Minyekyawswa
Encyclopedia
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
(1385–1424) against King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu
.
The prince, who led an army battalion at age 13 and the entire army at 15, was his father King Minkhaung I
's best and most trusted general. Between 1406 and 1417, the father and son team waged war on all of Ava's neighbors, and nearly succeeded in reassembling the Pagan Empire under Ava's leadership. By 1416, Ava had defeated two strongest Shan states
of Mohnyin
(1406) and Theinni
(1413) in the north, overrun Arakan
(1406, 1412) in the west, and seized the entire Irrawaddy delta
(1415) in the south, forcing Razadarit to flee Pegu for Martaban. On the cusp of final victory, Minyekyawswa was wounded in a battle near Dala
(Yangon
), and captured by the Hanthawaddy army in March 1417. The crown prince of Ava refused treatment, and died shortly after. He was 25.
Minyekyawswa was deeply respected by both sides for his courage. His archenemy Razadarit gave him a burial with full royal honors and rites. Minyekyawswa's campaigns of 1414-1417 were the climax of Forty Years' War. After his death, the war quickly petered out. Only two more campaigns (1417–1418 and 1423–1424) were fought half-heartedly by both sides. Ava's military success was mostly attributable to his inspired leadership; Ava would not see this kind of success again.
Minkhaung and Minyekyawswa's struggles against Razadarit are retold as classic stories of legend in Burmese popular culture. Minyekyawswa's name is still invoked alongside the names of greatest warrior kings of Burmese history.
, the Prince of Pyinsi by his chief queen Shin Mi-Nauk
, a daughter of the saopha
(Chief) of the Shan state of Mohnyin
. His birth name was Min Phyu. As Minkhaung himself was one-eighth Shan, Minyekyawswa was 9/16th Shan, and 7/16th Burman
. During his youth, he grew up in Pyinsi, located about 30 miles south of Ava where his father was in charge.
According to Burmese and Mon chronicles, the people of Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdoms believed that Minyekyawswa was the reincarnation
of Prince Bawlawkyantaw
of Hanthawaddy, who was executed on the orders of his father Razadarit for suspicion of treason in 1390. Bawlawkyantaw was said to have sworn an oath before taking the poison that if he were innocent, he was to be reborn in the dynasty of Ava kings, and be the scourge of Mons
. Still according to the legend, Shin Mi-Nauk supposedly wanted to eat three types of delicacies from Lower Burma, and ordered them. Shortly after, she became pregnant with Minyekyawswa. In the superstitious world of Burmese politics, Razadarit was said to have been greatly concerned.
At age 10, Minyekyawswa came to Ava when his father ascended the Ava throne circa September 1401. Minkhaung came to power with the significant help of his brother Theiddat
who led the Ava army to put down a major rebellion by the lord of Yamethin
.
. Minyekyawswa's invasion force defeated the Arakanese at their capital Launggyet, forcing its king Min Saw Mon (Narameikhla) to flee to Bengal
. The prince left Anawrahta, the newly appointed king of Arakan backed by a garrison of 3000 troops, and returned to Ava. His 13-year-old sister Saw Pye Chantha was sent by Minkhaung to be the wife of Anawrahta. Soon after Minyekyawswa left with the main Ava army in early 1407, Razadarit, who decided that he could not allow Arakan to be fallen to Ava, broke the truce for the second time, and sent in an invasion force from Bassein
(Pathein). The Hanthawaddy army stormed Launggyet and captured both Anawrahta and Saw Pye Chantha. Razadarit had Minkhaung's son-in-law executed, and took Saw Pye Chantha as queen. Both Minkhaung and Minyekyawswa were incensed. Against everyone's advice, Minkhaung invaded the Hanthawaddy country in May 1407 at the start of the rainy season, and but Ava forces were soundly defeated.
(Minyekyawswa's mother) was captured by Hanthawaddy forces. Razadarit made Shin Mi-Nauk his queen.
Razadarit now had both the mother and the daughter in his harem. Minyekyawswa became a "fiend".
, Bassein
, and Khebaung in the Irrawaddy delta
. But the attacks were unsuccessful.
The Shan state of Theinni (Hsenwi) was probably the strongest Shan state among the various Shan states that existed between Ava and Chinese Yunnan border.Theinni, which paid tribute to the Ming
court, was concerned about Ava's annexation of Shan states of Kale and Mohnyin
, and did not want Ava to win its war against Hanthawaddy.
Arriving back from Arakan, Minyekyawswa intercepted the Theinni army led by its saopha
. He killed the saopha in single combat on his elephant at Wetwin (near today's Pyinoolwin (Maymyo)). With his army of 40,000 soldiers, 200 battle elephants and 3000 horses, Minyekyawswa chased the retreating army, and laid siege to Theinni in November 1412. But after five months, he could not take the fortified city whose defenders were waiting for Chinese reinforcements from Yunnan. Around March 1413, a Chinese force of 20,000 and 2000 cavalry from Yunnan were approaching the city to relieve the siege. He ordered a quiet pullout of the city at night, and waited in the Sinkhan forest nearby. The Ava army split the Chinese army into three groups, and attacked them as the Chinese came out of the forest. He captured prisoners of war including five Chinese officials, 2000 troops and 1000 horses. Approximately 500 horses died.
While Minyekyawswa was laying siege to Theinni, Razadarit's army invaded Arakan and removed the Ava-installed puppet king.
After defeating the Chinese reinforcements, the Ava prince returned to besiege Theinni city as before. But he was called back to Ava when Hanthawaddy forces attacked Prome (Pyay) in the south. Minyekyawswa's army relieved Prome. The Hanthawaddy general Lagun Ein was killed in battle, and the Hanthawaddy forces retreated. 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.
, and was captured by Hanthawaddy troops in March 1417. The crown prince of Ava refused treatment, and died shortly after on 13 March 1417. He was 25. (The Mon chronicles say Minyekyawswa died of his wounds but the Burmese chronicles say he was executed.)
His archenemy Razadarit gave him a burial with full royal honors and rites. 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.
Ava's military success was mostly attributable to his inspired leadership; Ava would not see this kind of success again.
Minkhaung and Minyekyawswa's struggles against Razadarit are retold as classic stories of legend in Burmese popular culture. Minyekyawswa's name is still invoked alongside the names of greatest warrior kings of Burmese history. He then entered the pantheon of Burmese nats (spirits)
as Maung Minbyu
(his birth name).
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of Ava
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 1407 to 1417, and commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
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
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) 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...
.
The prince, who led an army battalion at age 13 and the entire army at 15, was his father King Minkhaung I
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...
's best and most trusted general. Between 1406 and 1417, the father and son team waged war on all of Ava's neighbors, and nearly succeeded in reassembling the Pagan Empire under Ava's leadership. By 1416, Ava had defeated two strongest 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...
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...
(1406) and 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...
(1413) in the north, overrun 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...
(1406, 1412) in the west, and seized the entire Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
(1415) in the south, forcing Razadarit to flee Pegu for Martaban. On the cusp of final victory, Minyekyawswa was wounded in a battle near 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...
(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...
), and captured by the Hanthawaddy army in March 1417. The crown prince of Ava refused treatment, and died shortly after. He was 25.
Minyekyawswa was deeply respected by both sides for his courage. His archenemy Razadarit gave him a burial with full royal honors and rites. Minyekyawswa's campaigns of 1414-1417 were the climax of Forty Years' War. After his death, the war quickly petered out. Only two more campaigns (1417–1418 and 1423–1424) were fought half-heartedly by both sides. Ava's military success was mostly attributable to his inspired leadership; Ava would not see this kind of success again.
Minkhaung and Minyekyawswa's struggles against Razadarit are retold as classic stories of legend in Burmese popular culture. Minyekyawswa's name is still invoked alongside the names of greatest warrior kings of Burmese history.
Early life
Minyekyawswa was the first child of MinkhaungMinkhaung 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...
, the Prince of Pyinsi by his 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...
, a daughter of 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 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...
. His birth name was Min Phyu. As Minkhaung himself was one-eighth Shan, Minyekyawswa was 9/16th Shan, and 7/16th 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...
. During his youth, he grew up in Pyinsi, located about 30 miles south of Ava where his father was in charge.
According to Burmese and Mon chronicles, the people of Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdoms believed that Minyekyawswa was the reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of Prince 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...
of Hanthawaddy, who was executed on the orders of his father Razadarit for suspicion of treason in 1390. Bawlawkyantaw was said to have sworn an oath before taking the poison that if he were innocent, he was to be reborn in the dynasty of Ava kings, and be the scourge of Mons
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...
. Still according to the legend, Shin Mi-Nauk supposedly wanted to eat three types of delicacies from Lower Burma, and ordered them. Shortly after, she became pregnant with Minyekyawswa. In the superstitious world of Burmese politics, Razadarit was said to have been greatly concerned.
At age 10, Minyekyawswa came to Ava when his father ascended the Ava throne circa September 1401. Minkhaung came to power with the significant help of his 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...
who led the Ava army to put down a major rebellion by the lord of Yamethin
Yamethin
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...
.
Military service
Minyekyawswa was a driven personality from an early age. He led an army battalion at age 13, an army at 15, and the entire military of Ava at 19. In the dozen years between 1406 and 1417, he was called on to fight Ava's enemies wherever they appeared—in Arakan, in Lower Burma, in Shan States. Ava was not doing well until he was put in charge of the army in 1410. Despite fighting multiple adversaries simultaneously, Ava under his inspired leadership soundly defeated Theinni (and its Chinese army), and came very close to conquering all of Lower Burma from Hanthawaddy.Razadarit's invasion of Ava (1404–1406)
Minyekyawswa saw his first military action at 13. In December 1404, King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu broke the truce in place since 1391, and invaded the upcountry with a massive flotilla (4000 boats of every description) that also transported elephants and horses. The 13-year-old Minyekyawswa was allowed to lead an army battalion. This phase of the war ended in February 1406 when both sides entered into another truce again.Arakan and Hanthawaddy (1406–1407)
In late 1406, Minyekyawswa at 15 was allowed to lead the invasion of ArakanRakhine 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...
. Minyekyawswa's invasion force defeated the Arakanese at their capital Launggyet, forcing its king Min Saw Mon (Narameikhla) to flee 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...
. The prince left Anawrahta, the newly appointed king of Arakan backed by a garrison of 3000 troops, and returned to Ava. His 13-year-old sister Saw Pye Chantha was sent by Minkhaung to be the wife of Anawrahta. Soon after Minyekyawswa left with the main Ava army in early 1407, Razadarit, who decided that he could not allow Arakan to be fallen to Ava, broke the truce for the second time, and sent in an invasion force from Bassein
Pathein
Pathein , also called Bassein, is a port city with a 2004 population estimated at 215,600, and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Region, Burma. It lies on the Pathein River , which is a western branch of the Irrawaddy River....
(Pathein). The Hanthawaddy army stormed Launggyet and captured both Anawrahta and Saw Pye Chantha. Razadarit had Minkhaung's son-in-law executed, and took Saw Pye Chantha as queen. Both Minkhaung and Minyekyawswa were incensed. Against everyone's advice, Minkhaung invaded the Hanthawaddy country in May 1407 at the start of the rainy season, and but Ava forces were soundly defeated.
Theinni (1408)
In 1408, Minkhaung sent Minyekyawswa to defend against Shan raiders from Theinni, which was the most powerful Shan State. Minyekyawswa successfully defended the Shan attacks.Hanthawaddy (1409)
In early 1409, Minkhaung invaded the south and reached the outskirts of Pegu's fortified walls. Razadarit's forces withstood the assaults and held out until the rainy season came. During the rainy season Minkhaung's communication lines and supply lines were cut. Razadarit came out and attacked Minkhaung. The Ava forces were routed, and driven out. During the chaotic retreat, Minkhaung's chief queen Shin Mi-NaukShin 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...
(Minyekyawswa's mother) was captured by Hanthawaddy forces. Razadarit made Shin Mi-Nauk his queen.
Razadarit now had both the mother and the daughter in his harem. Minyekyawswa became a "fiend".
Commander-in-chief (1410–1417)
After this disastrous defeat of 1409, a dejected Minkhaung handed over the military leadership to Minyekyawswa.Irrawaddy delta (1410)
In 1410, Minyekyawswa led his forces by river and land south, attacking MyaungmyaMyaungmya
Myaungmya is a town in Myaungmya Township, Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar.The town is home to the Myanmar Union Adventist Seminary, a Seventh Day Adventist seminary and Myaungmya Education College....
, Bassein
Pathein
Pathein , also called Bassein, is a port city with a 2004 population estimated at 215,600, and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Region, Burma. It lies on the Pathein River , which is a western branch of the Irrawaddy River....
, and Khebaung in the Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
. But the attacks were unsuccessful.
Arakan, Theinni, Prome, Mawke/Mawdon (1412–1413)
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 army of Shan state of Theinni attacked the northernmost garrison of Myedu, and was marching towards Ava.The Shan state of Theinni (Hsenwi) was probably the strongest Shan state among the various Shan states that existed between Ava and Chinese Yunnan border.Theinni, which paid tribute to the Ming
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...
court, was concerned about Ava's annexation of Shan states of Kale and 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...
, and did not want Ava to win its war against Hanthawaddy.
Arriving back from Arakan, Minyekyawswa intercepted the Theinni army 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...
. He killed the saopha in single combat on his elephant at Wetwin (near today's Pyinoolwin (Maymyo)). With his army of 40,000 soldiers, 200 battle elephants and 3000 horses, Minyekyawswa chased the retreating army, and laid siege to Theinni in November 1412. But after five months, he could not take the fortified city whose defenders were waiting for Chinese reinforcements from Yunnan. Around March 1413, a Chinese force of 20,000 and 2000 cavalry from Yunnan were approaching the city to relieve the siege. He ordered a quiet pullout of the city at night, and waited in the Sinkhan forest nearby. The Ava army split the Chinese army into three groups, and attacked them as the Chinese came out of the forest. He captured prisoners of war including five Chinese officials, 2000 troops and 1000 horses. Approximately 500 horses died.
While Minyekyawswa was laying siege to Theinni, Razadarit's army invaded Arakan and removed the Ava-installed puppet king.
After defeating the Chinese reinforcements, the Ava prince returned to besiege Theinni city as before. But he was called back to Ava when Hanthawaddy forces attacked Prome (Pyay) in the south. Minyekyawswa's army relieved Prome. The Hanthawaddy general Lagun Ein was killed in battle, and the Hanthawaddy forces retreated. 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.
Hanthawaddy (1414–1417)
Having quelled the Shan raiders, Minyekyawswa invaded the delta in full force in 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. In the wake of this onslaught, Razadarit fled to Martaban. Fortunately for Razadarit, Minyekyawswa was wounded in battle at DalaDala 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. The crown prince of Ava refused treatment, and died shortly after on 13 March 1417. He was 25. (The Mon chronicles say Minyekyawswa died of his wounds but the Burmese chronicles say he was executed.)
His archenemy Razadarit gave him a burial with full royal honors and rites. 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.
Legacy
Minyekyawswa was deeply respected by both sides for his courage. Minyekyawswa's campaigns of 1414-1417 were the culmination of Forty Years' War. After his death, the war quickly petered out. Only two more campaigns (1417–1418 and 1423–1424) were fought half-heartedly by both sides. 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's military success was mostly attributable to his inspired leadership; Ava would not see this kind of success again.
Minkhaung and Minyekyawswa's struggles against Razadarit are retold as classic stories of legend in Burmese popular culture. Minyekyawswa's name is still invoked alongside the names of greatest warrior kings of Burmese history. He then entered the pantheon of Burmese nats (spirits)
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...
as Maung Minbyu
Maung Minbyu
Maung Minbyu is one of 37 nats in the official Burmese pantheon of nats. He is the nat representation of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa, and son of Minkhaung I of Ava Kingdom. The fiery prince, whose birth name was Min Phyu , died of wounds in the Forty Years' War in March 1417....
(his birth name).