Smim Payu
Smim Payu | |
---|---|
Governor of Myaungmya | |
In office 1541–1544 | |
Succeeded by | Satu Gamani |
Minister at Toungoo court | |
In office 1536–1544 | |
Monarch | Tabinshwehti |
Minister at Hanthawaddy court | |
In office ?–1536 | |
Monarch | Takayutpi |
Personal details | |
Born | Payu |
Died | c. November/December 1544 Natdaw 906 Battle of Martaban (1541) Battle of Prome (1541–1542) Battle of Prome (1543–1544) |
Smim Payu (
Military career
Switching to Tabinshwehti's side
Smim Payu was a minister at the court of King Takayutpi and a general in the Hanthawaddy Army. He battled Toungoo forces early in the
Battle of Martaban (1540–1541)
He made his name at the battle of Martaban. The city of Martaban (Mottama) on the upper Tenasserim coast was the last Hanthawaddy holdout. In November 1541, Toungoo forces laid siege to the port city. He led an army at first but was later reassigned to take command of the Toungoo navy with the rank of admiral (လှေတပ်ဝန်; lit. "Minister of War Boats").[6][note 2] For months, Toungoo forces tried but could not break through the wealthy port's heavily fortified defenses that included Portuguese mercenaries, firearms and warships. Toungoo armies could not even get near the high walls of the city defended by Portuguese muskets and cannon. Payu's "navy", which consisted of small war boats, too was unable to take on seven Portuguese warships guarding the harbor.[6]
Payu then proposed a plan to the Toungoo command that the main attack needed go through the harbor. The king, who was personally leading the siege, accepted the plan, and appointed him to carry it out. The admiral went up the
Payu was showered with awards by the grateful king. He was given Myaungmya in fief and assigned his own cavalry and elephant regiments. He was also given the responsibility to administer the newly enlarged kingdom with Bayinnaung, the king's deputy.[2]
Battle of Prome (1541–1542, 1543–1544)
Payu was the joint commander of the navy (with Nanda Yawda, governor of Thamyindon) in Toungoo's November 1541 attack on
Death
Smim Payu died in late 1544.[note 3] He was deeply respected by the ethnic Mon lords of Lower Burma. Chronicles report that all of the Mon lords shaved their heads in mourning.[10] His governorship at Myaungmya was succeeded by Satu Gamani.[11]
Notes
- ^ (Sein Lwin Lay 2006: 181): The Maha Yazawin Chronicle spells it သမိန်ဖရူး, [θəmèiɴ pʰəjú] but all later chronicles spell it သမိန်ပရူ, [θəmèiɴ pəjù].
- ^ (Sein Lwin Lay 2006: 182): Tabinshwehti was the first Burmese king on record to use the term wun ဝန် (lit. "one who bears the responsibility"). Earlier kings simply used the term amat (အမတ်) (meaning "minister") for senior court officials.
- ^ Chronicles (Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 222–223) simply state that he died in 906 ME (29 March 1544 to 29 March 1545). But since the entry on his death comes after the entry on the king's palace addition in Natdaw 906 ME (15 November 1544 to 13 December 1544), he likely died sometime between 15 November 1544 and 29 March 1545. Moreover, the entry on his death is followed by the entry on the Confederation's attack on Salin, which also took place in 906 ME. Since most campaigns took place early in the dry season (November/December), Payu most likely died in November/December 1544.
References
- ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 190
- ^ a b Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 201
- ^ a b Harvey 1925: 156
- ^ a b Htin Aung 1967: 110
- ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 186
- ^ a b Sein Lwin Lay 2006: 181–182
- ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 203, 209
- ^ a b Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 217–220
- ^ Harvey 1925: 157–158
- ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 222
- ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 228
Bibliography
- Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
- Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.
- Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
- Sein Lwin Lay, Kahtika U (1968). Mintaya Shwe Hti and Bayinnaung: Ketumadi Taungoo Yazawin (in Burmese) (2006, 2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Yan Aung Sarpay.