Sithu Kyawhtin of Toungoo

Sithu Kyawhtin of Toungoo
စည်သူကျော်ထင် (တောင်ငူ)
Viceroy of Toungoo
Reign 1470–1481
Predecessor Thiri Zeya Thura
Successor Min Sithu
Issue
Min Sithu (son)
Min Hla Nyet (daughter)[1]
Min Htwe (daughter)[1]
Died 1481 (843 ME)
Religion Theravada Buddhism

Sithu Kyawhtin of Toungoo (Burmese: စည်သူကျော်ထင် (တောင်ငူ), pronounced [sìθù tɕɔ̀tʰɪ̀ɴ]; died 1481) was a general of Ava Kingdom, and governor of the province of Toungoo from 1470 to 1481. He was the maternal grandfather of Mingyinyo, the founder of Toungoo Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar).

In 1470, King Thihathura of Ava assigned Gen. Sithu Kyawhtin to put down a rebellion by Toungoo, which had also called in help from Hanthawaddy Pegu. Sithu Kyawhtin led the army and was accompanied by two of the king's sons. The Ava army defeated Toungoo. The princes carried the rebellious governor of Toungoo off to Ava, and left Sithu Kyawhtin as the head of the troublesome province.[2] Sithu Kyawhtin soon acted like a sovereign king of this remote region. In 1476, Sithu Kyawhtin enlarged the city of Toungoo, raising suspicions of some ministers at Ava. When news of this reached the king's ear, Sithu Kyawhtin was brought to Ava forcibly by pulling on his hair in a humiliating manner to demonstrate his obedience and loyalty to the king.[3]

In 1481, Thihathura died, and the Ava throne was succeeded by his elder son Minkhaung II. The new king was promptly greeted by rebellions by his two brothers. Minkhaung II ordered Sithu Kyawhtin to attack Yamethin, one of the rebellious towns. Sithu Kyawhtin marched straight to Yamethin and without waiting for the reinforcements from Ava engaged the Yamethin troops in a pitched battle. He overcame the first wave of troops sent out of the town walls to meet them but his troops were defeated by the second wave and died in battle.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Toungoo Kings" (in Burmese). Hmannan Yazawin. 2 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 1829. pp. 170–173. 
  2. ^ Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur P. Phayre (1883). History of Burma (1967 ed.). London: Susil Gupta. p. 92. 
  3. ^ GE Harvey (1925). "Shan Migration (Ava)". History of Burma (2000 ed.). Asian Educational Services. pp. 100–101. ISBN 8120613651, 9788120613652. 
  4. ^ U Kala (1724). Maha Yazawingyi (Great Chronicle). 2. pp. 93–97. 
Sithu Kyawhtin of Toungoo
Born:  ? Died: 1481
Royal titles
Preceded by
Thiri Zeya Thura
Governor of Toungoo
1470–1481
Succeeded by
Min Sithu