Htayanka Hteik Kaung Tin (; 1873–1963), also known as Htanyanka Princess, was a Burmese royal princess. She married her half-brother Pyinmana Prince. During the Japanese occupation, the couple were considered a potential puppet king and queen by the Japanese government but refused the role.

Life

Htayanka Hteik Kaung Tin was born in 1873 in Mandalay to

King Mindon Mindon Min (, ; 1808 – 1878), born Maung Lwin, was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma because of his role in the Fifth Buddhist Council. Under his half brother ...

and his consort, Ngazun Mibaya, a queen of the fourth rank. The youngest of three siblings, her mother hailed from the Ayutthayan royal lineage, with her grandfather being a prince of the

Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...

. Htayanka was granted the appanage of and Myohla as ''

myoza ''Myoza'' or ''Myosa'' () is a high-ranking royal title and position for Burmese royalty and nobility. Various types of ''myoza'' existed depending on the dynastic period. Some ''myozas'' possessed broad administrative powers, while others only wor ...

'', holding the rank of Hteikkaungtin, the second-rank Princess of Burma. Pyinmana Prince and his wife

During King Mindon's illness before his final days, she served as a masseuse to him. While observing her and Pyinmana, the right masseur, King Mindon was delighted and ordered their marriage once they reached adulthood. As they prepared to return, both Pyinmana and Htayanka were awarded a diamond necklace. Upon reaching adulthood, she married Prince Pyinmana on March 25, 1902, during British rule. At the time, the princess was 28, and the prince was 30. He remained devoted to her, never taking another woman as a

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...

. After the fall of the Konbaung dynasty, they were sent to India by the British government, where Htayanka gave birth to their first son. Kyaymyin Mibaya, the mother of Pyinmana, later brought the child back to Burma, but unfortunately, he died at a young age. The Royal Cremations of Pyinmana Prince

During the

Japanese occupation of Burma The Japanese occupation of Burma was the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was occupied by the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, ...

, Pyinmana was considered a puppet heir to the throne by the Japanese government, but Pyinmana refused the offer in 1942. Following a novitiation ceremony (

shinbyu Shinbyu (; , also spelt shinpyu) is the Burmese term for a novitiate, novitiation ceremony (pabbajja) in the tradition of Theravada, Theravada Buddhism, referring to the celebrations marking the Śrāmaṇera, sāmaṇera (novitiate) monastic or ...

) for her grandchild, Princess Htayanka fell ill and died on June 2, 1963, at the age of 90. Her husband, overwhelmed with sorrow, died on June 7, four days after her death. They were laid to rest together in the courtyard of Kyaumyin Mibaya Tomb.

References

{{Authority control Konbaung dynasty 1873 births 1963 deaths Burmese Buddhists Burmese princesses People from Mandalay

Life

See also

References