Mongpawng, or Mong Pawn, was one of the thirty-four Shan states recognised by the British

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 protectorate in colonial Burma. It formed part of the Federated 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...

 created in 1922.

In 1943, the occupying Japanese transferred Mongpawng to the government of Siam. The Shan states later constituted an autonomous state within the Union of Burma.

Like other Shan states, Mongpawng was ruled by an hereditary prince, or saopha.