, title = King of Pagan , image = , caption = , reign = 1167 – February 1171 , coronation = , succession =

King of Burma 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). Although Burmese chronicles, Burmese chronicle tradition maintains that various monarchies of Bur ...

, predecessor = Sithu I , successor = Naratheinkha , suc-type = Successor , reg-type = Chief Minister , regent = Ananda Thuriya , spouse = Taung Pyinthe
Myauk Pyinthe , issue = Naratheinkha

Narapatisithu Narapati Sithu (, ; also Narapatisithu, Sithu II or Cansu II; 1138–1211) was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1174 to 1211. He is considered the last important king of Pagan. His peaceful and prosperous reign gave rise to Burmes ...

, issue-link = , full name = , house =

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 ...

, father = Sithu I , mother = Daughter of Dhamakyin , birth_date = 16 March 1118
Saturday, 9th waning of Late

Tagu Tagu (; ) is the first month of the traditional Burmese calendar. Holidays and observances *Thingyan * Pagoda festivals ** Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival, Bago Tagu symbols *Flower: ''Mesua ferrea'' *Astrological sign: Aries References See als ...

479 ME , birth_place =

(Bagan) , death_date = February 1171 (aged 52) , death_place =

, date of burial = , place of burial = , religion =

Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' ( anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or '' Dhamma'' in ...

, signature = Narathu (, ; 1118–1171) was king of 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 1167 to 1171. Narahthu ascended the throne after murdering his father King

Alaungsithu Alaungsithu or Sithu I ( ; also Cansu I; 1090–1167) was king of 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 ...

and his elder brother

Min Shin Saw , image = , caption = , reign = 1117–1151 , coronation = , succession = Heir-apparent of Burma , predecessor = Sithu I , successor = Narathu , suc- ...

.Coedès 1968: 167 Narathu built the largest of all the Buddhist temples, the Dhammayangyi.Hall 1960: 22 Nonetheless, his conduct greatly lowered the prestige of the dynasty, and he was deeply disfavored. The king was assassinated by the mercenaries sent by the chief of Pateikkaya in 1171. He's also remembered "Kalagya Min" (ကုလားကျမင်း) ("The King Fallen By the Kalars).

Early life

Narathu was a middle son of King Sithu I and Queen Yadanabon.Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 121, footnote 2 His mother was a daughter of Dhamma Kyin, a minister at King

Kyansittha Kyansittha (, ; also spelt as Kyanzittha or Hti-Hlaing Min; 21 July 1030 – 1112/13) was king of the Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1084 to 1112/13, and is considered one of the greatest Burmese monarchs. He continued the social, econom ...

's court.Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 304 The chronicles do not agree on the dates regarding his life and reign. The table below lists the dates given by the four main chronicles.Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 348 Narathu was a senior prince for much of his father's reign, whereas the king's eldest son

Min Shin Saw , image = , caption = , reign = 1117–1151 , coronation = , succession = Heir-apparent of Burma , predecessor = Sithu I , successor = Narathu , suc- ...

was the heir apparent. However, Min Shin Saw had a major falling out with his father, and was sent to exile at Aung Pinle Lake (near present-day

Mandalay Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. It is located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631 km (392 mi) north of Yangon. In 2014, the city had a population of 1,225,553. Mandalay was founded in 1857 by Ki ...

).Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 303 With Min Shin Saw in exile, Narathu now positioned himself to take over the throne. He impressed his father with his management of day-to-day affairs of the kingdom. He soon became the de facto heir apparent at the court.

Accession

In 1167,

fell violently ill, and Narathu ordered the king moved to the

Shwegugyi Temple The Shwegugyi Temple (, ; literally, "Great Golden Cave") is a Theravadin Buddhist temple in Bagan, Myanmar. The temple is recognized as Monument #1589 in the Bagan Archeological Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located just to the southeast ...

, which Sithu had built in 1131. According to the chronicles, when the king woke up and realized that he had been moved out of the palace, he was furious. Narathu came into the room, and put a blanket over his bedridden father's head. He still needed to deal with Min Shin Saw, who had come down with an army to claim the throne. Narathu readily submitted, personally leading Min Shin Saw's coronation ceremony. After the ceremony, Min Shin Saw was poisoned while eating his first meal as king.Htin Aung 1967: 49

Reign

Narathu's conduct lowered the prestige of the empire, and he was deeply unpopular. Burdened by his guilt, he shut himself in his palace.Htin Aung 1967: 50–51 To atone for the sins, he built the largest of all the Pagan temples, the Dhammayangyi. It is said that Narathu did not use water after using the toilet, and that the Pateikkaya queen did not let him come near her as a result. Narathu became angry, and killed a queen of his with his bare hands in a fit of range. The queen was a daughter of the chief of Pateikkaya, a tributary kingdom in the west in Bengal (near present-day Chin State).

Death

Assassination by Pateikkaya

The chief of Pateikkaya, angered by Narathu's action, sent a group of eight assassins, disguised as Brahmin astrologers in 1171. The eight managed to gain an audience with the king while hiding their swords underneath their robes. They quickly slew the king. When the palace guards rushed in, they all committed suicide.

Assassination by Polonnaruwa

According to a theory proposed by

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 ...

, Narathu may have been killed by the assassins from

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa () was the Sinhalese monarchy, Sinhalese kingdom that expanded across the island of Sri Lanka from 1070 until 1232. The kingdom started expanding its overseas influence during the reign of Parakramabahu the Great. I ...

in 1165.Than Tun 1964: 126–127 His theory has been strongly refuted by

Htin Aung Htin Aung ( ; also Maung Htin Aung; 18 May 1909 – 10 May 1978) was a writer and scholar of Burmese culture and history. Educated at Oxford and Cambridge, Htin Aung wrote several books on Burmese history and culture in both Burmese and Englis ...

as pure conjecture.Htin Aung 1970: 36–39 Wilhelm Geiger also refuted this in his trustworthiness of Mahavamsa saying"It is hardly doubtful that the report in the Culavamsa of the Ramanna campaign is much exaggerated, as the Burmese chronicles have nothing to say about such a catastrophe having overtaken their country".

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{Burmese monarchs Pagan dynasty 1118 births 1171 deaths 12th-century Burmese monarchs