Sawyun
Encyclopedia
Athinhkaya Sawyun was the founder of the Sagaing Kingdom
located in today's Sagaing Region, Burma (Myanmar). The eldest son of King Thihathu
of Pinya
, Sawyun, at age 15, set up a rival kingdom to his father's in 1315 after Thihathu appointed his adopted son Uzana I, son of the fallen king Kyawswa of Pagan
as crown prince
over his own sons. While Sawyun nominally remained loyal to his father, and continued to swear allegiance to his father, he was a de facto king of the area roughly corresponding to Sagaing Division. The old king Thihathu had to be satisfied with Sawyun's nominal submission but could not take any action.
Sawyun reigned for more than seven years, and died in April 1323 at age 22, a year before his father's death. After their deaths, Sagaing and Pinya kingdoms were at loggerheads for the control of Upper Burma
for the next 40 years. Sawyun had four children, a daughter followed by three sons. All of his sons became king of Sagaing. His only daughter was the mother of Thadominbya
, the founder of the Kingdom of Ava.
and the founder of Pinya Kingdom, and Yadanabon, daughter of Shan village head of Linyin around year 1300. This makes Sawyun's ethnicity three-quarters Shan and one-quarter Burman
.
Sagaing Kingdom
The Sagaing Kingdom was a kingdom that ruled a part of central Burma from 1315 to 1364. The kingdom was the western half of the old Myinsaing Kingdom, which itself was one of many petty kingdoms that emerged after the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287...
located in today's Sagaing Region, Burma (Myanmar). The eldest son of King Thihathu
Thihathu
Thihathu was a co-founder of Myinsaing Kingdom, and the founder of the Pinya Kingdom in today's central Burma . A former commander in Pagan Empire's military, Thihathu was the youngest and most ambitious of the Three Shan Brothers that founded Myinsaing Kingdom, which filled the void in central...
of Pinya
Pinya Kingdom
The Pinya Kingdom was a kingdom that ruled part of central Burma from 1313 to 1364. It was the successor state to the Myinsaing Kingdom, one of many petty kingdoms that emerged after the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287...
, Sawyun, at age 15, set up a rival kingdom to his father's in 1315 after Thihathu appointed his adopted son Uzana I, son of the fallen king Kyawswa of Pagan
Kyawswa of Pagan
Kyawswa was a king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1287 to 1298. Son of the last sovereign king of Pagan Narathihapate, Kyawswa was one of many "kings" that proliferated after the collapse of the Pagan Empire. Though still styled as King of Pagan, Kyawswa's effective rule amounted to just the area...
as crown prince
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....
over his own sons. While Sawyun nominally remained loyal to his father, and continued to swear allegiance to his father, he was a de facto king of the area roughly corresponding to Sagaing Division. The old king Thihathu had to be satisfied with Sawyun's nominal submission but could not take any action.
Sawyun reigned for more than seven years, and died in April 1323 at age 22, a year before his father's death. After their deaths, Sagaing and Pinya kingdoms were at loggerheads for the control of 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....
for the next 40 years. Sawyun had four children, a daughter followed by three sons. All of his sons became king of Sagaing. His only daughter was the mother of Thadominbya
Thadominbya
Thadominbya was the founder of the Kingdom of Ava who reunified central Burma in 1364 under a single kingdom. In his short reign of three plus years, the ethnically Shan king achieved accomplishments that would have a long lasting impact in Burmese history...
, the founder of the Kingdom of Ava.
Background
Sawyun was born to Thihathu, co-founder of Myinsaing KingdomMyinsaing Kingdom
The Myinsaing Kingdom was a kingdom that ruled central Burma from 1298 to 1313. Founded by three brothers of Shan and Burman descent, it was one of many petty kingdoms that emerged following the collapse of Pagan Empire in 1287....
and the founder of Pinya Kingdom, and Yadanabon, daughter of Shan village head of Linyin around year 1300. This makes Sawyun's ethnicity three-quarters Shan and one-quarter 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...
.
Reign
Sawyun was remembered in Burmese chronicles as powerful, kindly and popular. He also contributed to Burmese military. In 1318, Sawyun formed a cavalry regiment called Sagaing Htaungthin , which was maintained up till the fall of Burmese monarchy, and nine squadrons of calvary.| Calvary name | Strength |
|---|---|
| Tamakha Myin |
150 |
| Pyinsi Myin |
150 |
| Yudawmu Myin |
150 |
| Letywaygyi Myin |
150 |
| Letywaynge Myin |
70 |
| Kyaungthin Myin |
50 |
| Myinthegyi Myin |
50 |
| Hketlon Myin |
30 |
| Sawputoh Myin |
30 |