Minkhaung II
Encyclopedia
Minkhaung II was the twelfth king of Ava
who reigned from 1481 to 1502. His 20-year reign was the beginning of the decline of Ava's hold on Upper Burma. Yamethin
, a region to the east of Ava, revolted upon Minkhaung's ascension to the Ava throne and stayed independent throughout Minkhaung's reign. The southern regions of Prome and Tharrawaddy
revolted in 1482, and also stayed independent. By the mid-1490s, the Shan states
of Mohnyin
, Mogaung
, Momeik
and Kale (Kalay) had also broken away, and begun raiding northern Ava territories. Minkhaung increasingly came to rely on Mingyinyo
, the governor of Toungoo, for military assistance. By the end of his reign, Toungoo was equally powerful as its nominal overlord Ava.
Minkhaung II made his eldest son Thihathura II joint-king and co-ruled the kingdom for 15 years. But Thihathura II died a month before his father. Minkhaung II died in April 1502 and was succeeded by his younger son Shwenankyawshin
(Narapati II).
region in fief. His younger brothers also ruled various regions. His uncles Mingyi Swa
and Thado Minsaw
ruled the southern regions of Prome (Pyay) and Tharrawaddy, respectively.
and Se
in the west, and the ruler of Yamethin
in the southeast openly revolted.
granary, was the greatest threat to Ava's power. Minkhaung ordered Sithu Kyawhtin, the former general and viceroy of Toungoo (Taungoo), to attack Yamethin, which is midway between Ava and Toungoo, from the south, while he marched from the north. But Yamethin's heavily fortified defenses prevailed. Sithu Kyawhtin died in battle, and Minkhaung called off the attack after a two-month-long siege. He appointed Sithu Kyawhtin's son Min Sithu
(or Sithunge) as the new governor of Toungoo. Ava continuously tried to subdue Yamethin in subsequent years but the rebellious province managed to stay independent for the rest of his reign.
His inability to regain control of the Kyaukse granary meant Ava was never strong enough to pacify other regions. In 1482, Mingyi Swa of Prome died, and his brother Thado Minsaw of Tharrawaddy took over Prome, and declared himself independent. His nephew the king sent a force to attack Prome. But the Avan army could not take Prome, and retreated. Prome became an independent kingdom with territories up to Tharrawaddy and Myede. (It would stay independent until 1533, and semi-independent under Ava's rule until 1542.)
Still in 1482, the Shan states of Mohnyin
and Momeik
in the north also revolted. Minkhaung, still focused on Yamethin, could not do much with the other revolts. By the 1490s, the Shan states previously loyal to Ava--Kale (Kalay), Mogaung
along with Mohnyin and Momeik had also escaped Ava's control. Only the Shan state of Hsipaw
(Thibaw) remained a steadfast ally of Ava. Mohyin in particular resumed its historic role in raiding Upper Burma towns, especially Myedu
.
assassinated his unle Min Sithu, whom Minkhaung appointed as governor of Toungoo only five years earlier. But Mingyinyo sent tributes to Ava. Minkhaung was not in a position to punish Mingyinyo and accepted Mingyinyo's submission. He formally granted Mingyinyo Toungoo. Mingyinyo remained a loyal ally of Ava for the remainder of Minkhaung's reign. In the 1490s, Toungoo fought against Yamethin and Hanthawaddy Kingdom
in the south. In 1492, after the death of King Dhammazedi of Hanthawaddy, Mingyinyo without Minkhaung's permission, sent a probing raid into Hanthawaddy territory. New Hanthawaddy king Binnya Ran II
sent a retaliatory raid in 1495. By the end of his reign, Toungoo was equally powerful as its nominal overlord Ava.
Ava and Yamethin were locked in a series of wars until the end. Minyekyawswa of Yamethin died in August/September 1501 (Tawthalin 863 ME). His brother Minkhaung died shortly after on 27 March 1502 (5th waning of Tagu 864 ME).
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...
who reigned from 1481 to 1502. His 20-year reign was the beginning of the decline of Ava's hold on Upper Burma. Yamethin
Yamethin
Yamethin is a town in central Burma in Yamethin District, Mandalay Region. Yamethin provides a market and processing for local agriculture production of rice and beans, as well having a small textile industry, and serving as a railroad shipping point on the Rangoon – Mandalay...
, a region to the east of Ava, revolted upon Minkhaung's ascension to the Ava throne and stayed independent throughout Minkhaung's reign. The southern regions of Prome and Tharrawaddy
Tharrawaddy
Tharrawaddy is a town and district of the Bago Division of lower Myanmar....
revolted in 1482, and also stayed independent. By the mid-1490s, the Shan states
Shan States
The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century...
of Mohnyin
Mohnyin
Mohnyin is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is the administrative center for both Mohnyin Township and Mohnyin District.Shells of different sizes were found in mass on 19 September. Those were found in apple-pie order while rooting up a tree between MohnyinDistrict Court and the Township...
, Mogaung
Mogaung
Mogaung is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway line.-External links:* Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.* Maplandia.com...
, Momeik
Momeik
Momeik, known as Know as Mong Mit in Shan, is a town situated on the Shweli River in northern Shan State of Myanmar .-Transport:...
and Kale (Kalay) had also broken away, and begun raiding northern Ava territories. Minkhaung increasingly came to rely on Mingyinyo
Mingyinyo
Mingyinyo was the founder of Toungoo dynasty of Burma . Under his 44-year leadership , Toungoo , grew from a remote backwater vassal state of Ava Kingdom to a small but stable independent kingdom. In 1510, he declared Toungoo's independence from its nominal overlord Ava. He skillfully kept his...
, the governor of Toungoo, for military assistance. By the end of his reign, Toungoo was equally powerful as its nominal overlord Ava.
Minkhaung II made his eldest son Thihathura II joint-king and co-ruled the kingdom for 15 years. But Thihathura II died a month before his father. Minkhaung II died in April 1502 and was succeeded by his younger son Shwenankyawshin
Shwenankyawshin
Shwenankyawshin Narapati was the last sovereign king of Ava who reigned 25 tumultuous years between 1502 and 1527. A confederation of Shan states led by Mohnyin continued their relentless attacks, and gradually absorbed Avan territory from the north, while their ally Prome took Avan territory in...
(Narapati II).
Crown prince years
Minkhaung II was the eldest son of King Thihathura of Ava who made him crown prince during his reign (1468–1481), and was given DabayinDabayin
-History:Located a few kilometers west of Shwebo, the birthplace of Konbaung dynasty, Dabayin was a major source of many Konbaung soldiers and officials, including the country's most famous general Maha Bandula. Having Dabayin as fief was a powerful symbol before one became king. King Naungdawgyi...
region in fief. His younger brothers also ruled various regions. His uncles Mingyi Swa
Mingyi Swa of Prome
Mingyi Swa of Prome was viceroy of Prome of Ava Kingdom from 1446 to 1482. He was made governor of Prome in 1446 by his father Narapati of Ava. He raised a rebellion when his eldest brother Thihathura I succeeded the Ava throne in 1469. But Thihathura laid siege on Prome, and Mingyi Swa submitted...
and Thado Minsaw
Thado Minsaw of Prome
Thado Minsaw of Prome was the founder of Prome Kingdom, who reigned the minor kingdom from 1482 to 1527. He was governor of Tharrawaddy during the reigns of his father King Narapati of Ava and his elder brother King Thihathura. After Thihathura died in 1481, the new king Minkhaung II was greeted...
ruled the southern regions of Prome (Pyay) and Tharrawaddy, respectively.
Reign
King Thihathura died in 1481, and Minkhaung II, aged 33, ascended the throne with the reign name of Thirithuddhamma Raza. As it had become customary with ascension of each Ava king, Minkhaung needed to secure loyalty of rulers of each region in the kingdom. The new king's uncles in Prome and Tharrawaddy scarcely acknowledged him. But closer to Ava, his younger brothers, the rulers of SalinSalin
Salin is a town of Minbu District in the Magway Division of Myanmar....
and Se
Sé
Sé may refer to:*sé, the word 'he', or the number six in the Irish language.*Sé , a district of São Paulo, Brazil*Sé, Hungary, a village in Hungary*One of several parishes in Portugal:...
in the west, and the ruler of Yamethin
Yamethin
Yamethin is a town in central Burma in Yamethin District, Mandalay Region. Yamethin provides a market and processing for local agriculture production of rice and beans, as well having a small textile industry, and serving as a railroad shipping point on the Rangoon – Mandalay...
in the southeast openly revolted.
Rebellions
Minyekyawswa of Yamethin, which held the five irrigation districts of all important KyaukseKyaukse
Kyaukse is a small town in Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It is famous for the Kyaukse Elephant Dance.-Education:Kyaukse is home to the Kyaukse Education College, Technological University, Kyaukse and Kyaukse University.-Economy:...
granary, was the greatest threat to Ava's power. Minkhaung ordered Sithu Kyawhtin, the former general and viceroy of Toungoo (Taungoo), to attack Yamethin, which is midway between Ava and Toungoo, from the south, while he marched from the north. But Yamethin's heavily fortified defenses prevailed. Sithu Kyawhtin died in battle, and Minkhaung called off the attack after a two-month-long siege. He appointed Sithu Kyawhtin's son Min Sithu
Min Sithu of Toungoo
Min Sithu was the governor of Toungoo from 1481 to 1486. He inherited the governorship from his father Sithu Kyawhtin of Toungoo was killed in battle in 1481. He was killed by his nephew Mingyinyo. The governor had repeatedly refused the nephew's requests to marry his daughter Soe Min .-References:...
(or Sithunge) as the new governor of Toungoo. Ava continuously tried to subdue Yamethin in subsequent years but the rebellious province managed to stay independent for the rest of his reign.
His inability to regain control of the Kyaukse granary meant Ava was never strong enough to pacify other regions. In 1482, Mingyi Swa of Prome died, and his brother Thado Minsaw of Tharrawaddy took over Prome, and declared himself independent. His nephew the king sent a force to attack Prome. But the Avan army could not take Prome, and retreated. Prome became an independent kingdom with territories up to Tharrawaddy and Myede. (It would stay independent until 1533, and semi-independent under Ava's rule until 1542.)
Still in 1482, the Shan states of Mohnyin
Mohnyin
Mohnyin is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is the administrative center for both Mohnyin Township and Mohnyin District.Shells of different sizes were found in mass on 19 September. Those were found in apple-pie order while rooting up a tree between MohnyinDistrict Court and the Township...
and Momeik
Momeik
Momeik, known as Know as Mong Mit in Shan, is a town situated on the Shweli River in northern Shan State of Myanmar .-Transport:...
in the north also revolted. Minkhaung, still focused on Yamethin, could not do much with the other revolts. By the 1490s, the Shan states previously loyal to Ava--Kale (Kalay), Mogaung
Mogaung
Mogaung is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway line.-External links:* Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.* Maplandia.com...
along with Mohnyin and Momeik had also escaped Ava's control. Only the Shan state of Hsipaw
Hsipaw
Hsipaw , is a town in Shan State, Myanmar on the riverbank of Myitnge River. It is 200 km northeast of Mandalay.-Shan Saopha:Hsipaw is perhaps one of the most well known and powerful saopha states of Shan State...
(Thibaw) remained a steadfast ally of Ava. Mohyin in particular resumed its historic role in raiding Upper Burma towns, especially Myedu
Myedu
Myedu is a small town located in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar . The town was the fief of King Hsinbyushin of Konbaung Dynasty, who was also known as Myedu Min....
.
Alliance with Mingyinyo of Toungoo
In 1486, MingyinyoMingyinyo
Mingyinyo was the founder of Toungoo dynasty of Burma . Under his 44-year leadership , Toungoo , grew from a remote backwater vassal state of Ava Kingdom to a small but stable independent kingdom. In 1510, he declared Toungoo's independence from its nominal overlord Ava. He skillfully kept his...
assassinated his unle Min Sithu, whom Minkhaung appointed as governor of Toungoo only five years earlier. But Mingyinyo sent tributes to Ava. Minkhaung was not in a position to punish Mingyinyo and accepted Mingyinyo's submission. He formally granted Mingyinyo Toungoo. Mingyinyo remained a loyal ally of Ava for the remainder of Minkhaung's reign. In the 1490s, Toungoo fought against Yamethin and Hanthawaddy Kingdom
Hanthawaddy Kingdom
The Hanthawaddy Kingdom was the dominant kingdom that ruled lower Burma from 1287 to 1539. The Mon-speaking kingdom was founded as Ramannadesa by King Wareru following the collapse of the Pagan Empire in 1287 as a nominal vassal state of Sukhothai Kingdom, and of the Mongol Yuan dynasty...
in the south. In 1492, after the death of King Dhammazedi of Hanthawaddy, Mingyinyo without Minkhaung's permission, sent a probing raid into Hanthawaddy territory. New Hanthawaddy king Binnya Ran II
Binnya Ran II
Binnya Ran II was the 17th king of Hanthawaddy for 34 years from 1492 to 1526. He was revered for his gentleness although his first act as king was to enforce the massacre of the kinsmen, putting all the royal offspring to death....
sent a retaliatory raid in 1495. By the end of his reign, Toungoo was equally powerful as its nominal overlord Ava.
Ava and Yamethin were locked in a series of wars until the end. Minyekyawswa of Yamethin died in August/September 1501 (Tawthalin 863 ME). His brother Minkhaung died shortly after on 27 March 1502 (5th waning of Tagu 864 ME).