Shwenankyawshin

Shwenankyawshin Narapati (Burmese: ရွှေနန်းကျော့ရှင် နရပတိ, pronounced [ʃwè náɴ tɕɔ̯ ʃɪ̀ɴ nəɹa̰pətḭ]; also Shwenankyawtshin; 1477–1527) was the last sovereign king of Ava who reigned 25 tumultuous years between 1502 and 1527. A confederation of Shan states led by Mohnyin continued their relentless attacks, and gradually absorbed Avan territory from the north, while their ally Prome (Pyay) took Avan territory in the south. A desperate Narapati tried to keep Toungoo (Taungoo) as an ally by giving the all important Kyaukse granary to the nominally vassal kingdom but Mingyinyo of Toungoo declared independence in October 1510, and gave no help. Ava's only steadfast ally was the Shan state of Hsipaw (Thibaw) led by its saopha Hkonmaing.^[3]

By the early 1520s, Avan territory had shrunk so much that it was not much bigger than its former vassal states. In 1524, the armies of confederation of Shan states and Prome sacked Ava, forcing Narapati and Hkonmaing to flee the city. In 1527, the Shans again came back and laid siege to Ava. In April, Shwenankyawshin Narapati died from a gunshot wound while fighting in the battle. The Shans took Ava, and their leader Sawlon made his son Thohanbwa king of Ava, making it just another Shan state.^[3] The Shan conquest ended Ava's 163-year (1364–1527) role as the dominant power in Upper Burma (Myanmar). Many Burmans from Ava fled to Toungoo, the only remaining independent Burman kingdom.

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