Binnya Dhammaraza
Encyclopedia
Binnya Dhammaraza was the tenth king of Hanthawaddy Pegu who reigned for three tumultuous years between 1422 and 1426. Having ascended to the Hanthawaddy throne after his father Razadarit died in a hunting accident, Binnya Dhammaraza faced both internal rebellions by his brothers Binnya Ran I
and Binnya Kyan, and renewed invasions from the Ava Kingdom
. While he survived the Ava invasions, the last of the Forty Years' War
between Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdoms, he did not survive treachery by his brothers. In 1426, he was poisoned by his brother Binnya Ran
, who succeeded the throne.
and the entire Irrawaddy delta
. Binnya Kyan invited King Thihathu of Ava to invade the kingdom but became disillusioned with his alliance when Ava's troops plundered and looted towns. Binnya Dhammaraza again bought peace by giving Binnya Kyan the governorship of Martaban. Now, he was left with just Pegu of the three main provinces of the Hanthawaddy region.
Although he tried to buy peace and unity by giving territory to his brothers, his brothers were not satisfied. Binnya Kyan ruled Martaban as an independent king. In 1423, Binnya Ran expanded his territory by occupying Dagon
(Yangon), part of Pegu province. When the Ava forces came to occupy Dala
opposite Dagon, Binnya Ran presented his sister Shin Sawbu
to Thihathu, and bought peace. In 1426, Binnya Ran poisoned Binnya Dhammaraza and became the eleventh king of Hanthawaddy.
Binnya Ran I
Binnya Ran I was the eleventh king of Hanthawaddy Pegu who reigned from 1426 to 1446. As crown prince, he ended the Forty Years' War with the rival Ava Kingdom in 1423. He came to the throne after poisoning his brother King Binnya Dhammaraza in 1426...
and Binnya Kyan, and renewed invasions from the Ava Kingdom
Ava Kingdom
The Ava Kingdom was the dominant kingdom that ruled upper Burma from 1364 to 1555. Founded in 1364, the kingdom was the successor state to the petty kingdoms that had ruled central Burma since the collapse of Pagan Empire in the late 13th century...
. While he survived the Ava invasions, the last of the Forty Years' War
Forty Years' War
The Forty Years' War was a military conflict fought between the Burmese-speaking Kingdom of Ava and the Mon-speaking Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu. The war was fought during two separate periods: 1385 to 1391 and 1404 to 1424, interrupted by two truces of 1391–1404 and 1406–1407...
between Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdoms, he did not survive treachery by his brothers. In 1426, he was poisoned by his brother Binnya Ran
Binnya Ran I
Binnya Ran I was the eleventh king of Hanthawaddy Pegu who reigned from 1426 to 1446. As crown prince, he ended the Forty Years' War with the rival Ava Kingdom in 1423. He came to the throne after poisoning his brother King Binnya Dhammaraza in 1426...
, who succeeded the throne.
Reign
Upon his ascension to the throne, Binnya Dhammaraza immediately faced rebellions by his younger brothers Binnya Ran and Binnya Kyan. Binnya Dhammaraza pacified Binnya Ran by making him the heir-apparent and governor of BasseinPathein
Pathein , also called Bassein, is a port city with a 2004 population estimated at 215,600, and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Region, Burma. It lies on the Pathein River , which is a western branch of the Irrawaddy River....
and the entire Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
. Binnya Kyan invited King Thihathu of Ava to invade the kingdom but became disillusioned with his alliance when Ava's troops plundered and looted towns. Binnya Dhammaraza again bought peace by giving Binnya Kyan the governorship of Martaban. Now, he was left with just Pegu of the three main provinces of the Hanthawaddy region.
Although he tried to buy peace and unity by giving territory to his brothers, his brothers were not satisfied. Binnya Kyan ruled Martaban as an independent king. In 1423, Binnya Ran expanded his territory by occupying Dagon
Dagon Township
Dagon Township is located immediately north of downtown Yangon. The township comprises five wards, and shares borders with Bahan township in the north, Ahlon township in the west, Mingala Taungnyunt township in the east, and Lanmadaw township, Latha township and Pabedan township in the south.Dagon...
(Yangon), part of Pegu province. When the Ava forces came to occupy Dala
Dala Township
Dala Township is located on the southern bank of Yangon river across from downtown Yangon, Myanmar. The township, consisted of 23 wards, is bounded by the Yangon river in the north and east, the Twante Canal in the west, and Twante Township in the south...
opposite Dagon, Binnya Ran presented his sister Shin Sawbu
Shin Sawbu
Shin Sawbu was the queen of Hanthawaddy from 1453 to 1472. Queen Shin Sawbu was also known as Binnya Thau or Old Queen in Mon. Queen Shin Sawbu and Queen Jamadevi of Haripunjaya are the two most famous queens among the small number of queens who ruled in mainland Southeast Asia...
to Thihathu, and bought peace. In 1426, Binnya Ran poisoned Binnya Dhammaraza and became the eleventh king of Hanthawaddy.