Theingapati facts for kids

Theingapati (Burmese: သိင်္ဃပတိ, pronounced: [θèiɴga̰pədḭ]) was a prince of the Pagan Kingdom in Burma (now Myanmar). He was the heir to the throne from 1289 to 1297. Theingapati is best known for his important trip to Beijing. There, he helped his father, King Kyawswa of Pagan, get recognized as the rightful ruler by the powerful Mongol Empire. Sadly, his story ended tragically. After his father was overthrown by three powerful brothers in 1297, both Theingapati and his father were arrested. They were later executed in 1299.

Early Life and Family

Theingapati was born around the late 1270s. His mother was Princess Pwa Saw of Thitmahti. His father was Prince Kyawswa of Pagan, who was the Viceroy of Dala. This was during the final years of the great Pagan Empire. Theingapati had one younger brother named Kumara Kassapa. He grew up in the southern part of the kingdom.

Moving to the Capital

In 1289, Theingapati moved to the capital city, Pagan. This was two years after the Pagan Empire had fallen apart. His father, Kyawswa, was chosen to be the new king. The queen mother, Pwa Saw, helped make this decision. Kyawswa became king after his own father, King Narathihapate, was killed. Before Kyawswa became king, he had to fight off his half-uncle, Thihathu of Prome, who also wanted the throne.

Becoming Heir to a Smaller Kingdom

When Theingapati became the heir, the Pagan Kingdom was much smaller. The great Pagan Empire was gone. His father, King Kyawswa, was king mostly in name. He had very little real power outside the capital city. He might have only controlled a small area around the Minbu granary.

The Powerful Myinsaing Brothers

The most important area, the Kyaukse granary region, was controlled by three powerful brothers from Myinsaing. These brothers had bravely defended the central Irrawaddy valley against Mongol invaders years earlier. The Mongols still had troops stationed in northern Burma. King Kyawswa became worried about the Myinsaing brothers. They were gaining more and more power in the central part of the country.

Seeking Mongol Help

In 1295 and 1296, the youngest brother, Thihathu, started calling himself special titles. He used "Lord of the White Elephant" and "Great Lord." White elephants were symbols of kings, showing he wanted to be a ruler. King Kyawswa decided he needed help from the Mongols. He thought that if the Mongol Emperor recognized him as king, he would get the power he needed. This would help him control central Burma again.

The Mission to Beijing

In January 1297, King Kyawswa sent Theingapati to meet the Mongols. Theingapati traveled to Tagaung, where the Mongol commanders were. Unlike earlier kings, Kyawswa did not ask the Mongols to leave Burma. Instead, he wanted them to stay and protect him. The Mongol commanders then sent Theingapati all the way to Beijing. On March 20, 1297, the Mongol Emperor Temür Khan officially recognized Kyawswa as the King of Pagan. He also recognized Theingapati as the heir to the throne. The emperor even gave titles to the three Myinsaing brothers, but they were meant to be under King Kyawswa's rule.

Overthrown and Death

King Kyawswa's time as a king under Mongol protection was very short. The Myinsaing brothers decided to take a big risk. They chose to overthrow Kyawswa, even if it meant the Mongols might get involved.

The Capture of the King

With help from the queen mother, Pwa Saw, the brothers tricked King Kyawswa. They invited him to a special ceremony for a new monastery in Myinsaing. On December 17, 1297, Kyawswa was forced to become a monk at that very monastery. This meant he could no longer be king. Theingapati was also arrested around this time. It's not clear if he was arrested with his father or later in Pagan. The brothers then marched to Pagan and put another prince, Saw Hnit, on the throne. Saw Hnit was just a puppet king, controlled by the brothers.

The Mongols' Slow Response

Sadly for Kyawswa and Theingapati, the Mongols did not come to rescue them right away. The brothers tried to keep the news of the king's overthrow a secret. The Mongols only found out in June or July of 1298. It turned out that the Mongol leaders in Yunnan (a nearby region) did not have enough soldiers to send an army. So, they did nothing.

When the Myinsaing brothers saw that no Mongol army came in the next dry season (1298–99), they became bolder. They were sure the Mongols would not interfere. On May 8, 1299, they allowed their puppet king, Saw Hnit, to hold a public meeting for the first time. Just two days later, on May 10, 1299, the Myinsaing brothers executed both King Kyawswa and Prince Theingapati. They called them traitors.

Aftermath

The execution of the king and heir, who had been appointed by the Mongols, did not immediately lead to Mongol revenge. The Mongol government in Yunnan still didn't have enough troops. They ignored pleas from Theingapati's younger brother, Kumara Kassapa, who had managed to escape. The Mongols only paid attention when the Myinsaing brothers attacked and took over small Mongol army posts in January 1300. After that, the Mongols sent a small army to central Burma, but their mission failed.