Nyaungyan Min facts for kids

Nyaungyan Min (Burmese: ညောင်ရမ်းမင်း; 8 November 1555 – 5 November 1605) was a powerful king of the Toungoo dynasty in Burma (now Myanmar). He ruled from 1599 to 1605. Many people see him as the founder of the "restored Toungoo dynasty." This is because he started bringing the country back together after the first Toungoo Empire fell apart.

Nyaungyan Min was a son of the famous King Bayinnaung. He slowly became a strong leader in Upper Burma in the mid-1590s. When other rulers broke away from King Nanda in 1597, Nyaungyan Min also took control of Ava. He focused on making his area strong instead of fighting in the southern wars. He brought the surrounding Shan states under his control before he died in 1605. He also helped Upper Burma's economy grow again. He set up new rules for society, money, and the military. These rules were used until the end of the Toungoo dynasty in 1752. His hard work made it possible for his son, Anaukpetlun, to rebuild much of the Toungoo Empire in the next 20 years.

Early Life of Nyaungyan Min

Nyaungyan Min was born Shin Thissa on 8 November 1555. His parents were Lady Khin Pyezon and King Bayinnaung. He had an older brother named Shin Ubote. He was one of 91 children born to the king's less important queens. Because of this, Thissa had to wait until he was 25 to become a governor.

On 8 February 1581, King Bayinnaung made Thissa the governor of Nyaungyan. This was a small town in what is now the Meiktila District, south of Ava. Thissa married his half-sister, Khin Hpone Myint. She was also a child of a junior queen. They had been married since 1577 and had a three-year-old child named Thakin Lat.

Nyaungyan: A Governor's Rise to Power (1581–1597)

It was in Nyaungyan that Thissa became known as Nyaungyan Min, meaning "Lord of Nyaungyan." He gained power as the central government in Pegu faced many problems. This meant Pegu's control over its smaller states slowly weakened.

Early Years as Governor

For his first 12 years, Nyaungyan was a loyal governor. He ruled a small area under his half-uncle, Thado Minsaw of Ava, who was the Viceroy of Ava. In 1584, he chose to support King Nanda when Thado Minsaw rebelled. He stayed loyal during the war with Siam (1584–1593).

Nyaungyan started to become a major power in Upper Burma after 1594. That year, King Nanda decided to pull central control away from Upper Burma and the Shan states. Nanda did not appoint a new viceroy for Upper Burma. This meant power was given to many smaller rulers. Nanda was worried that a strong viceroy might turn against him. His own son, Thado Dhamma Yaza III, the Viceroy of Prome, rebelled in 1595.

Breaking Away from Pegu

Nanda's decision to give up central control created a power gap. Ambitious governors like Nyaungyan saw their chance. In 1596, Thado Dhamma Yaza III, who called himself king of Prome, attacked central Burma. Nanda ordered Nyaungyan to defend the area. Nyaungyan agreed because he didn't want anyone else to take over central Burma.

His forces stopped the Prome army at Pakhan, a town on the Irrawaddy. But they couldn't take back the southern towns. After the fighting, Prome controlled central Burma up to Salin. Prome planned to continue the war in 1597.

Nyaungyan, whose army controlled the area around Ava, quietly decided to take power for himself. King Nanda, in Pegu, tried to keep Nyaungyan loyal. He gave Nyaungyan the title Minye Nandameit and many gifts. But Nanda also suspected his stronger rulers. He asked Nyaungyan and others to send their eldest sons to Pegu as hostages. This was a big mistake because Nanda had no real power to make them obey. The rulers of Toungoo and Lan Na declared independence.

Nyaungyan ignored the king's order. In 1597, he basically declared himself independent. On 19 April 1597, he announced he would take over Ava. He also said he would move into the new palace there on 27 August 1597. He appointed his own chief ministers, showing he was now the ruler of Ava.

Nyaungyan: Ruler of Ava

Making Upper Burma Strong

Even though he was now independent, Nyaungyan was more worried about Prome than Pegu. He quickly made his area strong before the next dry season. He and his army marched to towns around Ava, and local governors swore loyalty to him. Rival governors at Yamethin and Pagan (Bagan) first resisted. But they eventually joined Nyaungyan on 12 July and 1 August 1597.

His growing power worried Prome and Toungoo. In September 1597, Toungoo sent a small army to Yamethin, a border town. In Prome, Thado Dhamma Yaza III was about to attack Ava. But he was killed on 15 September 1597 by Yan Naing.

This killing was good for Nyaungyan. When Toungoo heard the news, they attacked Prome instead. Yan Naing fought off the Toungoo attack. After this, Toungoo decided to focus on capturing Pegu. Yan Naing ruled a smaller area, and the lord of Salin joined Nyaungyan. Nyaungyan was saved from attacks by stronger powers. He was always thankful to Yan Naing for breaking up what would have been a two-sided attack.

Nyaungyan spent the next year making the northern parts of Upper Burma even stronger. By November 1598, he felt powerful enough to declare his goals. On 14 November 1598, as Toungoo and its ally Mrauk-U attacked Lower Burma, he announced himself king. He claimed not just Ava, but all the lands his father Bayinnaung once ruled. Toungoo and Mrauk-U captured Pegu in December 1599. They divided the city's huge wealth. But Nyaungyan, who controlled Upper Burma, had the advantage. Upper Burma was the "heartland" where most of the country's food was grown and people lived. He quietly planned to expand his rule to the Shan states around Upper Burma.

Becoming King

On 25 February 1600, Nyaungyan crowned himself king. His royal name was Thiha Thura Maha Dhamma Yaza. His main queen was given the title Thiri Maha Dhamma Yaza Dipadi Dewi. He gave his three sons by the chief queen special territories to rule. His eldest son, Thakin Lat, received Dabayin. His middle son, Thakin Gyi, received Talote. His youngest son, Thakin Phyu, received Sagu.

Short War with Toungoo

Nyaungyan's rise to power did not go unchallenged. After conquering Lower Burma, Toungoo forces took Yamethin in September 1600. Nyaungyan led his army to Yamethin on 6 October 1600. Toungoo forces fought hard, but Nyaungyan's army won. This was the last time Toungoo crossed the border.

Taking Over the Shan States

Nyaungyan spent the rest of his time as king taking back the Shan states west of the Salween River. By the time he died in 1605, he had conquered all of them. His eldest son, Anaukpetlun, became a skilled military leader. He won several important battles for his father.

Mohnyin and Mogaung (1599–1600)

Nyaungyan first aimed for the northern Shan states of Mohnyin and Mogaung. These are in today's Kachin State. On 18 October 1599, Anaukpetlun led his army of 2,000 men from Ava. The chief of Mohnyin surrendered without a fight. But the chief of Mogaung resisted from a fort on a hill. About a month later, they reached an agreement. The chief kept his position as a ruler under Ava. However, this loyalty was likely not very strong, as the chief rebelled again in 1604.

Nyaungshwe (1601)

Nyaungyan's push into the Shan states was stopped briefly by the war with Toungoo in October 1600. After taking back Yamethin, Nyaungyan decided to attack Nyaungshwe. This was a large and important state next to Yamethin. Nyaungshwe controlled 39 smaller towns. It was also next to the strong state of Mone to the south and Hsipaw to the north.

On 6 January 1601, Nyaungyan and his army invaded. This invasion showed how important Ava's musket (gun) soldiers were. Nyaungshwe forces pushed back three of Ava's regiments. Only one-third of the soldiers returned. Nyaungshwe forces then attacked a fourth Ava regiment. But Ava's musketeers counterattacked, causing many enemy deaths. Nyaungshwe forces tried to get back to their city walls. But Anaukpetlun's regiment cut them off. The chief of Nyaungshwe was surrounded and surrendered. Nyaungyan let him keep his office. The 39 towns of Nyaungshwe then came under Ava's control.

Bhamo (1602)

His next target was Bhamo, a small state near Mogaung. His army left Ava on 24 February 1602. They took Bhamo without a fight. Tho Sein, the chief of Bhamo, had run away to Maing Se, a state under Chinese rule. When Anaukpetlun's army arrived at Maing Se, its ruler gave up Tho Sein's body. Tho Sein had died under unclear circumstances. Nyaungyan appointed Sao Hsaing Lon as the new chief of Bhamo. This event showed that China no longer claimed control over Upper Burma.

Mone (1603–1604)

After Bhamo, Nyaungyan watched what was happening in Lan Na. Its ruler had just joined King Naresuan of Siam. Over the next year, Lan Na became united again under Siamese control. Nyaungyan was worried that Mone, a state just north of Lan Na, might be next. So, he prepared to get there first.

Nyaungyan knew Mone was a big state with a strong army. On 13 November 1603, after a ceremony in Ava, the king left with a 6,000-man army. Anaukpetlun went with him. His second son, Thalun, stayed in Ava. After adding more troops at Nyaungshwe, two armies invaded Mone. The first army, led by Anaukpetlun, had 5,000 men. The main army was led by the king. They expected Mone's forces to defend from inside their city walls. But Mone's army met them on the way. The Ava army, which was more experienced and better equipped, easily defeated the Mone army. Anaukpetlun's army captured both the chief and the city. After that, many Ava battalions spread out to receive loyalty from 37 smaller states under Mone. These included Mobye (in today's Kayah State) and those near the Lan Na border. The king returned to Ava on 9 April 1604.

Problems and Siamese Threat (1604–1605)

Nyaungyan's control over the Shan states was still not very strong. As soon as he returned to Ava, he heard about problems near the Chinese border. A Siamese attack on Mone was still very likely. So, he decided to deal with the unrest later. On 7 May 1604, he ordered a campaign to stop the unrest in the northern states. It would start on 8 January 1605. This meant he wanted to save his soldiers for eight months.

But he had to act sooner when Mogaung openly rebelled. He sent Anaukpetlun with a 5,000-man army on 18 November 1604. Nyaungyan was very relieved when Anaukpetlun quickly won. He captured the rebel chief and his family.

However, the relief was short-lived. Right after Anaukpetlun returned to Ava, Bhamo, Mogaung's neighbor to the east, rebelled. They had help from Hsenwi (Theinni). Hsenwi might have been an ally of Siam and working with them. Ava was in a difficult spot. The court first announced on 27 February 1605 that the king himself would lead the campaign to Bhamo and Hsenwi. But the campaign was put off because of reports of 20 Siamese army groups. These were led by King Naresuan himself and were marching toward the border.

The Ava leaders believed the Siamese army might not only invade Mone but also attack Ava itself. They seemed ready to meet the enemy in the Irrawaddy valley. But the expected invasion never happened. The Siamese king suddenly became ill at Mueang Haeng at the border and died on 25 April 1605. The Siamese army called off the invasion.

Momeik, Hsipaw, and Hsenwi (1605)

The Siamese threat disappeared with Naresuan's death. The Ava leaders decided on 21 July 1605 to take over the remaining Shan states. These were Momeik, Onbaung (Hsipaw/Thibaw), and Hsenwi. They also planned to take Bhamo, which Hsenwi supported. This would happen in the coming dry season.

The Ava leaders were most worried about Hsenwi. It was the farthest state from Ava. Momeik was to its west and Hsipaw to its southwest. They expected Bhamo to surrender once Hsenwi fell. If needed, a separate campaign to Bhamo would start on 27 December 1605. This plan was announced on 6 October 1605. They expected the Momeik–Hsipaw–Hsenwi campaign to be over by mid-December.

The actual campaign was even shorter. The invasion, which came from two directions, was over in less than a month. The First Army, led by Anaukpetlun, marched to Momeik. The Second Army, led by Nyaungyan, marched to Hsipaw. Both armies took Momeik and Hsipaw without a fight. The armies then met at Hsenwi. Anaukpetlun defeated the Hsenwi army twice, and the city was taken. The king himself had been unwell since Hsipaw and could not fight. The king reappointed the Hsenwi chief. But he sent the chief's family and brothers, as well as strong Hsenwi soldiers, to Ava. The 39 towns under Hsenwi now came under Nyaungyan's rule.

Death of Nyaungyan Min

Present-day Hsipaw

King Nyaungyan now controlled all the Shan states that surrounded Upper Burma. He had planned to attack Prome and Toungoo next. This was part of his big plan to bring back his father's empire. But it was not meant to be. The soldiers rushed the sick king back home. But he died on the way, south of Hsipaw, on 5 November 1605. His death was announced two days later in Ava. During his cremation, Anaukpetlun made everyone swear loyalty to him. The king's ashes were buried next to the Sandamuni Pagoda.

Nyaungyan Min's Administration

Nyaungyan Min was very interested in how his kingdom was run. Many of his royal orders that still exist show he worked to set up rules for society, the economy, and the military. He brought back the traditional groups of people: ahmudan (people who served the Crown), paya kyun (people who served the Buddhist Sangha), ordinary kyun (private servants), and athi (people not attached to anyone).

He repaired and rebuilt irrigation systems to help the economy recover from war. He also set fair tax levels. In his military, he created new standards. He started or brought back several military units. Some were cavalry and elephant units passed down through families. Many new units were formed with men from the Shan states. A royal order from 26 February 1605 describes how Burmese military units should be formed. It says that 1,000 foot soldiers should be led by 100 leaders called akyat, 10 chiefs called ahsaw, and 1 commander called ake. All soldiers had to have enough weapons, including guns and cannons.

Nyaungyan Min's Legacy

After the Toungoo Empire fell, the time without a strong central government was short. Nyaungyan Min died before the country was fully reunited. However, he is given credit for starting the process. His success in bringing together the most populated and traditional power base in the country paved the way for his son, Anaukpetlun, to reunite the country. Anaukpetlun went on to restore the Toungoo Empire by 1622.

Nyaungyan's choice to take back the nearby Shan states before moving south was very important. Controlling Upper Burma and the nearby Shan states gave his successors "a huge supply of men and materials." This helped them take on the smaller, less populated kingdoms to the south. His administrative changes were also very important. Many of these changes were continued by his successors. Some of his court's orders were even reissued by later kings until the very end of the Toungoo dynasty.

Nyaungyan Min is remembered as the founder of the Nyaungyan dynasty. Historians also call this the "Later Toungoo dynasty" or "Restored Toungoo dynasty."

Family of Nyaungyan Min

Nyaungyan Min and his chief queen, Khin Hpone Myint, had three sons and one daughter. He also had nine sons and ten daughters with other queens and concubines. In total, he had 12 sons and 11 daughters.

His children with the chief queen were:

Nyaungyan Min had eleven junior queens who had children with him:

See also

• Nyaungyan Mintaya Ayedawbon