Natshinnaung

Natshinnaung (Burmese: နတ်သျှင်နောင်, [naʔ ʃɪ̀ɴ nàuɴ]; 1578–1613) was a Toungoo prince who was a noted poet and an accomplished musician, as well as an able military commander. A grandson of King Bayinnaung and the eldest son of Minye Thihathu, Viceroy of Toungoo, the prince participated in King Nanda's campaigns to reconquer Siam in the early 1590s, and took part in the sacking of Nanda's capital Pegu in 1599. His father had rebelled against Nanda in the late 1590s.

Natshinnaung became Crown Prince of Toungoo when his father proclaimed himself the king of Toungoo. In November 1600, he killed the captive king Nanda without his father's permission.^[2] On 22 March 1603 (10th waxing of Tagu 965 ME),^[3] he married his lifelong love, Princess Yaza Datu Kalyani, for whom his famous poems were written. The marriage was cut short however as the princess died only seven months later.

When Natshinnaung succeeded as king following the death of his father on 16 August 1609 (15th waxing of Wagaung 971 ME)^[1], much of the country had been reunited under the leadership of King Anaukpetlun, one of Natshinnaung's cousins. In 1610, Anaukpetlun attacked Toungoo. The city surrendered on 4 September 1610 (2nd waning of Tawthalin 972 ME)^[4]. Although the king re-appointed him as viceroy of Toungoo, Natshinnaung was deeply dissatisfied with his reduced status. Natshinnaung secretly made an alliance with Portuguese mercenary Filipe de Brito e Nicote, the ruler of Thanlyin, and invited de Brito to attack Toungoo. When de Brito's attack failed, Natshinnaung accompanied his "blood brother" de Brito back to Thanlyin.^[2]

Anaukpetlun finally captured Thanlyin in April 1613 after a month-long siege.^[5] The king still offered to pardon his cousin if Natshinnaung would take an oath of allegiance. Natshinnaung refused, saying that he had already taken baptism, and that he was ready to die with de Brito. During the last days of the siege, Natshinnaung was converted to Roman Catholicism and was baptized by a priest from Goa.^[5] The king then reputedly said: "You prefer to be the slave of a foreigner than serve the king of your own race", and ordered his execution.^[2]

Poet

Natshinnaung is considered by many to be the greatest yadu (Burmese: ရတု) (a classical genre of poetry) poet in Burmese history. Many of his works are dedicated to Princess Yaza Datu Kalyani. The themes of his poetry were often of love, nature, and war. Natshinnaung employed the use of vocabulary and rhymes in his works. In addition, he was a warrior, who advanced many military strategies and tactics of Burma. Some of his yadu poems describe the infantry and the elephant troops. It has been claimed that Natshinnaung sent his poems to Yaza Datu Kalyarni through the usage of a parrot. He wrote all of his works during his youth.

Later in life, Natshinnaung focused on obtaining power for his kingdom. His poems on war are said to have been based on his experiences as a young prince.

Notes

References

• (in Burmese) Hmannan Yazawin. 3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 1829. 
• Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press. 
• Myint-U, Thant (2006). The River of Lost Footsteps--Histories of Burma. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-16342-6, 0-374-16342-1.