Uzana I of Pinya

Uzana I of Pinya (Burmese: ပထမ ဥဇနာ (ပင်းယ), pronounced: [pətʰàma̰ ʔṵzənà]; 1298 – 1356) king of Pinya Kingdom from 1325 to 1340. Uzana inherited from his stepfather Thihathu the kingdom of Pinya, which covered roughly the eastern part the Irrawaddy river and southern parts of central Burma (Myanmar). The western and extreme northern parts of central Burma was the domain of the Sagaing Kingdom, founded by Thihathu's eldest son, Sawyun.

Uzana I, an ethnic Burman, was essentially a nominal king of a kingdom dominated by ethnic Shan ministers of the court. In 1340, Uzana I abdicated the throne and became a hermit. He was eventually succeeded by his half-brother, Kyawswa I, son of his mother and Thihathu.

Background

Uzana was a grandson of King Narathihapate, the last sovereign king of Pagan Kingdom. Uzana's father Kyawswa of Pagan and his wife Mi Saw U were half-brother and half-sister. (Their father was Narathihapate.) Uzana was still in his mother's womb in December 1297 when his father Kyawswa was overthrown by the Three Shan Brothers. As Mi Saw U was three months pregnant at the time,^[5] Uzana was likely born circa June 1298. The youngest Shan brother, Thihathu, now co-regent of Myinsaing Kingdom, married his mother, and raised her as queen. Thihathu adopted Uzana as his own son.^[6]

Heir Apparent (1313–1325)

On 7 February 1313, Thihathu moved the capital to Pinya, and appointed Uzana as his heir-apparent.^[5] Thihathu's eldest biological son Saw Yun resented the choice, and in 1315 set up a rival kingdom out of Sagaing, a few miles south of Pinya across the Irrawaddy. Thihathu sent Uzana to retake Sagaing but the expeditionary force failed to take the fortified city. Another expedition led by Kyawswa failed.^[7] Saw Yun nominally remained loyal to his father who no longer had the energy to punish a rebellious son.^[6]

Uzana was however able to redeem himself. In 1317–18, he marched to Toungoo (Taungoo), and put down a rebellion.^[8]

Reign (1325–1340)

When Thihathu died in 1325, the two kingdoms formally separated. Uzana's Pinya Kingdom ruled the eastern side of the Irrawaddy and the southern parts of central Burma while the Sagaing Kingdom ruled the western and northern parts. Uzana, a last vestige of Pagan dynasty, was an anomaly in the Pinya court dominated by Shan ministers and warriors. Although his reign lasted for 15 years, he was essentially a caretaker of the throne for his eventual successor and maternal half-brother, Kyawswa I. The younger Kyawswa, the son of Thihathu and a grandson of Narathipate, seemed a perfect choice as he possessed lineage from both the old (Pagan) and new (Pinya) dynasties.

On 1 September 1340, Uzana abdicated the throne, and became a hermit. According to the royal chronicles, he abdicated the throne in 1342 (704 ME)^[9] but inscriptional evidence shows that he actually abdicated on 1 September 1340. Moreover, although the chronicles say that Uzana handed over the throne to Kyawswa I, the inscription indicates that the successor was Myinsaing Sithu, uncle and father-in-law of Kyawswa I. However there is no mention of Myinsaing Sithu in any of the chronicles.^[10]

Death

The former king died as a monk at age 58.^[4]

Notes

References

• 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. 
• Kala, U (1724). Maha Yazawin (in Burmese) 1–3 (2006, 4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing. 
• Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese) 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 
• Than Tun (December 1959). "History of Burma: A.D. 1300–1400". Journal of Burma Research Society XLII (II). 

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 Sithu1 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-Regent 2Mongol vassal (1297) 3Confederation of Shan States (1527–55) 4Brief revival (1550–52) 5Vassal of Confederation of Shan States (1532–42)