Kyawswa of Pagan

King of Pagan (r. 1289 to 1297)

For other uses, see Kyawswa (disambiguation).

Kyawswa
ကျော်စွာ

King of Pagan
Reign| 30 May 1289 – 17 December 1297
Predecessor| Narathihapate
Successor| Saw Hnit

Born| 2 August 1260
Monday, 10th waning of Wagaung 622 ME
Pagan
Died| 10 May 1299(1299-05-10) (aged 38)
Sunday, 10th waxing of Nayon 661 ME
Myinsaing
Consort| Saw Thitmahti[1]
Saw Soe[2]
Mi Saw U
Issue| Theingapati[3]
Kumara Kassapa
Saw Hnit[2]
Min Shin Saw
Saw Min Ya
Saw Hnaung
Mway Medaw
Uzana I of Pinya
House| Pagan
Father| Narathihapate
Mother| Shin Hpa[4][5]
Religion| Theravada Buddhism

This article contains Burmese script. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Burmese script.

Kyawswa (Burmese: ကျော်စွာ, pronounced [tɕɔ̀zwà]; 2 August 1260 – 10 May 1299) was king of the Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1289 to 1297. Son of the last sovereign king of Pagan Narathihapate, Kyawswa was one of many "kings" that emerged after the collapse of the Pagan Empire in 1287. Though still styled as King of Pagan, Kyawswa's effective rule amounted to just the area around Pagan city. Felt threatened by the three brothers of Myinsaing, who were nominally his viceroys, Kyawswa decided to become a vassal of the Yuan dynasty, and received such recognition from the Yuan in March 1297. He was ousted by the brothers in December 1297 and killed, along with his son, Theingapati, on 10 May 1299.

## Early life

[edit]

Kyawswa was a son of King Narathihapate and Queen Shin Hpa.[4] He was born on 2 August 1260.[citation needed] The table below lists the dates given by the four main chronicles.[6]

Chronicles  | Birth–Death  | Age  | Reign  | Length of reign

|
|
|
|

Zatadawbon Yazawin | 1261–1300  | 39  | 1287–1300  | 13
Maha Yazawin | 1254–1301  | 47  | 1286–1300  | 14
Yazawin Thit and Hmannan Yazawin | 1259–1298  | 39  | 1286–1298  | 12

## Reign

[edit]

Kyawswa was the governor of Dala (modern Twante) in 1285 when his father King Narathihapate fled to Lower Burma from an impending Mongol invasion. But in 1287, the king was assassinated by his second son Thihathu, Viceroy of Prome. Thihathu also killed his eldest brother before he himself was accidentally killed.[7][8]

### Ruler of Pagan (1289–1297)

[edit]

After the death of Narathihapate, the Pagan Empire collapsed, and a period of interregnum ensued. Kyawswa, who hitherto had been governor of Dala, a key port now part of modern Yangon, won the approval of the powerful dowager queen Pwa Saw. He was anointed king on 30 May 1289.[9] However, the new "king" had little power beyond a few miles outside Pagan. Indeed, the Pagan Empire had ceased to exist and every region of the former kingdom had its own king or pretenders. The Mongols could not hold the searing Irrawaddy valley but stayed up north in Tagaung. In central Burma, Pagan's natural power base, the real power rested with the three brothers who held the main granary of Kyaukse district from their fortified base of Myinsaing. Kyawswa had no choice but to recognize the brothers as lords of Kyaukse district. On 19 February 1293 (12th waxing of Tabaung 654 ME), the nominal king appointed the eldest brother Athinkhaya as viceroy of Myinsaing, the second brother Yazathingyan as viceroy of Mekkara, and the youngest brother Thihathu as viceroy of Pinle.[10] Although the territories were very small, it was the title viceroy that attracted the brothers.[11][12]

### Mongol vassal (1297)

[edit]

With the three brothers increasingly acting as sovereign kings, Kyawswa sent his son Theingapati to the Mongols in Tagaung and asked for recognition as their vassal king in January 1297. He received the official recognition and a Chinese title on 20 March 1297.[9] In December, the brothers invited the now puppet king to Myinsaing, their stronghold, to take part in the dedication ceremony of a monastery built by them. The king, with the backing of the Mongols, felt secure and went to Myinsaing. But as soon as the ceremony was over, he was arrested, dethroned, and forced to become a monk in the very monastery he had just dedicated.[13]

## Aftermath

[edit]

After deposing Kyawswa, the brothers went on to found the Kingdom of Myinsaing which covered central Burma along the upper Irrawaddy valley. Saw Hnit, a son of Kyawswa, was elected king by the dowager queen Pwa Saw but soon became a governor under the authority of Myinsaing. The Mongols discovered Kyawswa's dethronement only six months later in June/July 1298. The brothers executed Kyawswa on 10 May 1299.[9] Another of Kyawswa's sons, Kumara Kassapa, escaped to China to seek help in September 1299. The Mongol Emperor declared Kumara Kassapa king of Burma on 22 June 1300, and sent in an army. A Mongol army of 12,000 invaded central Burma in January 1301, reaching the Male fort, north of modern Mandalay on 15 January 1301 and reaching Myinsaing on 25 January 1301. Myinsaing's defenses held. The attacking army was persuaded to retreat with bribes, and the retreat began on 6 April 1301. On 4 April 1303, the Mongols abolished the province of Chiang-Mien based in Tagaung, and withdrew entirely from northern Burma.[14][15]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 234 (fn#3), 257 (fn#1)
2. ^ a b Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 360
3. ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 257 (fn#1)
4. ^ a b Pe Maung Tin, Luce 1960: 179
5. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 358
6. ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 349
7. ^ Aung-Thwin 1985: 196
8. ^ Htin Aung 1967: 71
9. ^ a b c Than Tun 1959: 119–120
10. ^ Coedès 1968: 210
11. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 361–362
12. ^ Htin Aung 1967: 73
13. ^ Htin Aung 1967: 74
14. ^ Coedès 1968: 210–211
15. ^ Than Tun 1959: 121–122

## References

[edit]

* Aung-Thwin, Michael (1985). Pagan: The Origins of Modern Burma. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 0-8248-0960-2.
* Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
* Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.
* Kala, U (2006) [1724]. Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
* Pe Maung Tin; Luce, G.H. (1960) [1923]. The Glass Palace Chronicle of the Kings of Burma. Rangoon University Press.
* Royal Historians of Burma (1960) [c. 1680]. U Hla Tin (Hla Thamein) (ed.). Zatadawbon Yazawin. Historical Research Directorate of the Union of Burma.
* Royal Historical Commission of Burma (2003) [1832]. Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3\. Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
* Than Tun (December 1959). "History of Burma: A.D. 1300–1400". Journal of Burma Research Society. XLII (II).

Kyawswa of Pagan

Pagan Dynasty

Born: 2 August 1260 Died: 10 May 1299

Regnal titles
Preceded by

Narathihapate

|  King of Pagan
30 May 1289 – 17 December 1297  | Succeeded by

Saw Hnit

Royal titles
Preceded by

|  Governor of Dala (Twante)
c. 1280–1287  | Succeeded by

* v
* t
* e

Burmese monarchs

Pagan dynasty
849–1297|

* Pyinbya
* Tannet
* Sale
* Theinhko
* Nyaung-u Sawrahan
* Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu
* Kyiso
* Sokkate
* Anawrahta
* Saw Lu
* Kyansittha
* Sithu I
* Narathu
* Naratheinkha
* Sithu II
* Htilominlo
* Naratheinga Uzana1
* Kyaswa
* Uzana
* Narathihapate
* Kyawswa2

Myinsaing and Pinya Kingdoms
1297–1364|

* Athinkhaya1, Yazathingyan1 and Thihathu1
* Thihathu
* Uzana I
* Sithu1
* Kyawswa I
* Kyawswa II
* Narathu
* Uzana II

Sagaing Kingdom
1315–1364|

* Saw Yun
* Tarabya I
* Anawrahta I
* Kyaswa
* Anawrahta II
* Tarabya II
* Minbyauk Thihapate

Kingdom of Ava
1364–1555|

* Thado Minbya
* Swa Saw Ke
* Tarabya
* Minkhaung I
* Thihathu
* Min Hla
* Kale Kye-Taung Nyo
* Mohnyin Thado
* Minye Kyawswa I
* Narapati I
* Thihathura
* Minkhaung II and Thihathura II
* Narapati II
* Sawlon3 and Thohanbwa3
* Hkonmaing3
* Narapati III3
* Narapati IV3

Hanthawaddy Kingdom
1287–1539, 1550–1552|

* Wareru
* Hkun Law
* Saw O
* Saw Zein
* Zein Pun
* Saw E
* Binnya E Law
* Binnya U
* Maha Dewi1
* Razadarit
* Binnya Dhammaraza
* Binnya Ran I
* Binnya Waru
* Binnya Kyan
* Leik Munhtaw
* Shin Sawbu
* Dhammazedi
* Binnya Ran II
* Takayutpi
* Smim Sawhtut4
* Smim Htaw4

Mrauk U Kingdom
1429–1785|

* Saw Mon
* Khayi
* Ba Saw Phyu
* Dawlya
* Ba Saw Nyo
* Ran Aung
* Salingathu
* Raza
* Gazapati
* Saw O
* Thazata
* Minkhaung
* Min Bin
* Dikkha
* Saw Hla
* Sekkya
* Phalaung
* Razagyi
* Khamaung
* Thiri Thudhamma
* Sanay
* Narapati
* Thado
* Sanda Thudhamma
* Thiri Thuriya
* Wara Dhammaraza
* Muni Thudhammaraza
* Sanda Thuriya I
* Nawrahta
* Mayuppiya
* Kalamandat
* Naradipati
* Sanda Wimala I
* Sanda Thuriya II
* Sanda Wizaya
* Sanda Thuriya III
* Naradipati II
* Narapawara
* Sanda Wizala
* Madarit
* Nara Apaya
* Thirithu
* Sanda Parama
* Apaya
* Sanda Thumana
* Sanda Wimala II
* Sanda Thaditha
* Maha Thammada

Prome Kingdom
1482–1542|

* Thado Minsaw
* Bayin Htwe
* Narapati5
* Minkhaung5

Toungoo dynasty
1510–1752|

* Mingyi Nyo
* Tabinshwehti
* Bayinnaung
* Nanda
* Nyaungyan
* Anaukpetlun
* Minye Deibba
* Thalun
* Pindale
* Pye
* Narawara
* Minye Kyawhtin
* Sanay Min
* Taninganway Min
* Mahadhammaraza Dipadi

Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom
1740–1757|

* Smim Htaw Buddhaketi
* Binnya Dala

Konbaung dynasty
1752–1885|

* Alaungpaya
* Naungdawgyi
* Hsinbyushin
* Singu
* Phaungka
* Bodawpaya
* Bagyidaw
* Tharrawaddy
* Pagan
* Mindon
* Thibaw

* 1 Regent or Co-Regent
* 2 Mongol vassal (1297)
* 3 Confederation of Shan States (1527–55)
* 4 Brief revival (1550–52)
* 5 Vassal of the Confederation of Shan States (1532–42)

*[c.]: circa
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