Sultan Abdullah I (1374–1376) |
| House | House of Theemuge |
| Father | Omar I of the Maldives |
Khadeeja was the eldest daughter of Omar I of the Maldives. After the death of her father Sultan Omar in 1341, his son Ahmed Shihabuddine ascended the throne as Ahmed Shihabuddine of the Maldives. Khadija had her brother, the Sultan Ahmed Shihabuddine assassinated and took the throne for herself in 1347, becoming the first female ruler of Theemuge Dynasty.
The army of the Sultana of Maldives consisted of a thousand men of foreign birth; some of them natives. They attend everyday to the hall of audience to salute her.