Anula's motives in killing her husband are not known. Coranaga's successor, King Kuda Tissa, is the son of Mahakuli Mahatissa. "Kuda" means "little" and, thus, it is possible that the new king was only a child and, effectively, under Anula's control. Kuda Tissa did not live long, "because she was enamoured of one of the palace-guards ... now killed Tissa also by poison and gave the government into the hands of that other". From this point onward, the queen eclipsed her titular consorts and became the real power in Rajarata.