Her second husband, Kuda Tissa, was actually the son of the brother of Chora Naga and ascended to the throne as his legal successor.
They include (in chronological order) Siva I, Vatuka, Darubhatika Tissa and Niliya, who all ruled the country in the span of just one year.
Being of royal descent herself, she then ruled as sole monarch on three occasions in the near-anarchy following Parakramabahu's death, with the backing of various generals.
In 1202, the chief of the army, Ayasmanta, deposed king Sahassa Malla, and placed queen Kalyanavati on the throne as his successor.
Ayasmanta managed most of the affairs of state in her place, Queen Kalyanavati is known to have founded religious monuments, most notably the vihara at Pannasalaka.