Narapatisithu

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For other people named Narapati, see Narapati (disambiguation). For other people named Sithu, see Sithu (disambiguation).
Narapati Sithu
နရပတိ စည်သူ
Sithu II
Theravada Buddhism
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Narapati Sithu (

Burman leadership of the kingdom was now unquestioned. The Pagan Empire reached its peak during his reign, and would decline gradually after his death.[5]

The reign saw many firsts in

Royal Palace Guards, which later evolved to become the nucleus of the Burmese army in war time.[6]

He encouraged further reforms of the

Burmese Buddhism. By the efforts of his primate Shin Uttarajiva, the majority of the Burmese Buddhist monks realigned themselves with the Mahavihara school of Sri Lanka
.

Early life

The future king was born to Prince Narathu and his wife (later known as Myauk Pyinthe, "Queen of the Northern Palace") in Pagan (Bagan) on 8 October 1150.[7] The chronicles do not agree on his birth and reign dates. The table below lists the dates given by the four main chronicles.[8]

Chronicles Birth–Death Age Reign Length of reign
Zatadawbon Yazawin (List of Monarchs section) 1148–1210 62 1173–1210 37
Zatadawbon Yazawin (Royal Horoscopes section) 1146–1212 66 1175–1212 37
Maha Yazawin 1132–1197 65 1164–1197 33
Yazawin Thit and Hmannan Yazawin 1138–1211 73 1174–1211 37
Scholarship 8 October 1150 – 18 August 1211 60 c. May 1174 – 18 August 1211 37

Note that all the chronicles say he was born on a Tuesday but the king's date of birth by scholarship fell on Sunday.

Heir apparent

In 1171, his elder brother

Tagaung region in the north and the Mons of Tenasserim coast in the south. Naratheinkha appointed his younger brother Narapatisithu as the heir apparent and commander-in-chief to deal with the rebellions. In 1174, Naratheinkha seized Narapati's wife Weluwaddy (Veluvati) after he sent Narapati on a mission. Narapati retaliated by sending a group of 80 led by Aungzwa to assassinate his brother. After the assassination, he ascended the throne as Sithu II in honor of his grandfather Alaungsithu.[5][note 1]

He came to power some time between 27 March 1174 and 10 August 1174, most probably between April or May 1174.[note 2] He assumed the regnal name "Śrī Tribhuvanāditya Pavaradhammarāja."[9]

Reign

One of the first acts of Sithu II was to found the

Royal Palace Guards, whose sole duty was to guard the palace and the king. (The Palace Guards later evolved to become the nucleus round which the Burmese army assembled in war time.)[6] He then had to pacify the kingdom, which had seen much instability since the death of Alaungsithu in 1167, and had grown increasingly restless. He successfully persuaded the great-grandson of the Mon king Manuha not to start a rebellion. The rest of the reign was free of rebellions.[5]

Economy

By all accounts, his reign was peaceful and prosperous. Following

Mu canals in the present-day Shwebo District. His attempts to expand irrigation southwards into Minbu District by building a canal system repeatedly failed, and had to be abandoned. Through his efforts, the kingdom grew even more prosperous.[6]

The prosperity of the kingdom is reflected in the superb the

Nyaungshwe (Shan State) shows the reach of his kingdom.[6]

Rise of Burmese culture

His reign also saw the rise of Burmese culture which finally emerged from the shadows of

Pyu.[5]

Administration

Narapatisithu appointed Nadaungmya, great-grandson of Nyaung-U Hpi (one of the great Paladins during Anawrahta's reign), chief justice. His chief minister was Ananda Thuriya, reportedly a man of valor who continually hunted down robbers and presented them alive to the king.[6] He had the first Burmese customary law based on his grandfather Alaungsithu's judgments compiled, and used as the common system of law for the entire kingdom.[5]

Religious reforms

He encouraged further reforms of the

Burmese Buddhism. By the efforts of his primate Shin Uttarajiva, the majority of the Burmese Buddhist monks realigned themselves with the Mahavihara school of Sri Lanka away from the less orthodox Conjeveram-Thaton school.[10]

Sinhalese raids

According to the Pali

Mawlamyaing and five reached Pathein, killing a governor, burning villages, massacring the inhabitants, and carrying off a number into slavery.[6]
As the Burmese chronicles do not mention these events, there is no check on the Sinhalese version.

The Devanagala Rock Inscription of Parakramabahu I in SriLanka confirms the raid as it records donation of lands to a returning General from the victories in Ramanna(burma).

Nevertheless, the friendly relations were soon resumed. The historical cultural exchanges between the countries continued. The reformation of Burmese Buddhism through the Sinhalese Mahavihara school continued.[6][11]

Death

Sithu II died at age 73 (in his 74th year) on 18 August 1211 (11th waxing of Tawthalin 573 ME). On his deathbed, he placed the hands of his five sons on his chest and enjoined them to rule with mercy and justice, and to live together in brotherly love.[12]

Notes

  1. G.H. Luce does not recognize Naratheinkha, and proposes an interregnum of nine years between 1165 and 1174. But Luce's conjecture is vigorously disputed. See (Htin Aung 1970: 40–44) for Htin Aung
    's response. (Aung-Thwin 1985) does not recognize Luce's theory at all.
  2. ^ Per (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 330), he died on or before (Thursday, 11th waxing of 573 ME / 18 August 1211), having reigned for 37 years. Because he came to power in 536 ME (1174 CE) per (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 315), it means he ascended the throne between the New Year's day of 536 ME (27 March 1174) and (11th waxing of 536 ME / 10 August 1174). Moreover, the accession date was most likely between April and May of that year. Per (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 314–315), he had just returned from the front. Since almost all the army campaigns were conducted during the dry season which ends in late May before the rainy season, he likely came to power some time between April and May.

References

  1. ^ Than Tun 1964: 129
  2. ^ Luce 1970: 336
  3. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 328
  4. ^ a b Tarling 1993: 166–167
  5. ^ a b c d e f Htin Aung 1967: 50–54
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Harvey 1925: 57–58
  7. ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 124, footnote 2
  8. ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 348
  9. ^ Hlaing, Nwe Ni (2013). "The concepts of Kingship in Bagan with Special Emphasis on the titles of Bagan Kings". Mandalay University Research Journal.
  10. ^ Harvey 1925: 56
  11. ^ Coedès 1968: 177–178
  12. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 330

Bibliography

Narapatisithu
Pagan Dynasty
Born: 8 October 1150 Died: 18 August 1211
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Burma
1174–1211 		Succeeded by
Royal titles
Preceded by Heir to the Burmese Throne
1171–1174 		Succeeded by
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