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Tharrawaddy Min

This article is about the Konbaung-era king. For the Toungoo-era king of Lan Na, see Nawrahta Minsaw.
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Tharrawaddy Min (Burmese: သာယာဝတီမင်း, pronounced [θàjàwədì mɪ́ɰ̃]; 14 March 1787 – 17 November 1846) was the 8th king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. He repudiated the Treaty of Yandabo and almost went to war with the British.

Tharrawaddy Min's tomb.

Brief

Tharrawaddy was born Maung Khin to Crown Prince Thado Minsaw (son of King Bodawpaya) and Princess Min Kye on 14 March 1787.[note 1] When his elder brother Bagyidaw ascended the throne in 1819, Tharrawaddy was appointed Heir Apparent.[citation needed] As crown prince, he fought in the First Anglo-Burmese War. In February 1837, he raised the standard of rebellion after escaping to Shwebo, the ancestral place of the Konbaung kings. Tharrawaddy succeeded in overthrowing Bagyidaw who abdicated on 30 April 1837.[note 2] Tharrawaddy ascended the throne on the same day.[3] Princess Min Myat Shwe, a granddaughter of Hsinbyushin, whom he married in 1809, was crowned as his chief queen (Nanmadaw Mibaya Hkaungyi).

In 1841, King Tharrawaddy donated a 42-ton bell called the Maha Tissada Gandha Bell and 20 kilograms (44 lb) of goldplating to the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. His reign was rife with rumours of preparations for another war with the British who had added the Arakan and Tenasserim to their dominions.[4] Tharrawaddy died on 17 November 1846.[note 3]

It was, however, not until 1852, after Tharrawaddy was succeeded by his son Pagan Min, that the Second Anglo-Burmese War broke out.[6]

The Maha Tissada Gandha Bell donated by Tharrawaddy Min can be seen hung in a pavilion on the northeast terrace of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

References

  1. ^ Konbaung Set Vol. 3 2004: 53
  2. ^ Konbaung Set Vol. 2 2004: 365
  3. ^ Konbaung Set Vol. 2 2004: 368
  4. ^ "Some Documents of Tharrawaddy's Reign:1837–1846, Part I" (PDF). SOAS. Autumn 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-04-28. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  5. ^ Konbaung Set Vol. 3 2004: 52
  6. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Burma" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 845.

Notes

  1. ^ He was born on in the early hours of Wednesday, the 11th waning of Tabaung 1148 ME (14 March 1787).[1]
  2. ^ 12th waning of Kason 1199 ME (30 April 1837)[2]
  3. ^ 14th waning of Tazaungmon 1208 ME (17 November 1846)[5]

Bibliography

  • Maung Maung Tin, U (2004) [1905]. Konbaung Set Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3. Yangon: Department of Universities History Research, University of Yangon.
Tharrawaddy Min
Born: 14 March 1787 Died: 17 November 1846
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Burma
30 April 1837 – 17 November 1846 		Succeeded by
Royal titles
Preceded by Heir to the Burmese Throne
as Prince of Tharrawaddy
5 June 1819 – 30 April 1837 		Succeeded by