Minhlange

Minhlange (Burmese: မင်းလှငယ်, pronounced [mɪ́ɴ l̥a̰ ŋɛ̀]; 1418–1425) was king of Ava for about three months in 1425. Minhlange ascended to the throne in August 1425 after his father King Thihathu had been killed in an ambush by raiders from the Shan State of Hsipaw (Thibaw). He was only about seven years old. The ambush was arranged by Thihathu's powerful queen Shin Bo-Me who wanted to place her lover, Kale Kyetaungnyo, the Saopha of Kale, on the throne. About three months later, Shin Bo-Me poisoned the young king in early November 1425^[1] and made Kyetaungnyo king a few days later.^[2]

Early life

Minhlange was born to King Thihathu and Saw Min Hla,^[3] in 1418.^{[note 1]} His mother was the chief queen of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa. After Minyekyawswa fell in action in March 1417, Thihathu succeeded the position of Crown Prince, and according to the tradition of Burmese royalty, had to marry his elder brother's chief queen (and then sister-in-law). Thihathu and Saw Monhla had three children: Minhlange was the eldest child, and had two younger sisters, Saw Pyei Chantha and Shwe Pyi-Shin.^[4] When Thihathu became king, Saw Minhla became his chief queen. (According to the chronicles Thihathu was a womanizer, and spent much of his time with other queens. Saw Minhla, though officially the chief queen, later moved out of the palace.)^[5] As the eldest son by the chief queen, Minhlange was the first in line of succession.

Notes

Citations

References

• Kala, U (1724). Maha Yazawin Gyi (in Burmese). 1–3 (2006, 4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing. 
• Royal Historians of Burma (c. 1680). U Hla Tin (Hla Thamein), ed. Zatadawbon Yazawin (1960 ed.). Historical Research Directorate of the Union of Burma. 
• Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.