Saw Shwe Khet
Minye Kyawswa Saw Shwe Khet မင်းရဲကျော်စွာ စောရွှေခက် | |
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Governor of Tharrawaddy | |
Reign | c.November 1446 – 1460 |
Predecessor | Anawrahta Saw (Pegu vassal) |
Successor | Thado Minsaw |
Monarch | Narapati I |
Governor of Prome | |
Reign | by11 March 1442 –c. January 1446 |
Predecessor | Thihathu III |
Successor | Mingyi Swa |
Monarch | Narapati I |
Governor of Tharrawaddy | |
Reign | by March 1422 – January 1427 |
Successor | Nawrahta(Pegu vassal) |
Monarch | Thihathu(1422–25) Min Hla(1425) Min Nyo(1425–26) Thado(1426–27) |
Governor of Prome | |
Reign | c.March 1417 –c.March 1422 |
Predecessor | Thihathu II |
Successor | Min Maha |
Monarch | Minkhaung I |
Born | c.1390s Pagan(Bagan)? Ava Kingdom |
Died | in or after1473 Paungde? Ava Kingdom |
Spouse | Saw Myo Ke Min Hla Htut(m. 1403/04–?) Saw Min Phyu |
Issue among others... | Min Phyu of Sagaing Minye Kyawswa I of Kale Saw Myat Lay Myat Hpone Pyo |
House | Pagan |
Father | Thinkhaya of Pagan |
Mother | Saw Min Pu |
Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
Minye Kyawswa Saw Shwe Khet(Burmese:မင်းရဲကျော်စွာ စောရွှေခက်,pronounced[mɪ́ɴjɛ́tɕɔ̀zwàsɔ́ʃwèkʰɛʔ]) wasgovernor of Prome (Pyay),a major vassal state ofAva,from 1417 to 1422, and from 1442 to 1446. He was the only governor or viceroy of Prome to serve more than one term. He also served as governor of districts of Prome: twice atTharrawaddy(Thayawadi) (1422–1427) and (1446–1460) and atPaungde(1460–1470s).
Early life[edit]
SawShwe Khet was the eldest child of Saw Min Pu and Gov.Thinkhaya of Pagan.[1]He was descended from thePagan royal linefrom both sides.[2]He had two younger sisters, QueenSoe Min Wimala Dewi of Hanthawaddy,QueenAtula Thiri Maha Yaza Dewi of Ava,and two younger brothers Cmdr. Uzana of Southern Cavalry and Gov. Thinkhaya ofSagu.[3]
Career[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Burma_in_1450.png/220px-Burma_in_1450.png)
Prome (1417–1422)[edit]
The first mention of Shwe Khet in the royal chronicles was his appointment asgovernor of Prome (Pyay)by his half cousin King Minkhaung I.[4]The appointment, which came in March 1417 during the height ofForty Years' Waragainst theHanthawaddy Kingdom,was certainly an important one forAva(Inwa) as Prome, along withToungoo(Taungoo), was one of the two major states bordering Hanthawaddy. Shwe Khet, now styled as Minye Kyawswa, succeededThihathu,who was recalled toAva(Inwa) to become the crown prince.[4]
Tharrawaddy (1422–1427)[edit]
Shwe Khet's rule at Prome lasted until Thihathu came to power in 1421.[note 1]Shwe Khet tried to curry favor with his new overlord by sending awhite elephant,a propitious symbol of Burmese sovereigns.[5]Thihathu accepted the gift but nonetheless demoted Shwe Khet to become a district-level governor atTharrawaddy(Thayawadi), southernmost district of Prome.[5]
Shwe Khet accepted his new position. At Tharrawaddy, Shwe Khet made an alliance with the new governor of Prome,Min Mahaby giving his daughter Shin Yun.[5][6]But his position at the frontier district became tenuous in 1425–26 when Ava went through a series of succession crises. Kings Thihathu andMin Hlawere assassinated in August and November 1425, respectively.[7]Shwe Khet's brother-in-law Gov.Kye-Taung Nyo of Kale (Kalay)seized the Ava throne but lost it six months later when Gov.Thado of Mohnyintoppled Nyo's regime at Ava.[8]Thado himself faced a series of rebellions. Taking advantage of the situation, KingBinnya Ran IofHanthawaddy Peguseized Tharrawaddy.[9]
Tharrawaddy would remain under Hanthawaddy control until 1446. Ava ceded the region in 1431 in a peace treaty that also sent Shwe Khet's sisterSoe Min Wimala Dewito wed Ran in amarriage of state.[10][11]
Prome (1442–1446)[edit]
The next mention of Shwe Khet in the chronicles came in 1442 when ViceroyThihathu III of Promebecame king of Ava as Narapati I.[12]The new king, whose chief consortAtula Thiriwas Shwe Khet's younger sister, appointed Shwe Khet governor of Prome, and Shwe Khet's son Minye Kyawswa governor ofKale(Kalay).[13]Shwe Khet's term lasted untilc.January 1446 when the king recalled Shwe Khet to Ava.[note 2]He was the only governor/ruler to serve more than once at Prome.[14][15][16]
Tharrawaddy (1446–1460)[edit]
Shwe Khet's stay at Ava was short. He was once again appointed governor of Tharrawaddy after Narapati regained the territoryc.November 1446.[note 3]He ruled for about another 14 years. In 1460, the king reassigned him to Paungde, and appointed his fourth sonThado Minsawto Tharrawaddy.[note 4]The king also married Thado Minsaw with Shwe Khet's daughterMyat Hpone Pyo.[17]
Paungde (1460–1470s)[edit]
For the next dozen years, Shwe Khet stayed at Paungde. In 1472, Gov.Mingyi Swa of Promeand Gov. Thado Minsaw of Tharrawaddy decided to revolt against their eldest brother KingThihathura of Ava.Shwe Khet, an old man by then, had no choice but to support to his sons-in-law. The rebellion was brief. Thihathura laid siege to Prome in the dry season of 1472–73, and the brothers and Shwe Khet all submitted to the king in February 1473. In exchange for their submission, they were allowed to keep their offices.[18]It was the last mention of Shwe Khet in the chronicles.
Family[edit]
Saw Shwe Khet had at least three wives, and three sons and three daughters.[note 5]His notable descendants include: grandson KingBayin Htweof Prome (r. 1526–32); great grandsons KingNarapati of Prome(r. 1532–39) and KingMinkhaung of Prome(r. 1539–42); two times great grandson KingMinye Thihathu II of Toungoo(r. 1597–1609); three times great grandson KingNatshinnaungof Toungoo (r. 1609–10). KingLeik Munhtawof Hanthawaddy (r. 1453–54) was his nephew.[19]
Wife | Brief | Issue | Notes |
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Saw Myo Ke | First cousin of Shwe Khet Daughter of his paternal younger uncle Gov.Thinkhaya I of Toungoo |
Min Phyu of Sagaing,Governor of Sagaing Unnamed son, Gov. of Talezi |
[13][20] |
Min Hla Htut | Half cousin twice removed Daughter of KingTarabya of Ava Married in 1403/04[note 6] |
Shin Yun (b.c. 1408), wife of Gov.Min Maha of Prome | [note 7] |
Saw Min Phyu | Half cousin twice removed Younger daughter ofSaw Min Hlaand Crown PrinceMinye Kyawswa Born in 1415; married a much older Shwe Khet after Saw Myo Ke's death. |
Gov.Minye Kyawswa I of Kale, Saw Myat Lay,wife ofMingyi Swa of Prome,and laterThado Minsaw of Prome Myat Hpone Pyo,wife of Thado Minsaw of Prome |
[5][22] |
Ancestry[edit]
The following is his ancestry as given in theHmannan Yazawinchronicle, based on a contemporary inscription left by his sister Queen Atula Thiri of Ava.[2]He was a half cousin of KingMinkhaung Iof Ava.[note 8]
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Notes[edit]
- ^Chronicles are inconsistent with their own reporting. (Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 54) says KingThihathu of Avareplaced Gov. Saw Shwe Khet with Min Maha in late 783 ME (c.March 1422). But later the Summary of the Rulers of Prome section (Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 215) says Min Maha was appointed in 787 ME. It is another case of Burmese numerals ၃ (3) and ၇ (7) being mis-copied.
- ^Chronicles (Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 78; Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 86) say that King Narapati made new appointments for Toungoo (Taungoo) and Prome (Pyay) following the death ofTarabya of Toungooin 807 ME (30 March 1445 to 29 March 1446). According to theToungoo Yazawinchronicle (Sein Lwin Lay 2006: 30–31), Tarabya died on 2 January 1446 (6th wa xing of Tabodwe 807 ME). It means the appointments were made sometime between 2 January 1446 and 29 March 1446, and most probably in January 1446.
- ^(Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 88): On 5th wa xing ofThadingyut808 ME (25 September 1446), King Narapati made the decision to send an army and a navy to regain Tharrawaddy after Binnya Ran I had died. Ava forces invaded at the start of the dry season in November. Hanthawaddy vassal Gov. Anawrahta Saw of Tharrawaddy submitted without a fight but died shortly after the submission. Narapati then appointed Shwe Khet.
- ^(Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 84) says Shwe Khet was reassigned to Paungde in 821 ME (1459/60) but later chronicles (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 293) and (Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 95) say the reassignment took place in 822 ME (1460/61).
- ^See (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003; 437), (Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 83–84, 90) and (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 264).
- ^According to a 1415/16 (777 ME) inscription, Hla Htut and Shwe Khet were married in 765 ME (1403/04).[21]
- ^According to a 1415/16 (777 ME) inscription, Shin Yun was in her seventh year (aged six) in 1415/16, meaning she was bornc. 1408.[21]
- ^Hmannan(Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 82) says his father was the youngest paternal uncle of KingMinkhaung I.But Thinkhaya could not have been a full paternal uncle since Minkhaung's fatherSwa Saw Kedid not have any full younger brothers. It means Thinkhaya was born to a junior wife ofMin Shin Saw of Thayet.
References[edit]
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 73
- ^abHmannan Vol. 2 2003: 82–83
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 74, 82–83
- ^abHmannan Vol. 2 2003: 50
- ^abcdHmannan Vol. 2 2003: 54
- ^Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 264
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 58
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 61
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 65
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 72–73
- ^Harvey 1925: 98
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 3003: 82
- ^abHmannan Vol. 2 3003: 84
- ^Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 163–165
- ^Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 326
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 214–216
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 95
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 101–102
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 74
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 90
- ^abHmannan Vol. 2 2003: 53
- ^Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 83–84
Bibliography[edit]
- Harvey, G. E.(1925).History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824.London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
- Kala, U(2006) [1724].Maha Yazawin(in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
- Maha Sithu(2012) [1798]. Myint Swe; Kyaw Win; Thein Hlaing (eds.).Yazawin Thit(in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
- Royal Historical Commission of Burma(2003) [1832].Hmannan Yazawin(in Burmese). Vol. 1–3. Yangon:Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
- Sein Lwin Lay, Kahtika U (2006) [1968].Min Taya Shwe Hti and Bayinnaung: Ketumadi Taungoo Yazawin(in Burmese) (2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Yan Aung Sarpay.