Pyinbya
Encyclopedia
Pyinbya was the king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar), who founded the city of Pagan
. Although Burmese chronicles state that he reigned from 846 to 878, the actual reign, deduced from King Anawrahta
's year of ascension, 1044, was likely between 874 and 906. (Much of the information given in Burmese chronicles prior to Anawrahta's reign are unreliable or legendary.) Moreover, while the chronicles state him as the 33rd king of the dynasty founded in early 2nd century CE, modern historians consider Pyinbya one of the first Burman
kings in Upper Burma, which was then dominated by the Pyu
s.
While the dates are murky, Pyinbya's founding of Pagan was the first known Burman
settlement in the Irrawaddy valley, following the devastating raids into upper Irrawaddy valley by the Nanzhao Kingdom in the 830s. After the attacks, which left the Pyu severely weakened, large numbers of Burman warriors of Nanzhao and their families remained in the upper Irrawaddy valley. Pagan was founded as a fortified settlement along a bend in the Irrawaddy river. The new settlement may have been designed to help the Nanzhao pacify the surrounding countryside. It was a certainly a strategic spot, close to the Chindwin river
and just to the west of a richly irrigated rice plain.
Pagan remained essentially a city state for the next two centuries until Pyinbya's great-grandson Anawrahta
went on to create the Pagan Empire, the first ever unification of Burma.
Bagan
Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
. Although Burmese chronicles state that he reigned from 846 to 878, the actual reign, deduced from King Anawrahta
Anawrahta
Anawrahta Minsaw was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that formed the basis of modern-day Burma...
's year of ascension, 1044, was likely between 874 and 906. (Much of the information given in Burmese chronicles prior to Anawrahta's reign are unreliable or legendary.) Moreover, while the chronicles state him as the 33rd king of the dynasty founded in early 2nd century CE, modern historians consider Pyinbya one of the first Burman
Burman
Burman may refer to:People:*Barry Burman , English figurative artist*Ben Lucien Burman , American author and journalist*Bob Burman , American racecar driver...
kings in Upper Burma, which was then dominated by the Pyu
Pyu
Pyu city states were a group of city-states that existed from c. 2nd century BCE to late 9th century CE in present-day Upper Burma . The city-states were founded as part of the southward migration by the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu, the earliest inhabitants of Burma of whom records are extant...
s.
Founding of Pagan
According to the chronicles, Pyinbya ascended the throne in 846, and founded the city of Pagan in the third year of his reign. The date of founding of Pagan is given as 211 ME, on 23 December 849. Yet using Anawrahta's year of ascension, 1044, as the starting point, and subtracting the years reigned by the kings in between, Pyinbya's year of ascension would be 874, and founding of Pagan would be 877. (The chronicles also state Anawrahta's year of ascension as 1017, which has been proven incorrect since.)While the dates are murky, Pyinbya's founding of Pagan was the first known Burman
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
settlement in the Irrawaddy valley, following the devastating raids into upper Irrawaddy valley by the Nanzhao Kingdom in the 830s. After the attacks, which left the Pyu severely weakened, large numbers of Burman warriors of Nanzhao and their families remained in the upper Irrawaddy valley. Pagan was founded as a fortified settlement along a bend in the Irrawaddy river. The new settlement may have been designed to help the Nanzhao pacify the surrounding countryside. It was a certainly a strategic spot, close to the Chindwin river
Chindwin River
The Chindwin River is a river in Burma , and the largest tributary of the country's chief river the Ayeyarwady . It flows entirely within Burma and is known as Ning-thi to the Manipuris.-Source:...
and just to the west of a richly irrigated rice plain.
Pagan remained essentially a city state for the next two centuries until Pyinbya's great-grandson Anawrahta
Anawrahta
Anawrahta Minsaw was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that formed the basis of modern-day Burma...
went on to create the Pagan Empire, the first ever unification of Burma.