List of Burmese monarchs

Last updated

King of Burma
Peacock symbol Burma.svg
Burmese Green Peacock
Details
Style His Majesty
First monarch Abhiyaza
Last monarch Thibaw Min
Formation850 BCE
Abolition29 November 1885
Pretender(s) Soe Win

This is a list of the monarchs of Burma (Myanmar), covering the monarchs of all the major kingdoms that existed in the present day Burma (Myanmar). Although Burmese chronicle tradition maintains that various monarchies of Burma (Mon, Burman, Arakanese), began in the 9th century BCE, historically verified data date back only to 1044 CE at the accession of Anawrahta of Pagan. The farther away the data are from 1044, the less verifiable they are. For example, the founding of the city of Pagan (Bagan) in the 9th century is verifiable–although the accuracy of the actual date, given in the Chronicles as 849, remains in question–but the founding of early Pagan dynasty, given as the 2nd century, is not. [1] For early kingdoms, see List of early and legendary monarchs of Burma.

Contents

The reign dates follow the latest available dates as discussed in each section.

Early kingdoms

Pagan (849–1297)

Early Pagan (to 1044)

Below is a partial list of early Pagan kings as reported by the four major chronicles. Prior to Anawrahta, inscriptional evidence exists thus far only for Nyaung-u Sawrahan and Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu. The list starts from Pyinbya, the fortifier of Pagan (Bagan) according to Hmannan. The Zatadawbon Yazawin is considered the most accurate chronicle for the Pagan period.

NameReign per Zatadawbon Yazawin Reign per Maha Yazawin Reign per Yazawin Thit and Hmannan Yazawin Relationship with predecessor(s)
Pyinbya 846–886846–858846–878Brother
Tannet 886–904858–876878–906Son
Sale Ngahkwe 904–934876–901906–915Usurper
Theinhko 934–956901–917915–931Son
Nyaung-u Sawrahan 956–1001917–950931–964Usurper
Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu 1001–1021950–971964–986Son of Tannet
Kyiso 1021–1038971–977986–992Son of Nyaung-u Sawrahan
Sokkate 1038–1044977–1002992–1017Brother

Pagan Empire

The list generally follows the chronicle reported order and reign dates. G.H. Luce does not recognize Naratheinkha, and proposes an interregnum of nine years between 1165 and 1174. But Luce's gap has been rigorously questioned. Moreover, Luce proposes that Naratheinga Uzana was king between 1231 and 1235 but it too is not universally accepted. [2]

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Anawrahta Pyinoolwin -- DSA Anawrahta.JPG 11 August 104411 April 1077Son of Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu
Saw Lu 11 April 1077c. 21 April 1084Son
Kyansittha Kyansittha-Ananda.jpg 21 April 10841112/13Half-brother
Sithu I Min Sithu Nat.jpg 1112/131167Grandson
Narathu Dhammayangyi Paya, Bagan, Myanmar.jpg 1167c. February 1171Son
Naratheinkha c. February 1171May 1174Son
Sithu II Gawdawpalin Temple Bagan Myanmar.jpg May 117418 August 1211Brother
Htilominlo Htilominlo Temple Bagan Myanmar.jpg 18 August 121119 July 1235Son
Naratheinga Uzana
(as regent)
c. 1231?/3519 July 1235Son
Kyaswa Kyaswa Statue.jpg 19 July 1235c. May 1251Son of Htilominlo
Uzana c. May 1251c. 6 May 1256Son
Narathihapate 6 May 12561 July 1287Son
Interregnum (1287–1289)
Kyawswa 30 May 128917 December 1297Son

Lesser kingdoms

Myinsaing (1297–1313)

All main chronicles prior to Hmannan Yazawin say that the co-regency ended in 674 ME (1312/13) but Hmannan says it ended in 672 ME (1310/11). Inscriptional evidence shows that the first brother died on 13 April 1310 but the second brother was still alive.

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Athinkhaya
Yazathingyan
Thihathu
17 December 129713 April 1310Founders, brothers and co-regents
Yazathingyan
Thihathu
13 April 1310before 7 February 1313Co-rulers

Pinya (1313–1364)

Most of the dates below are by Than Tun and Gordon Luce who had checked the chronicle reported dates with inscriptions. Myinsaing Sithu does not appear in any of the chronicles. [3]

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Thihathu 7 February 1313c. February 1325Brother of Athinkhaya and Yazathingyan
Uzana I c. February 13251 September 1340Adopted son of Thihathu; Son of Kyawswa of Pagan
Sithu
(as regent)
1 September 134029 March 1344Maternal uncle?
Kyawswa I (Thihathu II) Ngazishin Nat.jpg 29 March 134412 December 1350Nephew and son-in-law
Kyawswa II 12 December 135019 March 1359Son
Narathu of Pinya (Thihathu III)19 March 1359June 1364Brother
Uzana II June 1364September 1364Brother

Sagaing (1315–1364)

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Saw Yun 15 May 13155 February 1327Son of Thihathu
Tarabya I 5 February 13271335/36Maternal half-brother
Shwetaungtet 1335/36c. August 1339Son
Kyaswa of Sagaing c. August 1339c. March 1349Son of Saw Yun
Nawrahta Minye c. April 1349c. November 1349Brother
Tarabya II c. November 134923 February 1352Brother
Minbyauk Thihapate 23 February 1352April 1364Brother-in-law

Ava (1364–1555)

Different Burmese chronicles give similar but not identical dates for the regnal dates of the Ava period. [4] The following table largely follows the dates given in Hmannan Yazawin and the table of regnal dates given in (Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 352–355). The regnal dates by G.E. Harvey (Harvey 1925: 366) for the most part are off by a year (a year later) than chronicle and inscriptionally-verified dates.

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Thado Minbya April 1364c. 3 September 1367Grandson of Saw Yun
Swa Saw Ke 5 September 1367April 1400Grandson of Kyawswa of Pagan and grandnephew of Thihathu
Tarabya Mintara Nat.jpg April 1400c. November 1400Son
Minkhaung I 25 November 1400c. October 1421Half-brother
Thihathu Aung Pinle Hsinbyushin.jpg c. October 1421August 1425Son
Min Hla August 1425November 1425Son
Kale Kye-Taung Nyo by 9 November 142516 May 1426Uncle
Mohnyin Thado 16 May 1426April 1439Descended from Kyawswa I of Pinya, Founder of Mohnyin Dynasty (မိုးညှင်းဆက်)
Minye Kyawswa I by 26 April 1439January 1442Son
Narapati I by 11 March 144224 July 1468Brother
Thihathura I 24 July 1468c. August 1480Son
Minkhaung II c. August 14807 April 1501Son
Thihathura II 14854 March 1501Son
Joint-king during Minkhaung II's reign
Narapati II 7 April 150114 March 1527Son of Minkhaung II
Thohanbwa 14 March 1527May 1542Son of Sawlon I of Mohnyin
Hkonmaing June 1542c. September 1545 Saopha of Thibaw
Narapati III c. September 1545c. October 1551Son
Narapati IV c. October 155122 January 1555Governor of Salin and Viceroy of Sagaing

Hanthawaddy (1287–1539, 1550–1552)

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Wareru 30 January 1287c. 14 January 1307Founder
Hkun Law by 28 January 1307March 1311Brother
Saw O 10 April 1311September 1323Nephew
Saw Zein by 28 September 1323c. April 1330Brother
Zein Pun c. April 1330c. April 1330Usurper
Saw E c. April 1330c. June 1330Nephew of Saw Zein
Binnya E Law c. June 13301348Uncle; Son of Hkun Law
Binnya U 13482 January 1384Nephew; Son of Saw Zein
Maha Dewi
(as regent)
by 28 October 13834 January 1384Sister
Razadarit Rajadhirat.jpg 4 January 1384c. December 1421Son of Binnya U; adopted son of Maha Dewi
Binnya Dhammaraza by 29 December 14211424Son
Binnya Ran I 1424c. September 1446Brother
Binnya Waru c. September 144630 May 1451Nephew
Binnya Kyan 30 May 1451c. June 1453Cousin; Son of Binnya Dhamaraza
Leik Munhtaw c. June 1453c. January 1454Cousin; Son of Binnya Ran
Shin Sawbu Queen Shin Sabu.jpg c. January 14541471Aunt; Daughter of Razadarit
Dhammazedi 14711492Son in law
Binnya Ran II 14921526Son
Taka Yut Pi 1526c. January 1539Son
Toungoo rule (1539–1550)
Smim Sawhtut June 1550August 1550Claimant to throne
Smim Htaw August 155012 March 1552Brother of Taka Yut Pi

Mrauk-U (1429–1785)

The reign dates are per the Arakanese chronicle Rakhine Razawin Thit (Sandamala Linkara Vol. 2 1931), converted into Western dates using (Eade 1989). The converted dates after 1582 are on the Gregorian calendar. (Some Arakanese chronicles state the foundation of the kingdom a year later, 1430. Moreover, the end of the kingdom is given per Burmese records, 2 January 1785. Arakanese records give a day earlier, 1 January 1785.)

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Saw Mon 18 April 14299 May 1433Founder
Khayi 9 May 1433c. January 1459Brother
Ba Saw Phyu c. January 14595 August 1482Son
Dawlya 5 August 1482c. February 1492Son
Ba Saw Nyo c. February 1492c. January 1494Uncle, son of Khayi
Ran Aung c. January 1494c. July 1494Nephew, son of Dawlya
Salingathu c. July 1494February 1502Maternal uncle
Raza February 1502c. November 1513Son
Gazapati c. November 1513January 1515Son
Saw O January 1515July 1515Granduncle; brother of Salingathu
Thazata July 1515c. April 1521Son of Dawlya
Minkhaung c. April 152127 May 1531Brother
Min Bin Shitthaung001.jpg 27 May 153111 January 1554Son of Min Raza
Dikkha 11 January 15546 March 1556Son
Saw Hla 6 March 155624 July 1564Son
Sekkya 24 July 15647 February 1572Brother
Phalaung 7 February 15724 July 1593Son of Min Bin
Razagri King Min Razagyi.jpg 4 July 15934 July 1612Son
Khamaung 4 July 161214 May 1622Son
Thiri Thudhamma 14 May 162231 May 1638Son
Sanay 1 June 163826 June 1638Son
Narapati 26 June 16383 December 1645Great-grandson of Min Bin
Thado 3 December 1645c. May 1652Son
Sanda Thudhamma c. May 165211 June 1674Son
Thiri Thuriya 11 June 167416 April 1685Son
Wara Dhammaraza 16 April 168520 June 1692Brother
Muni Thudhammaraza 20 June 169220 December 1694Elder brother
Sanda Thuriya I 20 December 16944 August 1696Brother
Nawrahta 4 August 169618 August 1696Son
Mayuppiya 18 August 169613 May 1697Usurper
Kalamandat 16 May 16975 June 1698Usurper
Naradipati I 5 June 169817 June 1700Son of Sanda Thuriya
Sanda Wimala I 18 June 170030 March 1707Grandson of Thado
Sanda Thuriya II 3 April 1707September 1710Grandson of Sanda Thudhamma
Interregnum ~2 months
Sanda Wizaya November 1710April 1731Usurper
Sanda Thuriya III April 17311734Son-in-law
Naradipati II 17341735Son
Narapawara 1735September 1737Usurper
Sanda Wizala September 173725 March 1738Cousin
Madarit 28 March 17386 February 1743Brother
Nara Apaya 6 February 174328 October 1761Uncle
Thirithu 28 October 17613 February 1762Son
Sanda Parama 3 February 17621 May 1764Brother
Apaya 1 May 176417 January 1774Brother-in-law
Sanda Thumana 17 January 17745 May 1777Brother-in-law
Sanda Wimala II 6 May 17775 June 1777Usurper
Sanda Thaditha 5 June 17771 December 1782usurper
Maha Thammada 2 December 17822 January 1785nephew in-law

Prome (1482–1542)

See List of rulers of Prome for governors of Prome between the late Pagan and early Restored Toungoo periods.
NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Thado Minsaw 1482February 1527Son of Narapati I of Ava
Bayin Htwe February 1527c. December 1532Son
Narapati c. December 1532February 1539Son
Minkhaung February 153919 May 1542Brother

Toungoo (1510–1752)

See List of rulers of Toungoo for the viceroys and governors of Toungoo between 1279 and 1612.

The following are based on the reign dates in the Burmese calendar given in Maha Yazawin and Hmannan Yazawin chronicles. (The converted dates after 1582 are on the Gregorian calendar. Some books, e.g., Than Tun's Royal Orders of Burma (1983–1990), use old-style Julian dates for the entire Toungoo period.)

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Mingyi Nyo Mingyi Nyo.jpg 16 October 151024 November 1530Founder
Tabinshwehti Tabinshwehti Nat.jpg 24 November 153030 April 1550Son
Bayinnaung Pyinoolwin -- DSA Bayinnaung.JPG 30 April 155010 October 1581Brother-in-law
Nanda WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 10 October 158119 December 1599Son; nephew of Tabinshwehti
Nyaungyan WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 19 December 15995 November 1605Half-brother
Anaukpetlun WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 5 November 16059 July 1628Son
Minye Deibba WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 9 July 162819 August 1629Son
Thalun Statute of King Thalun.jpg 19 August 162927 August 1648Uncle
Pindale WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 27 August 16483 June 1661Son
Pye WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 3 June 166114 April 1672Brother
Narawara WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 14 April 167227 February 1673Son
Minye Kyawhtin WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 27 February 16734 May 1698Distant Brother; Grandson of King Thalun
Sanay WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 4 May 169822 August 1714Son
Taninganway WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 22 August 171414 November 1733Son
Mahadhammaraza Dipadi WikiProject Myanmar peacock.svg 14 November 173322 March 1752Son

Restored Hanthawaddy (1740–1757)

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Smim Htaw Buddhaketi 8 December 1740January 1747Cousin of Mahadhammaraza Dipadi
Binnya Dala January 17476 May 1757Father-in-law

Konbaung (1752–1885)

NameImageReign FromReign UntilRelationship with predecessor(s)
Alaungpaya Alaungpaya.JPG 29 February 175211 May 1760Founder
Naungdawgyi Coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty.svg 11 May 176028 November 1763Eldest Son of Alaungpaya
Hsinbyushin Coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty.svg 28 November 176310 June 1776Brother of Naungdawgyi and Second eldest son of Alaungpaya
Singu Coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty.svg 10 June 17766 February 1782Son of Hsinbyushin
Phaungka Coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty.svg 6 February 178211 February 1782Son of Naungdawgyi and cousin brother of Singu
Bodawpaya Statute of king Bodawpaya (cropped).jpg 11 February 17825 June 1819Uncle; Alaungpaya's fourth son
Bagyidaw Bajidwa, King of Burma orders his generals to wrest Bengal from British, 1823.jpg 5 June 181915 April 1837Grandson of Bodawpaya
Tharrawaddy Coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty.svg 15 April 183717 November 1846Brother of Bagyidaw and grandson of Bodawpaya
Pagan Coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty.svg 17 November 184618 February 1853Son of Tharrawaddy Min
Mindon -Mindon Min-2.JPG 18 February 18531 October 1878Half Brother of Pagan Min (son of Tharrawaddy Min)
Thibaw Konbang-Thibaw.jpg 1 October 187829 November 1885Son of Mindon Min

Pretenders to the Burmese throne since 1885

Konbaung dynasty

Other pretenders

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    Nyaungyan Min was king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1599 to 1605. He is also referred to as the founder of the restored Toungoo dynasty or Nyaungyan dynasty for starting the reunification process following the collapse of the First Toungoo Empire.

    Naratheinkha was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1171 to 1174. He appointed his brother Narapati Sithu heir apparent and commander-in-chief. It was the first recorded instance in the history of the dynasty that the king had given up the command of the army. The king was assassinated by Aungzwa, one of Sithu's servants, after the king had raised one of Sithu's wives to queen.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Htilominlo</span> King of Burma

    Htilominlo was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1211 to 1235. His 24-year reign marked the beginning of the gradual decline of Pagan dynasty. It was the first to see the impact of over a century of continuous growth of tax-free religious wealth, which had greatly reduced the potential tax base. Htilominlo was the last of the temple builders although most of his temples were in remote lands not in the Pagan region, reflecting the deteriorating state of royal treasury.

    Uzana was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1251 to 1256. He assumed the regnal name "Śrī Tribhuvanāditya Dhammarājajayasūra" (ၐြီတြိဘုဝနာဒိတျဓမ္မရာဇဇယသူရ).

    Sokkate was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1038 to 1044. The king lost his life in a single combat with Anawrahta, who succeeded him and went on to found the Pagan Empire.

    Kyawswa was king of the Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1289 to 1297. Son of the last sovereign king of Pagan Narathihapate, Kyawswa was one of many "kings" that emerged after the collapse of the Pagan Empire in 1287. Though still styled as King of Pagan, Kyawswa's effective rule amounted to just the area around Pagan city. Felt threatened by the three brothers of Myinsaing, who were nominally his viceroys, Kyawswa decided to become a vassal of the Yuan dynasty, and received such recognition from the Yuan in March 1297. He was ousted by the brothers in December 1297 and killed, along with his son, Theingapati, on 10 May 1299.

    Thihathu was a co-founder of the Myinsaing Kingdom, and the founder of the Pinya Kingdom in today's central Burma (Myanmar). Thihathu was the youngest and most ambitious of the three brothers that successfully defended central Burma from Mongol invasions in 1287 and in 1300–01. He and his brothers toppled the regime at Pagan in 1297, and co-ruled central Burma. After his eldest brother Athinkhaya's death in 1310, Thihathu pushed aside the middle brother Yazathingyan, and took over as the sole ruler of central Burma. His decision to designate his adopted son Uzana I heir-apparent caused his eldest biological son, Saw Yun to set up a rival power center in Sagaing in 1315. Although Saw Yun nominally remained loyal to his father, after Thihathu's death in 1325, the two houses of Myinsaing officially became rival kingdoms in central Burma.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyawswa I of Pinya</span> King of Pinya

    Kyawswa I of Pinya was king of Pinya from 1344 to 1350. His six-year reign briefly restored unity in southern Upper Burma although his authority over his southernmost vassals remained largely nominal. He suddenly died in 1350, and came to be regarded as one of the major Burmese folk spirits, known as Nga-zi Shin Nat.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinya Kingdom</span> Kingdom in Central Myanmar (Burma) – 1313 to 1365

    The Kingdom of Pinya, also known as the Vijaia State (၀ိဇယတိုင်း), was the kingdom that ruled Central Myanmar (Burma) from 1313 to 1365. It was the successor state of Myinsaing, the polity that controlled much of Upper Burma between 1297 and 1313. Founded as the de jure successor state of the Pagan Empire by Thihathu, Pinya faced internal divisions from the start. The northern province of Sagaing led by Thihathu's eldest son Saw Yun successfully fought for autonomy in 1315−17, and formally seceded in 1325 after Thihathu's death.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagaing Kingdom</span>

    The Sagaing Kingdom was a small kingdom ruled by a junior branch of the Myinsaing dynasty from 1315 to 1365. Originally the northern province of Sagaing of the Pinya Kingdom, it became de facto independent after Prince Saw Yun successfully fought for autonomy from his father King Thihathu in 1315–17. Sagaing formally seceded from Pinya in 1325 after Thihathu's death.

    Mingyi Swa Saw Ke was king of Ava from 1367 to 1400. He reestablished central authority in Upper Myanmar (Burma) for the first time since the fall of the Pagan Empire in the 1280s. He essentially founded the Ava Kingdom that would dominate Upper Burma for the next two centuries.

    The royal chronicles of Myanmar are detailed and continuous chronicles of the monarchy of Myanmar (Burma). The chronicles were written on different media such as parabaik paper, palm leaf, and stone; they were composed in different literary styles such as prose, verse, and chronograms. Palm-leaf manuscripts written in prose are those that are commonly referred to as the chronicles. Other royal records include administrative treatises and precedents, legal treatises and precedents, and censuses.

    <i>Hmannan Yazawin</i> Chronicle of Burma

    Hmannan Maha Yazawindawgyi is the first official chronicle of Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). It was compiled by the Royal Historical Commission between 1829 and 1832. The compilation was based on several existing chronicles and local histories, and the inscriptions collected on the orders of King Bodawpaya, as well as several types of poetry describing epics of kings. Although the compilers disputed some of the earlier accounts, they by and large retained the accounts given Maha Yazawin, the standard chronicle of Toungoo Dynasty.

    <i>Zatadawbon Yazawin</i> Earliest extant chronicle of Burma

    Zatadawbon Yazawin is the earliest extant chronicle of Burma. The chronicle mainly covers the regnal dates of kings as well as horoscopes of select kings from Pagan to Konbaung periods. In terms of regnal years, the chronicle is considered "the most accurate of all Burmese chronicles, particularly with regard to the best-known Pagan and Ava kings, many of whose dates have been corroborated by epigraphy."

    Minye Thihathu II of Toungoo was king of the breakaway kingdom of Toungoo (Taungoo) from 1597 to 1609. His kingdom was one of several small states that emerged following the collapse of Toungoo Empire. He is best known in Burmese history for his role in the sack of Pegu (Bago) in 1599 that ended the Toungoo Empire.

    Saw Yan Naung was governor of Prome (Pyay) from c. 1344 to 1375 and viceroy of Prome from 1375 to 1377/78. Descended from Pagan and Pinya royalty, Saw Yan Naung was first appointed to the governorship by King Kyawswa I of Pinya. From 1367 onwards, the governor helped his brother King Swa Saw Ke of Ava consolidate the former southern vassals states of Pinya into Ava's fold.

    References

    1. Harvey 1925: 364
    2. Htin Aung 1970: 40–44
    3. Than Tun 1959: 123–131
    4. See (Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 352–355) for a comparative table of Ava period regnal dates as given in Maha Yazawin , Myanmar Yazawin Thit , Hmannan Yazawin and Zatadawbon Yazawin .

    Bibliography