Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu ( ; c. 955–1048) was king of the Pagan Dynasty of

Burma 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 ha ...

(Myanmar) from 1001 to 1021. He was the father 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 ...

, the founder of Pagan Empire. The principality of Pagan continued to gain strength during his reign. Pagan's surviving walls were most likely constructed during his reign.Aung-Thwin 2005: 38 Kunhsaw is part of the pantheon of Burmese nats (spirits) as Htihpyusaung Nat.Harvey 1925: 18–19

Brief

According to the

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 ...

, Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu was a son of an early Pagan king Tannet, who was assassinated as his queen was pregnant with Kunhsaw. However Tannet died in the early 10th century. It is more likely that he was a descendant of Tannet. He took over the Pagan throne from King

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 married three of Nyaung-u's chief queens, two of whom were pregnant and subsequently gave birth to Kyiso and Sokkate. Kunhsaw raised Sokkate and Kyiso as his own sons. When the two sons reached manhood, they forced Kunhsaw to abdicate the throne and become a monk. Kyiso took over as king.Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 225–227 He lost the throne in 1021 although various chronicles do not agree on the dates regarding his life and reign.Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 347 The oldest chronicle '' Zatadawbon Yazawin'' is considered to be the most accurate for the Pagan period.(Maha Yazawin 2006: 346–349): Among the four major chronicles, only ''Zatadawbon Yazawin's'' dates line up with Anawrahta's inscriptionally verified accession date of 1044 CE. (Aung-Thwin 2005: 121–123): In general, ''Zata'' is considered "the most accurate of all Burmese chronicles, particularly with regard to the best-known Pagan and Ava kings, many of whose dates have been corroborated by epigraphy." The table below lists the dates given by four main chronicles, as well as ''Hmannan's'' dates when anchored by the Anawrahta's inscriptionally verified accession date of 1044. The deposed king remained a monk for over two decades. Then in 1044, Kyiso' successor Sokkate married one of Kunhsaw's queens, mother of Anawrahta, greatly angering Anawrahta. Anawrahta challenged and killed Sokkate in single combat. Anwarahta offered the throne to Kunhsaw. But the former king refused, allowing Anawrahta to ascend the throne.Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 229-230 Kunhsaw died four years after his son Anawrahta ascended the throne c. 1048.Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 236

Htibyuhsaung

Htibyuhsaung ( ; ) is one of 37 nats in the official Burmese pantheon of nats. He was King Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu, father of

. He was deposed and forced to become a monk by his stepsons, and died later.

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* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu Pagan dynasty 11th-century Burmese monarchs Deified Burmese people Deified male monarchs Monarchs who abdicated 1048 deaths Burmese Buddhist monarchs Burmese Buddhist monks 950s births Usurpers