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Drawing of Tabinshwehti. Author R. C. Temple.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Tabinshwehti

Tabinshwehti was born on 16 April 1516. He was the king of Burma from 1530 to 1550. He ascended to power at an early age.

 The founder of the first Tuongoo empire. He created the largest Kingdom in Burma. This was since the fall of the Pagan empire in 1287.

Tabinshwehti Conquered the Hanthawaddy kingdom with his deputy Bayinnaung. The Hanthawaddy kingdom was regarded as a wealthy and disunited kingdom.

He tried to build an East-west empire in Akran between 1545 and 1547 and Siam from 1547 to 1549. However, he did not succeed.

The king was the supporter of the ethnic Mons of Lower Burma. Moreover, many of Mons were appointed to the highest positions in his government and armed forces.

We are going to learn about Tabinshwehti in the below points.

1. He was Brought up in a Prominent Family

Tabinshwehti was born at Tuongoo palace. His parents were King Mingyi Nyo of Tuongoo and concubine Khin Oo.

His father treasured him as he was desperate of having a son. He named the boy Tabinshwehti meaning Unitary Golden Umbrella.

The golden Umbrella was the symbol of Burmese kings. He made his son the heir of his small kingdom. His mother was also raised by his father from teenager to queen with the title of Yaza Dewi.

From his father’s side, he was a great-great-great-grandson of King Minkhaung I of Ava, and a great-great-grandson of Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa. Khin Oo (his mother) was a commoner, the daughter of the village chief of Le Way.

2. The Young Prince was Cared for by Seven Royal Servants throughout his Childhood and Youth

Tabinshwehti was such a treasure to his father. He was cared for by seven royal servants from childhood to youth life. The royal servants were two women and five men.

He grew up playing with the children of his servants. One of the children became Tabinshwehti’s right-hand man, Ye Htut.

3. His First Experience with Warfare was at the Age of 9

Tabinshwehti experienced war at the age of 9. This was in 1525 when Tuongoo went through a Siege from Ava forces.

 This was led by King Narapati II. However, it was unsuccessful.

4. He Ascended to Power as King at the Age of 14

His father died on November 1530. The young prince ascended to the throne immediately at the age of 14.

Additionally, Tabinshwehti rewarded his childhood staff by giving them royal titles. Moreover, he married two of their daughters Khin Hpone Soe, sister of Ye Htut, and Khin Myat, daughter of Shin Nita. He also appointed his young friends, including Ye Htut, as confidants.

5. His first Important Decision as the King was during His Right-hand Man Affair

The young King made his first Important decision at the age of 18. This is when the affair between his half-sister Thakin Gyi and his right-hand man Ye Htut was discovered.

The affair was considered an act of treason under Burmese law. Tabinshwehti had a long and careful discussion with his ministers about the matter.

Fortunately, a conclusion was made that Ye Htut should be given his sister for Marriage. With this decision, Tabinshwehti won the loyalty of his brother-in-law without parallel in Burmese history.

6. Tabinshwehti and His Deputy Conquered the Hanthawaddy Kingdom

War had arrived near his kingdom. In late 1532, the Confederation of Shan States, already ruling much of Upper Burma, attacked its erstwhile ally Prome and sacked the city.

Tabinshwehti and his deputy Bayinnaung began their military campaigns in 1534 against the Hanthawaddy Kingdom. Hanthawaddy’s trade wealth and maritime markets made the coastal kingdom an attractive military target.

Luckily, Tabinshwehti Conquered the wealthier and disunited kingdom by 1541. He later leveraged the coastal kingdom’s wealth, manpower and access to Portuguese mercenaries and firearms. The King also extended his rule to the ancient capital of Pagan.

7. His Attempts to Build an East-West Empire Fell Short in Arakan and Siam

King Tabinshwehti of Pegu’s invasion of Siam in 1548-1549. Photo by Soda can

After the Victory of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, he selected Arakan as the next target. He sent 4,000 troops into southern Arakan. However, the troops were driven back by Mrauku Forces.

A year later, Tabinshwehti invaded by land and sea with a larger force. The force had 19,000 troops, 400 horses,60 elephants, 800 war boats,500 armoured war boats, and 100 cargo boats.

However, his forces were defeated in Arakan. Tabinshwehti agreed to end the war between his Kingdom and Arakan.

Additionally, he was not satisfied which led him to arrange an attack on the siam. The forces were led by Tabinshwehti and his brother-in-law Bayinnaung.

The Burmese forces overcame Siamese defences and advanced to the capital city of Ayutthaya. Unfortunately, they could not take the heavily Fortified city.

The Burmese caught two important Siamese nobles in some open fighting. They negotiated a safe retreat in exchange for the nobles in February 1549.

8. He Actively Courted the Support of Ethnic Mons of Lower Burma

Tabinshwehti raised Khay Ma Nawa to be his chief Queen. She was an ethnic Mon. He wore his air in the Mon style.

He appointed many ethnic Mons to the highest offices at the court and in the armed forces. Moreover, his chief primate was a Mon.

9. The king was Assassinated on his 34th Birthday

The end of Tabinshwehti came after his return from the Siamese campaign. He developed a liking for wine. He was introduced to it by a young Portuguese mercenary who had just entered his service.

Tabinshwehti became an alcoholic in such a short time that the king. He decided not only to forgo any new campaigns but also to hand over day-to-day governing duties to Bayinnaung. Desperate, ministers approached Bayinnaung to take over the throne but he refused. However, Bayinnaung arrested the winemaking and sent him out of the country.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done. Smim Sawhtut raised a rebellion in the region of modern Yangon. Tabinshwehti asked Bayinnaung to suppress the rebellion while he went on a hunting trip to the Irrawaddy delta.

 Smim Sawhtut planned to assassinate the king and seize the throne. He arranged a hunting trip for the king. The crew set up camp at Pantanaw where they spent weeks in search of a white Elephant.

Finally, Sawhtut managed to get his men to guard the king on another hunting trip. The king was beheaded by two swordsmen while he was asleep on his 34th birthday.

The king’s severed head and body were left there. He was cremated by a local monk.

10 . He was Succeeded by His Brother-in-Law

After his death, the empire promptly fell apart. Instead of submitting to his chosen successor Bayinnaung. Each major governor declared himself independent. It would take Bayinnaung another two years to restore Tabinshwehti’s realm.