Thihathu
Who was Thihathu?
King of Myinsaing–Pinya
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Thihathu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Thihathu (1265–1325) co-founded the Myinsaing Kingdom and founded the Pinya Kingdom in central Burma, now Myanmar. He was born in the Kyaukse District and was the youngest of three brothers who significantly changed the political scene of Southeast Asia after the decline of the Pagan Empire. His brothers, Athinkhaya and Yazathingyan, together commanded the military and administrative strength of the fertile Kyaukse irrigated plain, the agricultural heart of central Burma.
Thihathu and his brothers first gained recognition by defending central Burma against Mongol invasions, repelling attacks in 1287 and again in 1300–1301. These military successes made them the leading power in the region and weakened the Pagan court's authority. In 1297, using their growing power and reputation, the brothers overthrew the ruling regime at Pagan and co-ruled central Burma under the Myinsaing Kingdom.
The death of the eldest brother, Athinkhaya, in 1310 was a turning point for Thihathu. Instead of sharing power with his surviving brother Yazathingyan, Thihathu pushed Yazathingyan aside and took sole control of central Burma. This made him the ruler of the Myinsaing Kingdom, though his rule faced significant internal challenges.
The biggest issue arose from Thihathu's choices about succession. Naming his adopted son Uzana I as heir over his eldest biological son, Saw Yun, led to a deep political split. In 1315, Saw Yun set up a rival power center at Sagaing, though he recognized his father's authority during Thihathu's life. This arrangement lasted until Thihathu died in 1325 at Pinya, after which Pinya and Sagaing became rival kingdoms competing for control in central Burma. Thihathu's wife was Mi Saw U, and his legacy was marked by the divisions he left behind as well as the kingdom he created.
Before Fame
Thihathu was born in 1265 in the Kyaukse District, a region in central Burma known for its extensive irrigation networks and high agricultural productivity. This area had long been a crucial supply base for the Pagan Empire, making its leading families politically and militarily important. Raised in this environment with his brothers Athinkhaya and Yazathingyan, Thihathu grew up during the decline of Pagan's power, a time marked by overextension, internal corruption, and increasing external pressure.
The Mongol campaigns launched by Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty against mainland Southeast Asia defined the era when Thihathu came of age. As the Pagan court proved unable to mount an effective defense, local leaders like the three brothers from Kyaukse stepped in to fill the gap. Thihathu's youth was spent in an atmosphere of military urgency and political opportunity, conditions that fueled his ambition and helped him become the most assertive of his siblings.
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the Myinsaing Kingdom after toppling the Pagan regime in 1297
- Successfully defended central Burma against Mongol invasions in 1287 and 1300–1301
- Consolidated sole rule over central Burma following the death of his brother Athinkhaya in 1310
- Founded the Pinya Kingdom, establishing a new dynastic center in central Burma
- Maintained nominal political unity in central Burma despite the rival power center established at Sagaing in 1315
Did You Know?
- 01.Thihathu was the youngest of the three Myinsaing brothers, yet he outlasted both his siblings and ultimately consolidated sole rule over central Burma.
- 02.He successfully repelled two separate Mongol invasion attempts, in 1287 and 1300–1301, before his forces had even formally overthrown the Pagan regime.
- 03.His decision to favor an adopted son, Uzana I, over his biological son Saw Yun directly led to the founding of the rival Sagaing Kingdom in 1315.
- 04.Thihathu founded the Pinya Kingdom, which took its name from the city of Pinya, where he also died in 1325.
- 05.The political split he left behind upon his death resulted in two competing successor states — Pinya and Sagaing — that weakened central Burmese power for decades.