Talamidaw
Encyclopedia
Talamidaw was the consort of King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy
while he was a prince. She was a half-sister of Razadarit and a daughter of King Binnya U
by queen Sanda Dewi. In May 1383, Talamidaw eloped with Razadarit to Dagon
(Yangon). Binnya Nwe`(name of Razadarit before his coronation) was thrown to prison for this and was rescued by Mahadevi, his father's elder sister and his mentor since his mother died, and she married Binnya Nwe` to Talamidaw. However, Mahadevi began to think Binnya Nwe` as a rival for the throne when Binnya U became ill and decided to kill him. Binny Nwe` escaped to Dagon, leaving Talamidaw with their son, Bawlawkyantaw
. Talamidaw was summoned to palace where Binnya U asked her why she remained silence while Binnya Nwe` was attempting to rebel as Mahadevi had informed to him. She answered that she had been neglected by Binnya Nwe` for a long period of time. Meanwhile, in Dagon, Binnya Nwe` met Mwe Ma Nate, a woman who sold cooking oil and was married to Ma Chut Sut, who was working as a clerk under Binnya Nwe`. He married Mwe Ma Nate when Ma Chut Sut ran to Hanthawaddi and made his queen. Talamidaw was heartbroken and when foster mother of Binnya Nwe` was forced to go to Dagon to convinced Binnya Nwe`to come back to Hanthawaddi by Mahadevi, Talamidaw sent a balance and a pot of oil with her. When Mwe Ma Nate was given the oil pot, she accepted it saying, "I am not ashamed to accept it as it is true that I was an oil-seller once." Binnya Nwe` smiled when he saw the balance as it meant that Talamidaw's love for him remained the same though he had changed. Binnya U died during the rebellion and the throne was taken by Binnya Nwe`, after defeating Mahadevi and her lover, Thaminmaru, who was also the husband of half-sister of Binnya Nwe`, Talamaythiri, against Binnya U's will as the deceased king wanted his son by his chief queen to be the king. Though it was Talamidaw who had to be the chief queen, Binnya Nwe` had planned to give this title to Mwe Ma Nate and called Talamidaw to be present at the coronation as a minor queen. Talamidaw opposed Binnya Nwe`by not attending the coronation where Binnya Nwe` took Razadarit as his title. Her son was taken away from her and Razadarit demanded the jewels that she received from their father, Binnya U. Feeling devastated, Talamidaw committed suicide by drinking poisoned lime juice. Razadarit gave these jewels to Mwe Ma Nate, who was then became his chief queen.
Razadarit later ordered the execution of their son for fear of revenge. The young prince's oath, sworn before taking the executioners' poison, became stuff of legend in Burmese history. According to Mon and Burmese chronicles, Balawkyantaw swore that:
Razadarit was greatly disturbed when he heard of the terrible oath. In the superstitious world of Burmese politics, he was alarmed when the chief wife of Prince Minkhaung
of Ava fetched to eat various foods from Lower Burma before she became pregnant. She gave birth to Minyekyawswa
a year after Bawlawkyantaw's death. Indeed, Minyekyawswa would later grow up to be Razadarit's nemesis.
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...
while he was a prince. She was a half-sister of Razadarit and a daughter of King Binnya U
Binnya U
Binnya U was the eighth king of Hanthawaddy Pegu, who ruled from 1348 to 1383. Over his 35-year reign, the king faced several internal rebellions and external invasions...
by queen Sanda Dewi. In May 1383, Talamidaw eloped with Razadarit to Dagon
Dagon Township
Dagon Township is located immediately north of downtown Yangon. The township comprises five wards, and shares borders with Bahan township in the north, Ahlon township in the west, Mingala Taungnyunt township in the east, and Lanmadaw township, Latha township and Pabedan township in the south.Dagon...
(Yangon). Binnya Nwe`(name of Razadarit before his coronation) was thrown to prison for this and was rescued by Mahadevi, his father's elder sister and his mentor since his mother died, and she married Binnya Nwe` to Talamidaw. However, Mahadevi began to think Binnya Nwe` as a rival for the throne when Binnya U became ill and decided to kill him. Binny Nwe` escaped to Dagon, leaving Talamidaw with their son, Bawlawkyantaw
Bawlawkyantaw
Bawlawkyantaw was the eldest son and first child of King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu. The prince is best known for his famous oath before his execution on the orders of his father that he shall be reborn to fight against his father if he were innocent...
. Talamidaw was summoned to palace where Binnya U asked her why she remained silence while Binnya Nwe` was attempting to rebel as Mahadevi had informed to him. She answered that she had been neglected by Binnya Nwe` for a long period of time. Meanwhile, in Dagon, Binnya Nwe` met Mwe Ma Nate, a woman who sold cooking oil and was married to Ma Chut Sut, who was working as a clerk under Binnya Nwe`. He married Mwe Ma Nate when Ma Chut Sut ran to Hanthawaddi and made his queen. Talamidaw was heartbroken and when foster mother of Binnya Nwe` was forced to go to Dagon to convinced Binnya Nwe`to come back to Hanthawaddi by Mahadevi, Talamidaw sent a balance and a pot of oil with her. When Mwe Ma Nate was given the oil pot, she accepted it saying, "I am not ashamed to accept it as it is true that I was an oil-seller once." Binnya Nwe` smiled when he saw the balance as it meant that Talamidaw's love for him remained the same though he had changed. Binnya U died during the rebellion and the throne was taken by Binnya Nwe`, after defeating Mahadevi and her lover, Thaminmaru, who was also the husband of half-sister of Binnya Nwe`, Talamaythiri, against Binnya U's will as the deceased king wanted his son by his chief queen to be the king. Though it was Talamidaw who had to be the chief queen, Binnya Nwe` had planned to give this title to Mwe Ma Nate and called Talamidaw to be present at the coronation as a minor queen. Talamidaw opposed Binnya Nwe`by not attending the coronation where Binnya Nwe` took Razadarit as his title. Her son was taken away from her and Razadarit demanded the jewels that she received from their father, Binnya U. Feeling devastated, Talamidaw committed suicide by drinking poisoned lime juice. Razadarit gave these jewels to Mwe Ma Nate, who was then became his chief queen.
Razadarit later ordered the execution of their son for fear of revenge. The young prince's oath, sworn before taking the executioners' poison, became stuff of legend in Burmese history. According to Mon and Burmese chronicles, Balawkyantaw swore that:
- I do not plot against my father. Neither is there any fault in me. My father and mother played together as children. When she grew to womanhood, he took her beauty and then cast her away. She was a king's daughter, but he drove her away like a slave and drove her to her evil death. If I am guilty of treason by thought, word or deed, may I suffer in the fires of the nether regions for a thousand cycle times. If I am innocent, may I be reborn in the dynasty of Ava kings, and may I become the scourge of Mons.
Razadarit was greatly disturbed when he heard of the terrible oath. In the superstitious world of Burmese politics, he was alarmed when the chief wife of Prince Minkhaung
Minkhaung I
Minkhaung I of Ava was the fourth king of Ava from 1401 to 1422. Minkhaung is best remembered in Burmese history for his epic struggles against King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu in the Forty Years' War , and for being the father of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa, who did most of the fighting.Minkhaung...
of Ava fetched to eat various foods from Lower Burma before she became pregnant. She gave birth to Minyekyawswa
Minyekyawswa
Minyekyawswa was crown prince of Ava from 1407 to 1417, and commander-in-chief of Ava's military from 1410 to 1417. He is best remembered in Burmese history as the courageous general who waged the most fierce battles of Forty Years' War against King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu.The prince, who...
a year after Bawlawkyantaw's death. Indeed, Minyekyawswa would later grow up to be Razadarit's nemesis.