Binnya U

Binnya U (Burmese: ဗညားဦး, pronounced: [bəɲá ʔú]; 1323–1384) was the eighth king of Hanthawaddy Pegu, who ruled from 1348 to 1383. Over his 35-year reign, the king faced several internal rebellions and external invasions. He tried to reestablish the kingdom's power out of its traditional capital Martaban (Mottama) but was forced back to Pegu (Bago), which ultimately proved to be a more strategic location to hold Mon-speaking lands of Lower Burma. His last years were filled with palace intrigues over succession. He died in 1384 while facing a rebellion by his eldest son Razadarit.

Binnya U was known as Hsinbyushin (Lord of White Elephant) because he possessed a white elephant, considered a great hallmark of a Buddhist king. When the white elephant died, he spent many years looking for another one. In 1362, Binnya U repaired the Shwedagon Pagoda, raising its height to 20 meters (66 feet).^[1]

Early life

A son of King Saw Zein and grandnephew of the kingdom's founder, King Wareru, Binnya U grew up at the court of his uncle Binnya E Law. In his youth, he and his cousin, Binnya E Law's son were always quarreling as they were both considered rivals to the throne. His cousin died of natural causes so he became the heir apparent.^[2]

Reign

Martaban years

When Binnya U came to power, he moved the capital back to Martaban (Mottama), the dynasty's founding capital. (His father had moved the capital to Pegu in 1324.) This was not a wise move. Whereas Pegu was strategically located in the center between the Irrawaddy delta and the upper Tenasserim coast, Martaban at the tip of Tenasserim coast was right at the edge of Siamese power and away from two other important Mon centers.

While the king might have been trying to replicate his uncle Saw O's success in conquering the Tenasserim coastline in the 1310s, he had no such opportunity. First, Tenasserim coast was firmly under the newly founded Ayutthaya Kingdom. At Martaban, he faced several internal rebellions and external attacks that ultimately forced him out of Martaban.

In 1356, Lan Na's armies numbering 80,000 men invaded Martaban's districts, Sittaung, Taikkla, Dunwun and Lagun Pyi. (The Lan Na Chronicles have no record of this invasion, so the actual invaders could have been from another northern Tai State).^[3] He beat back the attacks. In the mid-1360s he faced another rebellion, this time by his brother Min Linka. He suppressed the rebellion, ordered the execution of Min Linka, and raised Min Linka's wife, Mwe Thin, as queen. In January 1368, Mwe Thin gave birth to Binnya Nwe (later Razadarit).

Out of Martaban

In 1369, he faced yet another rebellion by another cousin Byattaba, and was forced out of Martaban. After a brief stint at Dunwun, his dynasty's ancestral home, north of Martaban, Binnya U went farther north to Pegu to regroup. Pegu had not been an important Mon capital since 1057 when it passed under Pagan dynasty’s control and in 1369 it was only the size of a large village.^[3] He was able consolidate his rule from Pegu but could not reconquer Martaban.^[2] He sent one of his daughters Talamithiri to the king of Lan Na to get his assistance. (The Mon princess was brought back a few years later because she was not treated well by the Lan Na king.)^[1]

Rebellion of Binnya Nwe

At Pegu, Binnya U faced more quarreling in the family. His eldest son Prince Binnya Nwe famously did not get along with his chief queen, whose son Binnya U had anointed heir apparent. Binnya U's sister Mahadevi and brother Laukpya, lord of Myaungmya both eyed the throne, and viewed Binnya Nwe with suspicion.^[4] In 1383, the 16-year-old Binnya Nwe eloped with his half-sister Talamidaw, fled to Dagon (now Yangon), and raised a rebellion. The king was too ill and on his deathbed. In May 1383, his chief queen sent an army to Dagon. Binnya Nwe defeated the force at Dagon and marched to Pegu. The king died during the fighting, and Binnya Nwe became king, styled as Razadarit, or king of kings.^[1][2]

Lord of White Elephant

Binnya U was known as Hsinbyushin (Lord of White Elephant) because he possessed a white elephant, considered a great hallmark of a Buddhist king. When the white elephant died, he spent many years looking for another one. In 1362, Binnya U repaired the Shwedagon Pagoda, raising its height to 20 meters (66 feet).^[1]

Binnya U sent a mission to Ceylon, and obtained a holy relic for which a pagoda was built near his "victory" over the Lan Na forces.^[2]

References

Bibliography

• Jon Fernquest (Spring 2006). "Rajadhirat’s Mask of Command: Military Leadership in Burma (c. 1384–1421)". SBBR 4 (1). 
• Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. 
• Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press. 
• Pan Hla, Nai (1968). Razadarit Ayedawbon (in Burmese) (8th printing, 2005 ed.). Yangon: Armanthit Sarpay. 
• Phayre, Major Gen. Sir Arthur P. (1873). "The History of Pegu". Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal (Oxford University) 42. 
• Phayre, Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur P. (1883). History of Burma (1967 ed.). London: Susil Gupta. 
• Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese) 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 
• Shorto, H.L. (1963). "The 32 "Myos" in the Medieval Mon Kingdom". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Cambridge University Press) 26 (3). JSTOR 611567. 

Burmese monarchs Pagan Dynasty 849–1297 Pyinbya Tannet Sale Theinhko Nyaung-u Sawrahan Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu Kyiso Sokkate Anawrahta Sawlu Kyansittha Sithu I Narathu Naratheinkha Sithu II Htilominlo Naratheinga Uzana1 Kyaswa Uzana Narathihapate Kyawswa2 Myinsaing and Pinya Kingdoms 1297–1364 Athinkhaya1, Yazathingyan1 and Thihathu1 Thihathu Uzana I Sithu Kyawswa I Kyawswa II Narathu Uzana II Sagaing Kingdom 1315–1364 Sawyun Tarabya I Anawrahta I Kyaswa Anawrahta II Tarabya II Minbyauk Thihapate Ava Kingdom 1364–1555 Thadominbya Swasawke Tarabya Minkhaung I Thihathu Min Hla Kale Kyetaungnyo Mohnyin Thado Minye Kyawswa Narapati I Thihathura Minkhaung II and Thihathura II Narapati II Sawlon3 and Thohanbwa3 Hkonmaing3 Narapati III3 Narapati IV3 Hanthawaddy Kingdom 1287–1539, 1550–1552 Wareru Hkun Law Saw O Saw Zein Zein Pun Saw E Binnya E Law Binnya U Razadarit Binnya Dhammaraza Binnya Ran I Binnya Waru Binnya Kyan Leik Munhtaw Shin Sawbu Dhammazedi Binnya Ran II Takayutpi Smim Sawhtut4 Smim Htaw4 Mrauk U Kingdom 1429–1785 Saw Mon Khayi Ba Saw Phyu Dawlya Ba Saw Nyo Ran Aung Salingathu Raza Gazapati Saw O Thazata Minkhaung Min Bin Dikkha Saw Hla Sekkya Phalaung Razagyi Khamaung Thiri Thudhamma Sanay Narapati Thado Sanda Thudhamma Thiri Thuriya Wara Dhammaraza Muni Thudhammaraza Sanda Thuriya I Nawrahta Mayuppiya Kalamandat Naradipati Sanda Wimala I Sanda Thuriya II Sanda Wizaya Sanda Thuriya III Naradipati II Narapawara Sanda Wizala Madarit Nara Apaya Thirithu Sanda Parama Apaya Sanda Thumana Sanda Wimala II Sanda Thaditha Maha Thammada Prome Kingdom 1482–1542 Thado Minsaw Bayin Htwe Narapati5 Minkhaung5 Toungoo Dynasty 1510–1752 Mingyi Nyo Tabinshwehti Bayinnaung Nanda Nyaungyan Anaukpetlun Minye Deibba Thalun Pindale Pye Narawara Minye Kyawhtin Sanay Taninganway Mahadhammaraza Dipadi Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom 1740–1757 Smim Htaw Buddhaketi Binnya Dala Konbaung Dynasty 1752–1885 Alaungpaya Naungdawgyi Hsinbyushin Singu Phaungka Bodawpaya Bagyidaw Tharrawaddy Pagan Mindon Thibaw 1Regent or Co-Regents 2Mongol vassal (1297) 3Confederation of Shan States (1527–55) 4Brief revival (1550–52) 5Vassal of Confederation of Shan States (1532–42)