HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

This is a list of the monarchs of Burma (Myanmar), covering the monarchs of all the major kingdoms that existed in the present day Burma (
Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...
). Although Burmese chronicle tradition maintains that various monarchies of Burma (
Mon Mon, MON or Mon. may refer to: Places * Mon State, a subdivision of Myanmar * Mon, India, a town in Nagaland * Mon district, Nagaland * Mon, Raebareli, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India * Mon, Switzerland, a village in the Canton of Grisons * A ...
,
Burman Burman is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Anneli Burman (born 1963), Swedish curler *Barney Burman, American make-up artist *Barry Burman (1943–2001), English figurative artist *Ben Lucien Burman (1896–1984), American aut ...
, Arakanese), began in the 9th century
BCE Common Era (CE) and Before the Common Era (BCE) are year notations for the Gregorian calendar (and its predecessor, the Julian calendar), the world's most widely used calendar era. Common Era and Before the Common Era are alternatives to the o ...
, historically verified data date back only to 1044 CE at the accession of
Anawrahta Anawrahta Minsaw (, ; 11 May 1014 – 11 April 1077) was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that ...
of
Pagan Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
. The farther away the data are from 1044, the less verifiable they are. For example, the founding of the city of Pagan (
Bagan Bagan ( ; ; formerly Pagan) is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that w ...
) in the 9th century is verifiable–although the accuracy of the actual date, given in the Chronicles as 849, remains in question–but the founding of early Pagan dynasty, given as the 2nd century, is not.Harvey 1925: 364 For early kingdoms, see List of early and legendary monarchs of Burma. The reign dates follow the latest available dates as discussed in each section.


Early kingdoms

* See List of early and legendary monarchs of Burma.


Pagan Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
(849–1297)


Early Pagan (to 1044)

Below is a ''partial'' list of early Pagan kings as reported by the four major chronicles. Prior to Anawrahta, inscriptional evidence exists thus far only for
Nyaung-u Sawrahan Nyaung-u Sawrahan (, ; also Taungthugyi Min c. 924–1001) was king of the Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from c. 956 to 1001. Although he is remembered as the Cucumber King in the Burmese chronicles based on a legend, Sawrahan is the earliest ...
and
Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu ( ; c. 955–1048) was king of the Pagan Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1001 to 1021. He was the father of Anawrahta, the founder of Pagan Empire. The principality of Pagan continued to gain strength during his reign. Pagan's ...
. The list starts from
Pyinbya Pyinbya (, ; 817–876) was the king of the Pagan Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) who founded the city of Pagan (Bagan) in 849 CE. Though the Burmese chronicles describe him as the 33rd king of the dynasty founded in early 2nd century CE, modern hist ...
, the fortifier of
Pagan Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...
(Bagan) according to ''Hmannan''. The ''Zatadawbon Yazawin'' is considered the most accurate chronicle for the Pagan period.


Pagan Empire

The list generally follows the chronicle reported order and reign dates. G.H. Luce does not recognize Naratheinkha, and proposes an interregnum of nine years between 1165 and 1174. But Luce's gap has been rigorously questioned. Moreover, Luce proposes that
Naratheinga Uzana Naratheinga Uzana (, ; also known as Naratheinkha Uzana; 1190s–1235) was the king of Pagan from c. 1231 to 1235. He is regarded by G.H. Luce and Than Tun as king between 1231 and 1235 but other historians such as Htin Aung Htin Aung ( ; al ...
was king between 1231 and 1235 but it too is not universally accepted.Htin Aung 1970: 40–44


Lesser kingdoms


Myinsaing Myinsaing (, ; also transliterated as Myinzaing) is a historical site, located in Kyaukse Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It was one of the three de facto capitals of Myanmar from 1297 to 1310 during the Myinsaing period. In the present day, ...
(1297–1313)

All main chronicles prior to ''
Hmannan Yazawin ''Hmannan Maha Yazawindawgyi'' (, ; commonly, ''Hmannan Yazawin''; known in English as the ''Glass Palace Chronicle'') is the first Burmese chronicle, official chronicle of Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). It was compiled by the Royal Histori ...
'' say that the co-regency ended in 674 ME (1312/13) but ''Hmannan'' says it ended in 672 ME (1310/11). Inscriptional evidence shows that the first brother died on 13 April 1310 but the second brother was still alive.


Pinya Pinya (), or Vijayapura, was the capital of the Kingdom of Pinya, located near Ava, Mandalay Region, Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989 ...
(1313–1364)

Most of the dates below are by
Than Tun Than Tun (, ; 6 April 1923 – 30 November 2005) was an influential Burmese historian as well as an outspoken critic of the military junta of Burma. For his lifelong contributions to the development of worldwide study of Burmese history and cu ...
and
Gordon Luce Gordon Hannington Luce (20 January 1889 – 3 May 1979) was a colonial scholar in Burma. His outstanding library containing books, manuscripts, maps and photographs – The Luce Collection – was acquired by the National Library of Australia ...
who had checked the chronicle reported dates with inscriptions. Myinsaing Sithu does not appear in any of the chronicles.Than Tun 1959: 123–131


Sagaing Sagaing (, ) is a town in the Sagaing Region of Myanmar. It is located on the Irrawaddy River, to the south-west of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river. Sagaing, with its numerous Buddhist monasteries, is an important religious and ...
(1315–1364)


Ava Ava or AVA may refer to: Places Asia and Oceania * Ava Kingdom, in upper Burma from 1364 to 1555 ** Inwa, formerly Ava, the capital of Ava Kingdom ** Earl of Ava, a British colonial earldom in Burma * Ava, Iran, Gilan Province, a village * Iva ...
(1364–1555)

Different
Burmese chronicles The royal chronicles of Myanmar ( ; also known as Burmese chronicles) are detailed and continuous chronicles of the Burmese monarchy, monarchy of Myanmar (Burma). The chronicles were written on different media such as parabaik paper, palm-leaf ...
give similar but not identical dates for the regnal dates of the Ava period.See (Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 352–355) for a comparative table of Ava period regnal dates as given in ''
Maha Yazawin The ''Maha Yazawin'', fully the ''Maha Yazawindawgyi'' (, , Pali : Mahārājavaṃsa) and formerly romanized as the ,. is the first national chronicle of Burma/Myanmar. Completed in 1724 by U Kala, a historian at the Toungoo court, it was the ...
'', ''
Myanmar Yazawin Thit ''Maha Yazawin Thit'' (, ; ; also known as ''Myanmar Yazawin Thit'' or ''Yazawin Thit'') is a national chronicle of Burma (Myanmar). Completed in 1798, the chronicle was the first attempt by the Konbaung court to update and check the accuracy o ...
'', ''
Hmannan Yazawin ''Hmannan Maha Yazawindawgyi'' (, ; commonly, ''Hmannan Yazawin''; known in English as the ''Glass Palace Chronicle'') is the first Burmese chronicle, official chronicle of Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). It was compiled by the Royal Histori ...
'' and ''
Zatadawbon Yazawin ''Zatadawbon Yazawin'' (, ; also spelled ''Zatatawpon''; ) is the earliest extant chronicle of Burma. The chronicle mainly covers the regnal dates of kings as well as horoscopes of select kings from Pagan to Konbaung periods. In terms of regnal ...
''.
The following table largely follows the dates given in ''
Hmannan Yazawin ''Hmannan Maha Yazawindawgyi'' (, ; commonly, ''Hmannan Yazawin''; known in English as the ''Glass Palace Chronicle'') is the first Burmese chronicle, official chronicle of Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). It was compiled by the Royal Histori ...
'' and the table of regnal dates given in (Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 352–355). The regnal dates by G.E. Harvey (Harvey 1925: 366) for the most part are off by a year (a year later) than chronicle and inscriptionally-verified dates.


Hanthawaddy (1287–1539, 1550–1552)


Mrauk-U Mrauk U ( ) is a town in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is the capital of Mrauk-U Township, a subregion of the Mrauk-U District. Mrauk U is culturally significant for the local Rakhine (Arakanese) people and is the location of many impo ...
(1429–1785)

The reign dates are per the
Arakanese chronicle The royal chronicles of Myanmar ( ; also known as Burmese chronicles) are detailed and continuous chronicles of the monarchy of Myanmar (Burma). The chronicles were written on different media such as parabaik paper, palm leaf, and stone; they w ...
''
Rakhine Razawin Thit ''Rakhine Razawin Thit'' (, , Arakanese pronunciation: ) is a Burmese chronicle covering the history of Arakan from time immemorial to the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826). The author was Ven. Sandamala Linkara (), the ''Sayadaw'' (Chief A ...
'' (Sandamala Linkara Vol. 2 1931), converted into Western dates using (Eade 1989). The converted dates after 1582 are on the Gregorian calendar. (Some Arakanese chronicles state the foundation of the kingdom a year later, 1430. Moreover, the end of the kingdom is given per Burmese records, 2 January 1785. Arakanese records give a day earlier, 1 January 1785.)


Prome Pyay, and formerly anglicised as Prome, is the principal town of Pyay Township in the Bago Region in Myanmar. Pyay is located on the bank of the Irrawaddy River, north-west of Yangon. It is an important trade center for the Ayeyarwady Delta, Cent ...
(1482–1542)

:''See
List of rulers of Prome This is a list of rulers of Prome (Pyay) from the end of Pagan period to the beginning of Restored Toungoo Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). Strategically located at the border of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, the city of Prome (Pyay) was governed closel ...
for governors of Prome between the late Pagan and early Restored Toungoo periods.''


Toungoo Empire The First Toungoo Empire (, , lit. "Toungoo Period"; also known as the Second Burmese Empire in traditional historiography, or simply the Taungoo dynasty) was the dominant power in mainland Southeast Asia in the second half of the 16th century ...
(1510–1752)

:''See
List of rulers of Toungoo This is a list of rulers of Taungoo, the predecessor principality of the Taungoo Dynasty of what is now Myanmar. The principality of Taungoo, at the edge of the realm of Upper Burma-based kingdoms, was a rebellion-prone vassal state. The region ...
for the viceroys and governors of Toungoo between 1279 and 1612.'' The following are based on the reign dates in the Burmese calendar given in ''Maha Yazawin'' and ''Hmannan Yazawin'' chronicles. (The converted dates after 1582 are on the Gregorian calendar. Some books, e.g.,
Than Tun Than Tun (, ; 6 April 1923 – 30 November 2005) was an influential Burmese historian as well as an outspoken critic of the military junta of Burma. For his lifelong contributions to the development of worldwide study of Burmese history and cu ...
's ''Royal Orders of Burma'' (1983–1990), use old-style Julian dates for the entire Toungoo period.)


Restored Hanthawaddy The Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom (), also known as the Neo-Ramanic State () was the kingdom that ruled Lower Burma and parts of Upper Burma from 1740 to 1757. The kingdom grew out of a rebellion by the Mon led population of Pegu, who then ralli ...
(1740–1757)


Konbaung Empire (1752–1885)


Pretenders to the Burmese throne since 1885


Konbaung dynasty The Konbaung dynasty (), also known as the Third Burmese Empire (တတိယမြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်), was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. It created the second-largest empire in history of Mya ...

*King Thibaw (1885–1916) *Princess
Myat Phaya Lat Princess Myat Phaya Lat (, ; 4 October 1883 – 4 April 1956) was a Burmese royal princess and most senior member of the Royal House of Konbaung. She was the Royal Householder after the death of her father, King Thibaw while in exile in 1916 ...
(1916–1956) *Prince
Taw Phaya Prince Edward Taw Phaya (; also known as Tun Aung, 22 March 1924 – 12 January 2019) was the Pretender to the Throne of Burma (abolished in 1885). He was the second son of Princess Myat Phaya Galay, the fourth daughter of King Thibaw and Queen Sup ...
(1956–2019) (son-in-law of Myat Phaya Lat) *Richard Taw Phaya Myat Gyi (2019–present) (eldest son of Prince Taw Phaya) ;Other pretenders: *Prince
Soe Win Soe Win is the name of: * Soe Win (prime minister) (1947–2007), Prime Minister of Burma * Soe Win (general), deputy commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) * Soe Win (minister) (born 1938), Minister for Planning and Finance of ...
(1947–present) (eldest son of Prince Taw Phaya Gyi, Prince Taw Phaya's older brother)


See also

*
Burmese monarchs' family tree Pagan (849–1297) Small kingdoms Myinsaing (1297–1313) and Pinya (1313–1364) Sagaing (1315–1364) Ava (1364–1555) and Prome (1482–1542) - Kings of Ava; - ...
*
List of Burmese leaders This is a list of rulers and office-holders in the history of Myanmar. Heads of state * Monarchs :* Early and legendary monarchs :* Arakanese monarchs * Prime ministers * Presidents Deputy heads of state * Heirs apparent/presumptive * Vice ...
*
List of Burmese consorts This is a list of the queen consorts of the major kingdoms that existed in present-day Myanmar. Those with the rank of '' Nan Mibaya '' (senior queens) are listed. Primer Rankings of consorts Prior to the Konbaung dynasty, Konbaung period (1 ...
* List of early and legendary monarchs of Burma *
List of Arakanese monarchs The following is a list of monarchs of Rakhine State, Arakan, covering the monarchs of the major kingdoms of Arakanese that existed in the present day Rakhine State. For the Dhanyawadi and Waithali Kingdom, Waithali periods, various royal ...
*
List of rulers of Prome This is a list of rulers of Prome (Pyay) from the end of Pagan period to the beginning of Restored Toungoo Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). Strategically located at the border of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, the city of Prome (Pyay) was governed closel ...
*
List of rulers of Toungoo This is a list of rulers of Taungoo, the predecessor principality of the Taungoo Dynasty of what is now Myanmar. The principality of Taungoo, at the edge of the realm of Upper Burma-based kingdoms, was a rebellion-prone vassal state. The region ...
*
List of heirs to the Burmese thrones This is a list of the individuals who were, at any given time, considered the next in line to succeed the Burmese monarch to inherit the throne of various Burmese kingdoms (849–1885). Those who actually succeeded at any future time are shown in ...


Notes


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Burmese Monarchs Burmese