Anawrahta of Launggyet

Anawrahta Minsaw
အနော်ရထာ မင်းစော
Anawrahta Minsaw ; အနော်ရထာ မင်းစော
	Portrayed as the Shwe Nawrahta nat
King of Arakan
Reign	c. December 1406 – March 1408
Predecessor	Min Saw Mon (sovereign king)
Successor	Min Saw Mon or Min Khayi (vassal of Hanthawaddy)
Monarch	Minkhaung I
Sawbwa of Kalay
Reign	c. 1406 – c. December 1406
Predecessor	Min Chay-To
Successor	Min Nyo
Born	?
Died	March 1408 ; Late Tagu, 769 ME; Bassein (Pathein), Hanthawaddy Kingdom
Consort	Saw Pyei Chantha (1408)
House	Ava
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

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Anawrahta Minsaw (Burmese: အနော်ရထာ မင်းစော, pronounced [ʔənɔ̀jətʰà mɪ́ɴ sɔ́]; d. March 1408) was king of Launggyet Arakan from 1406 to 1408. He was appointed to the position by his overlord King Minkhaung I of the Ava Kingdom. He later married Minkhaung's eldest daughter Saw Pyei Chantha. He was overthrown in 1408 by the Hanthawaddy Kingdom army, and subsequently executed on the order of King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy. He is one of two historical personalities that make up the Shwe Nawrahta nat spirit in the Burmese pantheon of nats.

Brief

Accession

Prior to his appointment as King of Arakan, he was known as Gamani,^[1] the governor of Kalay, a vassal Shan state of Ava.^[2] His rule at Kalay apparently was short.^{[note 1]} Circa December 1406, his overlord King Minkhaung I appointed him to be king of Arakan, which Ava forces led by Prince Minye Kyawswa had just conquered.^{[note 2]} Now known by his royal style of Anawrahta Minsaw, he was the third Ava-appointed king of Arakan.^{[note 3]}

Reign

According to the Arakanese chronicle Rakhine Razawin Thit, Anawrahta's regime brutally suppressed dissent, and never gained popular support.^[3] His overlord seemed oblivious. About a year later, Minkhaung sent his eldest daughter Saw Pyei Chantha to the Arakanese capital Launggyet to be Anawrahta's chief queen.^[2]

But their rule was soon to be challenged. By January 1408,^{[note 4]} King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy had decided to intervene. Pegu had been concerned about Ava's acquisitions (1404–1406) that had swallowed up nearer Shan states and Arakan. With the majority of Ava troops campaigning in the north in early 1408, Razadarit decided it was time.^[1] He sent in an invasion force to place either the former king of Arakan Min Saw Mon or Prince Min Khayi on the throne.^{[note 5]} The invasion force consisted of just 4000^[4] to 5000 troops^[3] but they were greeted as liberators by the populace, and quickly advanced to the capital Launggyet.^[3]^[5] Anawrahta and his Ava coterie put up a fight but were quickly defeated. He tried to flee but was arrested.^[3]^[5] It was March 1408.^{[note 6]}

Anawrahta, Saw Pyei Chantha and 3000 prisoners of war (probably including the garrison's families) were deported to Bassein (Pathein) in the Irrawaddy delta. On arrival there, he was promptly executed while his young wife became a queen of Razadarit.^[6]

Legacy

Anawrahta is one of the two historical Nawrahtas who came to form the Shwe Nawrahta nat in the Burmese pantheon of nat spirits.^[7]

Notes

^ The main royal chronicles (Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 310, 330) (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 224–225) say Anawrahta was already governor of Kalay when Arakan was conquered (in 1406). But other chronicles Zatadawbon Yazawin (Zata 1960: 90) and Mani Yadanabon (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 225, footnote 3, citing Mani) say Nyo succeeded Min Chay-To, the first ruler to pay tribute to Ava.
^ According to the Rakhine Razawin Thit chronicle (RRT Vol. 2 1999: 9), Ava forces led by Minye Kyawswa took Launggyet on Monday, 5th waning of Nadaw 768 ME (29 November 1406).
^ (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 410, 414) and (Harvey 1925: 86): The first two were Saw Mon II (r. 1373/84–1380/81) and Saw Me (r. 1380/81–1385/86).
^ (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 228): Razadarit made the decision to invade Arakan in Tabodwe 769 ME (28 December 1407 to 25 January 1408) after a prayer service at the Mya Thi-Tin Pagoda.
^ According to the Razadarit Ayedawbon (Pan Hla 2005: 240), the Pegu nominee was Min Saw Mon while the chronicle Rakhine Razawin Thit (RRT Vol. 2 1999: 10), it was Min Khayi.
^ (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 228): Launggyet taken in Late Tagu 769 ME (25 February 1408 to 24 March 1408).

References

^ ^a ^b Pan Hla 2005: 239
^ ^a ^b Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 445
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d RRT Vol. 2 1999: 10
^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 228
^ ^a ^b Pan Hla 2005: 240
^ Pan Hla 2005: 241
^ Harvey 1925: 91, 105

Bibliography

Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
Kala, U (1724). Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2006, 4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
Maha Sithu (2012) [1798]. Kyaw Win; Thein Hlaing (eds.). Yazawin Thit (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
Pan Hla, Nai (1968). Razadarit Ayedawbon (in Burmese) (8th printing, 2005 ed.). Yangon: Armanthit Sarpay.
Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
Sandamala Linkara, Ashin (1931). Rakhine Razawin Thit (in Burmese). Vol. 1–2 (1997–1999 ed.). Yangon: Tetlan Sarpay.

Royal titles
Anawrahta of Launggyet Ava Kingdom Died: March 1408
Preceded by Min Saw Mon	King of Arakan c. December 1406 – March 1408	Succeeded by Min Saw Mon or Min Khayi as Pegu vassal
Preceded by Min Chay-To	Sawbwa of Kalay 1406? – c. December 1406	Succeeded by Min Nyo

[3] The main royal chronicles (Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 310, 330) (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 224–225) say Anawrahta was already governor of Kalay when Arakan was conquered (in 1406). But other chronicles Zatadawbon Yazawin (Zata 1960: 90) and Mani Yadanabon (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 225, footnote 3, citing Mani) say Nyo succeeded Min Chay-To, the first ruler to pay tribute to Ava.

[4] According to the Rakhine Razawin Thit chronicle (RRT Vol. 2 1999: 9), Ava forces led by Minye Kyawswa took Launggyet on Monday, 5th waning of Nadaw 768 ME (29 November 1406).

[5] (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 410, 414) and (Harvey 1925: 86): The first two were Saw Mon II (r. 1373/84–1380/81) and Saw Me (r. 1380/81–1385/86).

[7] (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 228): Razadarit made the decision to invade Arakan in Tabodwe 769 ME (28 December 1407 to 25 January 1408) after a prayer service at the Mya Thi-Tin Pagoda.

[8] According to the Razadarit Ayedawbon (Pan Hla 2005: 240), the Pegu nominee was Min Saw Mon while the chronicle Rakhine Razawin Thit (RRT Vol. 2 1999: 10), it was Min Khayi.

[11] (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 228): Launggyet taken in Late Tagu 769 ME (25 February 1408 to 24 March 1408).

[npl-239-1] Pan Hla 2005: 239

[hy-1-445-2] Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 445

[rrt-2-10-6] RRT Vol. 2 1999: 10

[yt-1-228-9] Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 228

[npl-240-10] Pan Hla 2005: 240

[npl-241-12] Pan Hla 2005: 241

[geh-91-105-13] Harvey 1925: 91, 105

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v t e Burmese monarchs
Pagan dynasty 849–1297	Pyinbya Tannet Sale Theinhko Nyaung-u Sawrahan Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu Kyiso Sokkate Anawrahta Saw Lu 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	Saw Yun Tarabya I Anawrahta I Kyaswa Anawrahta II Tarabya II Minbyauk Thihapate
Kingdom of Ava 1364–1555	Thado Minbya Swa Saw Ke Tarabya Minkhaung I Thihathu Min Hla Kale Kye-Taung Nyo Mohnyin Thado Minye Kyawswa I 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 Maha Dewi¹ 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 Min Taninganway Min 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
¹ Regent or Co-Regent ² Mongol vassal (1297) ³ Confederation of Shan States (1527–55) ⁴ Brief revival (1550–52) ⁵ Vassal of the Confederation of Shan States (1532–42)