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Statue of Anawrahta By O.Mustafin

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Anawrahta

King Anawrahta was born on May 11, 1044, Pagan, and died in April 11, 1077, in Pagan. He was the son to king Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu (father) and Queen Myauk Pyinthe (mother). He is one of the most famous kings in Burseme history and was the first King of all of Myanmar, he reigned from 1044 to 1077.

He introduces the people of Burma to Theravada Buddhism and united the northern homeland of the Burmese people with the Mon Kingdoms of the south. He as well extended his kingdom. He defeated the Mon Kingdom to the south creating an empire that was nearly the shape and size of present-day Myanmar.

Anawrahta implemented a series key of social, economic and religious reforms that have lasting impacts on Burmese History. His social and areligious reforms later developed into the Modern-day Burmese culture. During his leadership time, he was a prolific dam and canal builder mostly along the Zawgyi river.

1. Anawrahta Organized Pagan’s Military

It is interesting to know that Anawrahta organized Pagan’s Military. He was one of the kings who reigned during the times of Pagan.

His four key men are known as the four Great Paladins in Burmese history were Kyansittha, Nyaung -U Hpi, Nga Lon Letpe.

2. He Unified the People of Burman

King Anawrahta who reigned from 1044-1077, was the king that unified the Burma people. He did so by introducing the people to Theravada Buddhism and setting Bagan on the road to magnificence and splendor.

The king as well united the northern homeland of the Myanmar people with the Mon Kingdoms of the south. He ensured he extended his dominion as far North as the kingdom of Nanchao, west to Arakan, as well as the south to the Gulf of Martaban not forgetting as far east what is now northern Thailand.

3. He Introduced the Theravada Buddhism

Statue of Anawrahta By O.Mustafin

One of the greatest achievements of king Anawrahta is introducing Theravada Buddhists to Upper Burma. He was the first King of all of Myanmar to introduce his people to Buddhism which is a long-lasting achievement since it’s there to date.

With support from royal patronage, the Buddhist school gradually spread all over and reached even villages in the next three centuries, this was to help spread Buddhism in Burma however, Tantric, Mahayana, Brahmanic, and animist practices remained heavily firm in all social strata.

4. King Anawrahta Proved to be an Energetic King to his People

The king proved to be an energetic person to the people of Burma for the things he was doing. His act as king was to keep his kingdom strong economic wise. During the first decade of his reign, he invested much time in turning the arid parched lands of the central part of Burma into a rice granary.

He has well successfully built or enlarged weirs and canals, mostly around the Kyaukse district, east of Pagan. The irrigation which he had made attracted people which made Anawrahta gain fame and this made him increase his manpower.

By 1050, Pagan was a regional power enabled by the Anawrahta reforms. In the next decade, Anawrahta founded the Pagan Empire and the Irrawaddy valley at the core. This shows and proves how energetic the king was to grow his kingdom.

5. He Organized his Kingdom

Statue of Anawrahta By O.Mustafin

One of the interesting facts about King Anawrahta is how he was organized. The first move he made as a king was to organize his kingdom. He categorized each town and village in Burma according to the levy it could raise.

He made effort in converting lands which were left bare to useful purposes. He as well constructed the irrigation system which brought a lot of attraction to people, the irrigation is still used to date in Upper Burma. The Meiktila Lake needed repair he repaired and built four weirs and canals on the Panlaung river and other three weirs on the Zawgyi.

6. He Expanded his Kingdom

One of the best remarkable and remembered interesting fact about King Anawrahta is the fact that he enlarged his kingdom creating more space.

He extended his dominion as far north as the Kingdom of Nanchao, West to Arakan, south to the Gulf of Martaban and as far east as what is now northern Thailand.

7. He Maintained Diplomatic Relations with King Vijayabahu of Ceylon

King Vijayabahu is a medieval king of Sri Lanka. Together with King Anawrahta, they maintained a diplomatic relationship. In 1071 when Vijayabahu wanted to re-establish Buddhism in his country he asked help from King Anawrahta of Burma.

As a result, ordained monks from Burma were sent to Sri Lanka where they helped in re-establishing the Buddhism faith by ordaining new monks and teaching the Pitaka.

8. The First king of all Of Myanmar

Anawrahta By Phyo WP

Anawrahta was the first king to reign in all of Myanmar or Burma. He reigned for 33 years. The king Introduced his people to Theravada Buddhism. During his reign, he united the northern homeland of the Burmese people with the Mon Kingdoms of the south.

9. Founded the Bagan Empire

During king Anawrahta’s 33 years of his reign, he founded the Bagan Empire, the Irrawaddy valley at the core surrounded by tributary Kingdoms.

 He developed his capital in pagan on the Irrawaddy River and became a prominent city of pagodas and temples, with 30 elephant loads of Mon treasures and 30,000 Mon prisoner-artisans.

10. Defeated the Mon Kingdom

Anawrahta By Phyo WP

It is interesting to know that king Anawrahta defeated the Mon Kingdom. He defeated the Mon Kingdom to the South and created an empire that was almost the shape and size of present-day Myanmar as well as the Menam Valley in Thailand.

When the first Crusade was taking place in Jerusalem is when Anawrahta attacked the Mon kingdom because the Mon King would not provide him with holy relics and accurate scriptures, he requested him in his crusade to purify Bagan’s Buddhists. After defeating the Mon Kingdom, King Anawrahata invited their king and court to his palace and treated them like royal guests.