Kanaung Mintha was a son of King Tharrawaddy and younger brother of King Mindon

Mindon Min

Mindon Min was the penultimate king of Burma from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma. Under his half brother King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma by the British Empire. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung...

 of Burma. Towards the end of the Second Anglo-Burmese War

Second Anglo-Burmese War

The Second Anglo-Burmese War was the second of the three wars fought between the Burmese and the British Empire during the 19th century, with the outcome of the gradual extinction of Burmese sovereignty and independence....

, Kanaung and Mindon overthrew their half brother Pagan

Pagan Min

Pagan Min , was the ninth king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Biddhu Khyit, he was granted the title of Prince of Pagan by his father Tharrawaddy in August 1842. Pagan Min became king when Tharrawaddy died on 17 November 1846, with the formal title of His Majesty "Pyinsama...

 (1848–1853) and enthroned the latter. Subsequently, Kanaung became the Heir Apparent on July 11, 1853. He was the fiery "War Prince" and the peoples' idol. Kanaung attempted to modernize the country by sending scholars to Western countries and by founding an arms industry. However, his efforts were cut short when he was killed by his two nephews. Notwithstanding his short life, he is revered by Burmese nationals for his innovations in modernizing Burma.

Role as a modernizer

King Mindon was dedicated to religion but Kanaung was skillful in administration. Kanaung tried to rebuild the Burmese Army with modern weapons. He sent men to study in Western countries to establish an up-to-date arms industry. His efforts were well depicted in contemporary stories and poems. One story relates to his effort in testing depth charges in order to repulse British troops sailing up the Irrawaddy. Eventually, these testings were thwarted by the head of the Buddhist Sangha

Sangha

Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...

 who protested against them by asserting their harmful effects on aquatic lives. Another story tells about his visits to the factories on cold early winter mornings while wrapping in a blanket. He was also known for his waywardness as depicted in a famous love song called Seinchu Kya-nyaung bawlè written by his wife, Princess Hlaing Hteik-hkaung Tin.

Assassination

In an unsuccessful palace coup on 2 August 1866 by the princes Myingun and Myinkhondaing (sons of King Mindon), Kanaung was killed, nevertheless, he managed to hold off the assassins to gain enough time for the King's escape. His body was buried in the grounds of the Sandamuni paya

Paya

Paya may refer to:* Paya Indians - a tribe in Honduras that speaks the Paya language.* Sri paya, a spicy meat stew native to Pakistan and North India* Paya Jaras - a state constituency in Malaysia....

 built in his memory at the foot of Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill is a 240 metre hill that is located to the northeast of the city centre of Mandalay in Burma. The city took its name from the hill. Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries, and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries...

 by Mindon. In 1878, King Mindon died and his son Prince Thibaw

Thibaw Min

Thibaw Min was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886....

 acceded to the throne. In November 1885, King Thibaw surrendered to the British after the defeat at Third Anglo-Burmese War

Third Anglo-Burmese War

The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...

. Consequently, Thibaw was sent to exile in India. To this day, Burmese citizens believe that their history would have been considerably different if Kanaung were to survive and accede to the Burmese throne. The loss of Kanaung Mintha has been mourned by the Burmese nearly as much as that of Aung San

Aung San

Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....

. In addition, Burmese people believe British officers were behind the assassination plot of Aung San and Kanaung.

Epilogue

June Rose Bellamy

June Rose Bellamy

June Rose Bellamy, , also Yadana Nat-Mei , was fourth wife of Burmese dictator Ne Win.June Rose was the great-granddaughter of a Burmese prince ; her mother was the daughter of Princess Hteiktin Ma Lat , of the deposed Konbaung dynasty, and her father was Herbert Bellamy, an Australian orchid...

, aka Yadana Nat-Me (Precious Angel), a great granddaughter of Ka Naung, daughter of Princess Hteiktin Ma Lat and Herbert Bellamy, an Australian orchid collector long settled in Burma, became the fourth wife of General Ne Win

Ne Win

Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...

 later divorcing him.

External links

• Burmese Encyclopedia Vol 1, p-49 printed in 1955
• Seinchu Kya-nyaung by Yadana Oo on the Burmese harp