Sawlu
Encyclopedia
Sawlu was king of Pagan dynasty from 1077 to 1084. He inherited from his father Anawrahta
the Pagan Empire, the first ever unified kingdom of Burma (Myanmar) but proved an inexperienced ruler. In 1084, he faced a rebellion in Lower Burma
, and was captured and killed.
, then a royal cadet at the Pagan court of Sokkate
. His father seized the Pagan throne in 1044, and Sawlu became the heir presumptive
, and became known as Min Lulin He was brought up by a Mon
lady of noble birth. He grew up with the wet nurse's son Yamankan
, who became a close friend of his. By all accounts, Sawlu was not interested in running the kingdom, and never participated in any of his father's military campaigns. He viewed Kyansittha
, (adopted?) son of Anawrahta and a general in the Pagan army who was extremely popular with the people.
(Khin U) and made her the chief queen. To run the Mon territories in the south, he appointed his trusted childhood friend Yamankan
, an ethnic Mon. To administer the upcountry, Sawlu, at the urging of Primate Shin Arahan
, reluctantly brought back Kyansittha, who had been sent to exile by Anawrahta for his affair with Manisanda. However, Sawlu soon had to banish Kyansittha again (this time to Dala
near Yangon
) because the latter renewed his affair with Manisanda.
The chronicles describe the final breach between Sawlu and Yamankan in a dramatic way. The two were playing a game of dice
, and Yamankan won. As Yamankan romped about in joy at his victory, Sawlu taunted him, "If you are so clever, why don't you rebel against me?"
Yamankan went back to Pegu, and revolted. In 1084, he sailed up the Irrawaddy river with his army, and took a position on an island a few miles below Pagan. Sawlu recalled Kyansittha
from exile, and gave him the command of Pagan army. They marched south and halted near Myingun (near Magwe
). Yamankan's army was stationed at Thayet
. Sawlu was impatient and against Kyansittha's warning, attacked. But Yamankan had expected such an attack and prepared his positions well. Sawlu's army was routed and the king was taken prisoner.
Sawlu was so incompetent that it says much for the genius of the father that his kingdom survived the test. The main danger was in the south, where the Mons rebelled, captured the feeble king, murdered him and threatened Pagan itself.
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...
the Pagan Empire, the first ever unified kingdom of Burma (Myanmar) but proved an inexperienced ruler. In 1084, he faced a rebellion in Lower Burma
Lower Burma
Lower Burma is a geographic region of Burma and includes the low-lying Irrawaddy delta , as well as coastal regions of the country ....
, and was captured and killed.
Early life
Sawlu was born in 1039 to AnawrahtaAnawrahta
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...
, then a royal cadet at the Pagan court of Sokkate
Sokkate
Sokkate was a king of Pagan dynasty. The king lost his life in a single combat with Anawrahta, who succeeded him and went on to found the Pagan Empire. Historical sources do not agree on the duration of his reign, given as c. 986–1010 by Arthur Phayre, c. 992–1044 by GE Harvey, and 992-1017 by the...
. His father seized the Pagan throne in 1044, and Sawlu became the heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
, and became known as Min Lulin He was brought up by a Mon
Mon people
The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand...
lady of noble birth. He grew up with the wet nurse's son Yamankan
Yamankan
Nga Yamankan was governor of Pegu from 1077 to 1084, who raised an unsuccessful rebellion against Sawlu of Pagan Dynasty. He nearly succeeded. He captured and killed Sawlu. But he was driven out of Upper Burma by Sawlu's brother, Kyansittha and was killed while in retreat.-Early life:Yamankan, an...
, who became a close friend of his. By all accounts, Sawlu was not interested in running the kingdom, and never participated in any of his father's military campaigns. He viewed Kyansittha
Kyansittha
Kyansittha was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1084 to 1113, and is considered one of the greatest Burmese monarchs. He continued the social, economic and cultural reforms begun by his father, King Anawrahta. Pagan became an internationally recognized power during his 28-year reign...
, (adopted?) son of Anawrahta and a general in the Pagan army who was extremely popular with the people.
Reign
Sawlu ascended to the Pagan throne at age 38 after his father Anawrahta died under mysterious circumstances. When he became king, he married his father's Mon queen ManisandaManisanda
Manisanda Khin U was queen to three consecutive kings of Pagan dynasty of Burma in the late 11th century. The ethnic Mon queen is famous in Burmese history for her love triangle with Gen. Kyansittha and King Anawrahta...
(Khin U) and made her the chief queen. To run the Mon territories in the south, he appointed his trusted childhood friend Yamankan
Yamankan
Nga Yamankan was governor of Pegu from 1077 to 1084, who raised an unsuccessful rebellion against Sawlu of Pagan Dynasty. He nearly succeeded. He captured and killed Sawlu. But he was driven out of Upper Burma by Sawlu's brother, Kyansittha and was killed while in retreat.-Early life:Yamankan, an...
, an ethnic Mon. To administer the upcountry, Sawlu, at the urging of Primate Shin Arahan
Shin Arahan
The Venerable Shin Arahan was primate of Pagan Kingdom from 1056 to 1115. The monk, a native of Thaton Kingdom, was the religious adviser to four Pagan kings from Anawrahta to Alaungsithu. He is credited with converting Anawrahta to Theravada Buddhism, and overseeing the subsequent reformation of...
, reluctantly brought back Kyansittha, who had been sent to exile by Anawrahta for his affair with Manisanda. However, Sawlu soon had to banish Kyansittha again (this time to 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...
near Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
) because the latter renewed his affair with Manisanda.
Mon rebellion
As governor of Pegu, Yamankan continued to visit Sawlu at Pagan. Knowing the inexperience of his childhood friend well, Yamankan decided to rebel and restore independence of the Mon land, which only came under Pagan rule in 1057. (Note that the name Yamankan (literally, Blind Mon) was not the governor's true name. It was an insulting name given by the Burmese chronicles for his rebellion. His true name is lost to history.)The chronicles describe the final breach between Sawlu and Yamankan in a dramatic way. The two were playing a game of dice
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
, and Yamankan won. As Yamankan romped about in joy at his victory, Sawlu taunted him, "If you are so clever, why don't you rebel against me?"
Yamankan went back to Pegu, and revolted. In 1084, he sailed up the Irrawaddy river with his army, and took a position on an island a few miles below Pagan. Sawlu recalled Kyansittha
Kyansittha
Kyansittha was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1084 to 1113, and is considered one of the greatest Burmese monarchs. He continued the social, economic and cultural reforms begun by his father, King Anawrahta. Pagan became an internationally recognized power during his 28-year reign...
from exile, and gave him the command of Pagan army. They marched south and halted near Myingun (near Magwe
Magwe
-Burma:*Magway, Burma, the capital city of Magway Division of Burma *Magway Division *Magway District in Magway Division*Magway Township in Magway District*Magway University in Magwe, Burma...
). Yamankan's army was stationed at Thayet
Thayetmyo
Thayet or Thayetmyo is a city in Thayet District of Magway Region in central Burma . It is a port on the right bank of the Irrawaddy River, across and just south of Allanmyo, between Pyay and Magway. Thayet is the administrative seat of both Thayet District and Thayet Township...
. Sawlu was impatient and against Kyansittha's warning, attacked. But Yamankan had expected such an attack and prepared his positions well. Sawlu's army was routed and the king was taken prisoner.
Death
Kyansittha tried to rescue but Sawlu refused to be rescued. His last fatal miscalculation that Kyansittha would kill him to get the throne but his friend Yamankan would not. He was killed by Yamankan to prevent the further rescue attempts. Yamankan himself was ambushed by the sniper bow-shot of Nga Sin the hunter and died. Later Kyansittha became the third king of Pagan Dynasty.Sawlu was so incompetent that it says much for the genius of the father that his kingdom survived the test. The main danger was in the south, where the Mons rebelled, captured the feeble king, murdered him and threatened Pagan itself.