Minkhaung I
Encyclopedia
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
(1385–1424), and for being the father of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa
, who did most of the fighting.
Minkhaung succeeded the throne after his half-brother King Tarabya
was assassinated in 1401. In the early years of his reign 1401–1406, Minkhaung faced not only a serious internal rebellion but also external raids from Shan States
in the north and from Arakan
in the west, and a full scale invasion by Razadarit of Pegu from the south. By 1406, Minkhaung had gained control of the situation, and was able to counter attack. In 1406, he defeated the Shan State of Mohnyin
. Between 1404 and 1418, Ava and Hanthawaddy forces fought fiercely in Lower Burma
, Upper Burma
and Arakan
. Ava's war efforts against Pegu were checked by the Shan raids from the north until 1413, when Minyekyawswa decisively defeated Theinni
(Hsenwi), the most powerful Shan state, which had Chinese
backing. Minyekyawswa came close to conquering all of Lower Burma in 1417 but the fiery crown prince of Ava was severely wounded in battle and died. Though both sides fought on until 1418, the enthusiasm for the war had dissipated.
by Saw Teza, a "village maiden" whom he had met during one of his military campaigns. He was born in 1373 and his birth name was Min Swe . He had a younger brother, Theiddat
. Min Swe was at least one-eighth Shan from his father's side; his mother was most likely Burman
as her ethnic origin was not highlighted in the Chronicles. As his mother was a commoner, ranked lowest in status among Swasawke's five queens, Min Swe or Theiddat was not considered for the throne. Swasawke had designated Prince Tarabya
as crown prince. Min Swe was given Pyinsi in fief. In their youth, the two princes lived as wandering minstrels and nat
dancers, one of the older attendants playing a drum, another the horn, and so on. They strayed down to Taungdwingyi
, and then crossing over to Minbu District
and lived at Ngape and Padein.
In 1386, a 14-year-old Lord of Pyinsi commanded an army battalion in his father's invasion of Hanthawaddy Kingdom. In 1389, Min Swe was married to a Shan princess named Shin Mi-Nauk
, daughter of Hsongamhpa, the saopha
(chief) of Mohnyin
(Mong Yang), during the time of rare friendly relations between Ava and Mohnyin. In 1391, Mi-Nauk gave birth to Minyekyawswa. She later gave birth to a daughter, Saw Pye Chantha and another son, Thihathu.
. Maha Pyaut marched to Ava with a force of 10,000 men, 60 attack elephants and 800 horses. Minkhaung's younger brother Theiddat
led Ava's defenses, and defeated the stronger rebel force, killing Maha Pyaut. In gratitude, Minkhaung gave Theiddat Sagaing
to rule but stopped short of declaring him heir-apparent. The younger brother was never satisfied with the reward he received for his help, and held a lingering resentment that would rear its ugly head later.
(Thibaw) and Yawnghwe (Nyaungshwe) in the east, and Kale (Kalay) in the northwest. But the threat from major Shan states of Mohnyin and Hsweni
(Theinni) remained (although Minkhaung's chief queen, Shin Minauk, was a princess of Mohnyin.)
Other neighboring states decided to test the mettle of Minkhaung. In the west, the Arakanese began raiding Yaw and Laungshe (near Pakokku
). A much more serious threat came from the south in the form of a massive invasion by the Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu.
in Prome. Minkhaung gave his sister to Razadarit in marriage, who in return gave custom duties at the port of Bassein. The boundary of their kingdoms was fixed a little to the south of Prome.
, Kale and Mohnyin, were at war. Minkhaung sided with his ally the saopha
of Kale, and sent a force to attack Mohnyin. The joint Kale-Ava force sacked Mohnyin and killed its saopha. Mohnyin came under Ava's control for the rest of his reign. In late 1406, he sent an army led by 15-year-old Minyekyawswa
to invade Arakan. The Ava forces occupied the capital Launggyet, and drove out its king, Min Saw Mon, who fled to Bengal
. Minkhaung appointed Anawrahta as king of Arakan, and in 1407 sent his 13-year-old daughter Saw Pye Chantha to be Anawrahta's wife. In 1410, Minkhaung appointed a 20-year-old Min Nansi (later King Mohnyin Thado
), one of Minyekyawswa's best commanders and one of his former pages, as saopha of Monhnyin.
Razadarit broke the truce once again, and sent in an invasion force to Arakan. At the Araknese capital Launggyet, the Hanthawaddy army was victorious. Among the captured were Anawrahta, the newly appointed Avan governor of Arakan, and his wife, Saw Pye Chantha, Minkhaung's daughter, and Minyekyawswa's sister, along with 3000 Ava troops. Razadarit installed an Arakanese prince as king of Arakan. Razadarit had Minkhaung's son-in-law executed, and took Minkhaung's daughter as queen. Incensed, Minkhaung invaded the Hanthawaddy country in May 1407, at the start of the rainy season, despite the advice of his ministers. The Ava forces got bogged down in the swamps of Lower Burma, and were soundly defeated.
In 1408, Minkhaung had to defend against Shan raiders from Theinni. In 1409, Minkhaung invaded the south and reached the outskirts of Pegu. Razadarit tried to break the siege by sending special forces to assassinate Minkhaung. Minkhaung escaped death on the warning by his brother Theiddat who was with Pegu troops to ambush him. Theiddat was later executed by Razadarit for his warning. Razadarit again sent a team of commandos led by his top general Lagun Ein to infiltrate the enemy camp and kill Minkhaung. Lagun Ein got inside Minkhaung's tent but refused to kill a sleeping Minkhaung. But the rainy season came and Minkhaung's communication lines and supply lines were cut. Razadarit came out and attacked Minkhaung. The two kings took part in a great battle at Kyat Paw Taw near Pegu. Razadarit charged his elephant directly at Minkhaung, which the latter tried to meet but could not withstand so that he had to turn away. About two-thirds of the invading Ava army including elephants and cavalry were captured. Razadarit also captured Minkhaung's chief queen Shin Mi-Nauk
. Razadarit now had both the mother and the daughter in his harem.
Minyekyawswa left a garrison in Arakan but had to rush back as the Shans of Theinni were raiding Avan territory again at Razadarit's urging. In November 1412, Minyekyawswa invaded Theinni. In early 1413, Minyekyawswa killed the saopha of Theinni in single combat on his elephant at Wetwin (near today's Pyinoolwin (Maymyo)). But he could not take the city of Theinni itself as Chinese reinforcements arrived. While Ava forces were busy fighting the Theinni Shans, Razadarit's army invaded Arakan and removed the Ava-installed puppet king. Still in 1413, two Shan brothers, chiefs of Mawke and Mawdon in today's Shwebo District
, attacked the frontier town of Myedu
until Minyekyawswa drove them away.
Having quelled the Shan raiders, Minyekyawswa invaded the delta in full force in January/February 1414 (Tabodwe 775 ME). By 1415, the fiery prince of Ava had conquered the entire delta in the west, and controlled up to the outskirts of Pegu in the east. (While Minyekyawswa was in the delta, the two Shan saophas of Mawke and Mawdon, raided all the way to Ava's walls but could not break through.) In the wake of this onslaught, Razadarit fled to Martaban. Fortunately for Razadarit, Minyekyawswa was mortally wounded in battle at Dala
, and was captured by Hanthawaddy troops in March 1417 (Tagu 778 ME). (The Mon chronicles say Minyekyawswa died of his wounds but the Burmese chronicles say he was executed. The Mon chronicles state that Razadarit ordered Minyekyawswa be buried with royal honors.)
Heart-broken by his son's death, Minkhaung spent his remaining years in piety. Minhkaung died in early 1422 (783 ME), followed by Razadarit later that year. Their successors carried on the war for a few years but gradually a long period of peace descended over the south.
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...
from 1401 to 1422. Minkhaung is best remembered in Burmese history for his epic struggles against King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu
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...
in the Forty Years' War
Forty Years' War
The Forty Years' War was a military conflict fought between the Burmese-speaking Kingdom of Ava and the Mon-speaking Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu. The war was fought during two separate periods: 1385 to 1391 and 1404 to 1424, interrupted by two truces of 1391–1404 and 1406–1407...
(1385–1424), and for being the father of Crown Prince 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...
, who did most of the fighting.
Minkhaung succeeded the throne after his half-brother King Tarabya
Tarabya of Ava
Tarabya was the third king of Ava, who reigned for seven months in 1401. Tarabya was crown prince during his father King Swasawke's reign, and ascended in January 1401 . But he was assassinated seven months into his rule by his one-time tutor, Nga Nauk Hsan, the governor of Tagaung...
was assassinated in 1401. In the early years of his reign 1401–1406, Minkhaung faced not only a serious internal rebellion but also external raids from 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...
in the north and from Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
in the west, and a full scale invasion by Razadarit of Pegu from the south. By 1406, Minkhaung had gained control of the situation, and was able to counter attack. In 1406, he defeated the Shan State of 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...
. Between 1404 and 1418, Ava and Hanthawaddy forces fought fiercely 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 ....
, 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....
and Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
. Ava's war efforts against Pegu were checked by the Shan raids from the north until 1413, when Minyekyawswa decisively defeated Theinni
Theinni
Theinni or Hsenwi is a town in northern Shan State of Burma, situated near the north bank of the Nam Tu River and now the centre of Hsenwi Township in Lashio District. It is 28 miles north of Lashio. It is 2,100 feet above sea level...
(Hsenwi), the most powerful Shan state, which had Chinese
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
backing. Minyekyawswa came close to conquering all of Lower Burma in 1417 but the fiery crown prince of Ava was severely wounded in battle and died. Though both sides fought on until 1418, the enthusiasm for the war had dissipated.
Early life
Minkhaung was a son of King SwasawkeSwasawke
Swasawke was the second king of Ava, who reigned from 1368 to 1400. When he was elected by the ministers to succeed King Thadominbya who left no heir, Swasawke took over a kingdom that was less than four years old, and still faced external and internal threats...
by Saw Teza, a "village maiden" whom he had met during one of his military campaigns. He was born in 1373 and his birth name was Min Swe . He had a younger brother, Theiddat
Theiddat
Theiddat was the heir-presumptive of Ava from 1401 to 1407 during the reign of King Minkhaung I of Ava. Theiddat was the key figure in securing his elder brother Minkhaung I's claim on the throne of Ava. In the early days of Minkhaung's reign, Theiddat personally led an army to put down a major...
. Min Swe was at least one-eighth Shan from his father's side; his mother was most likely 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...
as her ethnic origin was not highlighted in the Chronicles. As his mother was a commoner, ranked lowest in status among Swasawke's five queens, Min Swe or Theiddat was not considered for the throne. Swasawke had designated Prince Tarabya
Tarabya of Ava
Tarabya was the third king of Ava, who reigned for seven months in 1401. Tarabya was crown prince during his father King Swasawke's reign, and ascended in January 1401 . But he was assassinated seven months into his rule by his one-time tutor, Nga Nauk Hsan, the governor of Tagaung...
as crown prince. Min Swe was given Pyinsi in fief. In their youth, the two princes lived as wandering minstrels and nat
Nat (spirit)
The nats are spirits worshipped in Burma in conjunction with Buddhism. They are divided between the 37 Great Nats and all the rest . Almost all of the 37 Great Nats were human beings who met violent deaths . They may thus also be called nat sein...
dancers, one of the older attendants playing a drum, another the horn, and so on. They strayed down to Taungdwingyi
Taungdwingyi
Taungdwingyi is a town of Taungdwingyi Township in Magway District in the Magway Division of Myanmar. People inhabited this area since thousands of years ago and one of the earliest civilization of Myanmar, Beikthano Ancient Pyu City, is located near the town. Territorial area is plane and rice,...
, and then crossing over to Minbu District
Minbu District
Minbu District is a district of the Magway Division in central Myanmar. The city of Minbu is the administrative centre.-Borders:Minbu District is bounded to the south by Thayet District, to the east by Magway District, to the north by Pakokku District and Gangaw District, to the northwest by Mindat...
and lived at Ngape and Padein.
In 1386, a 14-year-old Lord of Pyinsi commanded an army battalion in his father's invasion of Hanthawaddy Kingdom. In 1389, Min Swe was married to a Shan princess named Shin Mi-Nauk
Shin Mi-Nauk
Shin Mi-Nauk was the chief queen of King Minkhaung I of Ava from 1401 to 1409. She was the mother of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa, who is one of the most celebrated generals in Burmese history, and King Thihathu of Ava. Mi-Nauk was a daughter of Hsongamhpa, the saopha of Shan state of Mohnyin...
, daughter of Hsongamhpa, the 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...
(chief) of 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...
(Mong Yang), during the time of rare friendly relations between Ava and Mohnyin. In 1391, Mi-Nauk gave birth to Minyekyawswa. She later gave birth to a daughter, Saw Pye Chantha and another son, Thihathu.
Ascension to throne
In early December 1400 (Natdaw 762 ME), Swasawke died and Tarabya ascended to the throne. Seven months later, circa July 1401, Tarabya was assassinated by Nga Nauk Hsan, the governor of Tagaung who tried to seize the throne. But the ministers put the usurper to death, and gave the throne to Min Swe, who ascended the throne with the title Minkhaung. He was 28. His ascension was greeted by a major rebellion led by Maha Pyaut the lord of YamethinYamethin
Yamethin is a town in central Burma in Yamethin District, Mandalay Region. Yamethin provides a market and processing for local agriculture production of rice and beans, as well having a small textile industry, and serving as a railroad shipping point on the Rangoon – Mandalay...
. Maha Pyaut marched to Ava with a force of 10,000 men, 60 attack elephants and 800 horses. Minkhaung's younger brother Theiddat
Theiddat
Theiddat was the heir-presumptive of Ava from 1401 to 1407 during the reign of King Minkhaung I of Ava. Theiddat was the key figure in securing his elder brother Minkhaung I's claim on the throne of Ava. In the early days of Minkhaung's reign, Theiddat personally led an army to put down a major...
led Ava's defenses, and defeated the stronger rebel force, killing Maha Pyaut. In gratitude, Minkhaung gave Theiddat Sagaing
Sagaing
Sagaing is the capital of Sagaing Region in Myanmar. Located on the Ayeyarwady River, 20 km to the southwest of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river, Sagaing with numerous Buddhist monasteries is an important religious and monastic center. The pagodas and monasteries crowd the numerous...
to rule but stopped short of declaring him heir-apparent. The younger brother was never satisfied with the reward he received for his help, and held a lingering resentment that would rear its ugly head later.
Reign
Though he had just overcome a serious challenge to his rule at home, Minkhaung like his Ava predecessors still faced external threats. He was eager to avoid a resumption of Shan raids, which had been dormant since 1393. With the help of his father's chief minister, Wunzin Minyaza, entered into an alliance with minor Shan states: HsipawHsipaw
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) and Yawnghwe (Nyaungshwe) in the east, and Kale (Kalay) in the northwest. But the threat from major Shan states of Mohnyin and Hsweni
Theinni
Theinni or Hsenwi is a town in northern Shan State of Burma, situated near the north bank of the Nam Tu River and now the centre of Hsenwi Township in Lashio District. It is 28 miles north of Lashio. It is 2,100 feet above sea level...
(Theinni) remained (although Minkhaung's chief queen, Shin Minauk, was a princess of Mohnyin.)
Other neighboring states decided to test the mettle of Minkhaung. In the west, the Arakanese began raiding Yaw and Laungshe (near Pakokku
Pakokku
Pakokku or Pa Kok Ku is a town in the Magway Division in Myanmar. It is situated about 30 km northwest of Bagan on the Ayeyarwady River. It is the second most important education center for Sangha after Mandalay. It is the administration seat of Pakokku Township and Pakokku District.The town...
). A much more serious threat came from the south in the form of a massive invasion by the Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu.
Resumption of Forty Years' War and temporary truce (1404–1406)
In 1404, Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu formally broke the truce he had entered in 1391 with Swasawke of Ava. In November 1404 (Natdaw 756 ME), Razadarit invaded the upcountry with massive flotilla (4000 boats of every description) that also transported elephants and horses. Razadarit let his son-in-law to lay siege to Prome, and he led the siege of Ava. Minkhaung had no flotilla to meet Razadarit, and ordered his troops to defend behind the fortified walls of Ava and Prome. But the fortified cities proved impregnable to the Hanthawaddy forces, and Razadarit retreated from Ava. At Prome, a counter-attack by Ava forces captured Razadarit's daughter, whom Minkhaung raised to be queen. In late 1405, an incensed Razadarit sailed up the river and attacked everything in sight, burning the granaries and boats along the river. Prome was laid siege again. In January 1406, Minkhaung's forces from upcountry relieved the siege of Prome. But Razadarit's flotilla continued to control the entire span of Irrawaddy river, and kept on using the scorched earth tactics along the river, greatly disrupting Minkhaung's supplies and resources. Minkhaung sued for peace. Circa February 1406, the two kings met at the Shwesandaw PagodaShwesandaw Pagoda, Pyay
The Shwesandaw Pagoda, or Shwesandaw Paya, is a Buddhist pagoda in the center of Pyay, Burma. It is one of the more important Buddhist pilgrimage locations in Burma. It is said to contain a couple of the Buddha's hairs, as its name means Golden Hair Relic. It is one meter taller in height than...
in Prome. Minkhaung gave his sister to Razadarit in marriage, who in return gave custom duties at the port of Bassein. The boundary of their kingdoms was fixed a little to the south of Prome.
Monhyin and Arakan (1406–1407)
After reaching a truce with Razadarit, Minkhaung turned to the north where two Shan statesShan 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...
, Kale and Mohnyin, were at war. Minkhaung sided with his ally the 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...
of Kale, and sent a force to attack Mohnyin. The joint Kale-Ava force sacked Mohnyin and killed its saopha. Mohnyin came under Ava's control for the rest of his reign. In late 1406, he sent an army led by 15-year-old 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...
to invade Arakan. The Ava forces occupied the capital Launggyet, and drove out its king, Min Saw Mon, who fled to Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. Minkhaung appointed Anawrahta as king of Arakan, and in 1407 sent his 13-year-old daughter Saw Pye Chantha to be Anawrahta's wife. In 1410, Minkhaung appointed a 20-year-old Min Nansi (later King Mohnyin Thado
Mohnyin Thado
Mohnyin Thado was the eighth king of Ava who reigned from 1427 to 1440. The ethnic Burman saopha of Mohnyin came to power after overthrowing King Kale Kyetaungnyo and his queen Shin Bo-Me in 1427. His reign marks the plateauing of Ava's power...
), one of Minyekyawswa's best commanders and one of his former pages, as saopha of Monhnyin.
Departure of Theiddat and resumption of war (1407–1409)
In 1407, Minkhaung named his eldest son Minyekyawswa as heir apparent. His brother Theiddat, who had loyally supported Minkhaung in time of his need, felt betrayed, and challenged Minkhaung to an elephant-to-elephant single combat. Minkhaung defeated his younger brother but allowed him to leave. Theiddat took refuge in Razadarit's service. Razadarit gave Theiddat his sister in marriage, knowing full well that it was a declaration of war.Razadarit broke the truce once again, and sent in an invasion force to Arakan. At the Araknese capital Launggyet, the Hanthawaddy army was victorious. Among the captured were Anawrahta, the newly appointed Avan governor of Arakan, and his wife, Saw Pye Chantha, Minkhaung's daughter, and Minyekyawswa's sister, along with 3000 Ava troops. Razadarit installed an Arakanese prince as king of Arakan. Razadarit had Minkhaung's son-in-law executed, and took Minkhaung's daughter as queen. Incensed, Minkhaung invaded the Hanthawaddy country in May 1407, at the start of the rainy season, despite the advice of his ministers. The Ava forces got bogged down in the swamps of Lower Burma, and were soundly defeated.
In 1408, Minkhaung had to defend against Shan raiders from Theinni. In 1409, Minkhaung invaded the south and reached the outskirts of Pegu. Razadarit tried to break the siege by sending special forces to assassinate Minkhaung. Minkhaung escaped death on the warning by his brother Theiddat who was with Pegu troops to ambush him. Theiddat was later executed by Razadarit for his warning. Razadarit again sent a team of commandos led by his top general Lagun Ein to infiltrate the enemy camp and kill Minkhaung. Lagun Ein got inside Minkhaung's tent but refused to kill a sleeping Minkhaung. But the rainy season came and Minkhaung's communication lines and supply lines were cut. Razadarit came out and attacked Minkhaung. The two kings took part in a great battle at Kyat Paw Taw near Pegu. Razadarit charged his elephant directly at Minkhaung, which the latter tried to meet but could not withstand so that he had to turn away. About two-thirds of the invading Ava army including elephants and cavalry were captured. Razadarit also captured Minkhaung's chief queen Shin Mi-Nauk
Shin Mi-Nauk
Shin Mi-Nauk was the chief queen of King Minkhaung I of Ava from 1401 to 1409. She was the mother of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa, who is one of the most celebrated generals in Burmese history, and King Thihathu of Ava. Mi-Nauk was a daughter of Hsongamhpa, the saopha of Shan state of Mohnyin...
. Razadarit now had both the mother and the daughter in his harem.
Minyekyawswa years (1410–1417)
After this disastrous defeat, a dejected Minkhaung handed over the military leadership to Minyekyawswa. Minyekyawswa was eager to defeat Razadarit as both his mother and his sister were prisoners in Razadarit's harem. In 1410, Minyekyawswa invaded the delta but was repulsed. In early 1412, Minyekyawswa invaded Arakan, and ousted the Hanthawaddy-installed puppet king.Minyekyawswa left a garrison in Arakan but had to rush back as the Shans of Theinni were raiding Avan territory again at Razadarit's urging. In November 1412, Minyekyawswa invaded Theinni. In early 1413, Minyekyawswa killed the saopha of Theinni in single combat on his elephant at Wetwin (near today's Pyinoolwin (Maymyo)). But he could not take the city of Theinni itself as Chinese reinforcements arrived. While Ava forces were busy fighting the Theinni Shans, Razadarit's army invaded Arakan and removed the Ava-installed puppet king. Still in 1413, two Shan brothers, chiefs of Mawke and Mawdon in today's Shwebo District
Shwebo District
Shwebo District is a district in south-central Sagaing Division of Burma . Its administrative center is the city of Shwebo.The district consists of the townships of Kanbalu, Khin-U, Kyunhla, Shwebo, Taze, Wetlet, and Ye-U....
, attacked the frontier town of Myedu
Myedu
Myedu is a small town located in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar . The town was the fief of King Hsinbyushin of Konbaung Dynasty, who was also known as Myedu Min....
until Minyekyawswa drove them away.
Having quelled the Shan raiders, Minyekyawswa invaded the delta in full force in January/February 1414 (Tabodwe 775 ME). By 1415, the fiery prince of Ava had conquered the entire delta in the west, and controlled up to the outskirts of Pegu in the east. (While Minyekyawswa was in the delta, the two Shan saophas of Mawke and Mawdon, raided all the way to Ava's walls but could not break through.) In the wake of this onslaught, Razadarit fled to Martaban. Fortunately for Razadarit, Minyekyawswa was mortally wounded in battle at 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...
, and was captured by Hanthawaddy troops in March 1417 (Tagu 778 ME). (The Mon chronicles say Minyekyawswa died of his wounds but the Burmese chronicles say he was executed. The Mon chronicles state that Razadarit ordered Minyekyawswa be buried with royal honors.)
The final years (1417–1422)
Minyekyawswa’s death was the beginning of the end of the war that had dragged on for decades. Without a strong leader, Ava’s side became disorganized and withdrew to the north. Minkhaung renewed the campaign, marching to Dala to exhume his sons' bones from where Razadarit had given them honorable burial. The remains were solemnly dropped into the waters near Twante. Hanthawaddy marched north to Toungoo in 1417 and Ava marched south to Pegu in 1418, but the war machine had run out of steam.Heart-broken by his son's death, Minkhaung spent his remaining years in piety. Minhkaung died in early 1422 (783 ME), followed by Razadarit later that year. Their successors carried on the war for a few years but gradually a long period of peace descended over the south.