Shwenankyawshin
Encyclopedia
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 (Pyay) took Avan territory in the south. A desperate Narapati tried to keep Toungoo
(Taungoo) as an ally by giving the all important Kyaukse
granary to the nominally vassal kingdom but Mingyinyo
of Toungoo declared independence in October 1510, and gave no help. Ava's only steadfast ally was the Shan state of Hsipaw
(Thibaw) led by its saopha
Hkonmaing
.
By the early 1520s, Avan territory had shrunk so much that it was not much bigger than its former vassal states. In 1524, the armies of confederation of Shan states and Prome sacked Ava, forcing Narapati and Hkonmaing to flee the city. In 1527, the Shans again came back and laid siege to Ava. In April, Shwenankyawshin Narapati died from a gunshot wound while fighting in the battle. The Shans took Ava, and their leader Sawlon
made his son Thohanbwa
king of Ava, making it just another Shan state. The Shan conquest ended Ava's 163-year (1364–1527) role as the dominant power in Upper Burma
(Myanmar). Many Burman
s from Ava fled to Toungoo, the only remaining independent Burman kingdom.
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 25 tumultuous years between 1502 and 1527. A confederation of 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...
led by 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...
continued their relentless attacks, and gradually absorbed Avan territory from the north, while their ally Prome (Pyay) took Avan territory in the south. A desperate Narapati tried to keep Toungoo
Toungoo Dynasty
The Toungoo Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Burma from the mid-16th century to 1752. Its early kings Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung succeeded in reunifying the Pagan Empire for the first time since 1287, and in incorporating the Shan States for the first time...
(Taungoo) as an ally by giving the all important Kyaukse
Kyaukse
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 to the nominally vassal kingdom but 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...
of Toungoo declared independence in October 1510, and gave no help. Ava's only steadfast ally was 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) led by its saopha
Saopha
Saopha, Chaofa, or Sawbwa was a royal title used by the rulers of the Shan States of Myanmar . The word means "king" in the Shan and Tai languages...
Hkonmaing
Hkonmaing
Hkonmaing was king of Ava from 1543 to 1546. The long-ruling saopha of the Shan state of Onbaung Hsipaw was the main ally of King Shwenankyawshin of Ava in their 20 years' war against the Confederation of Shan States led by Mohnyin...
.
By the early 1520s, Avan territory had shrunk so much that it was not much bigger than its former vassal states. In 1524, the armies of confederation of Shan states and Prome sacked Ava, forcing Narapati and Hkonmaing to flee the city. In 1527, the Shans again came back and laid siege to Ava. In April, Shwenankyawshin Narapati died from a gunshot wound while fighting in the battle. The Shans took Ava, and their leader Sawlon
Sawlon
Sawlon of Mohnyin was saopha of the Shan state of Mohnyin from 1482? to 1533. He is best remembered in Burmese history as the conqueror of Ava Kingdom....
made his son Thohanbwa
Thohanbwa
Thohanbwa was a king of Ava who reigned from 1527 to 1543. The eldest son of Sawlon of Mohnyin was a commander who actively participated in Monhyin's numerous raids of Ava's territories in the first quarter of 16th century. In 1527, the ethnically Shan king was appointed king of Ava by Sawlon...
king of Ava, making it just another Shan state. The Shan conquest ended Ava's 163-year (1364–1527) role as the dominant power in Upper Burma
Upper Burma
Upper Burma refers to a geographic region of Burma , traditionally encompassing Mandalay and its periphery , or more broadly speaking, Kachin and Shan States....
(Myanmar). Many 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...
s from Ava fled to Toungoo, the only remaining independent Burman kingdom.