Thalun

Thalun (Burmese: သာလွန်မင်း, pronounced [θàlʊ̀ɰ̃]; 17 June 1584 – 27 August 1648) was the eighth king of Toungoo dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). During his 19-year reign, Thalun successfully rebuilt the war-torn country which had been under constant warfare for nearly a century since the 1530s. Thalun instituted many administrative reforms and rebuilt the economy of the kingdom.

Thalun သာလွန်
The statute of king Thalun in Mandalay Palace
King of Burma
Reign	19 August 1629 – 27 August 1648
Predecessor	Minyedeippa
Successor	Pindale
Born	17 June 1584 Sunday, 5th waxing of Nayon 946 ME[1]
Died	27 August 1648 (aged 64) Thursday, 10th waning of Tawthalin 1010 ME Ava (Inwa)
Burial	29 August 1648 Inwa Palace
Consort	Khin Myo Sit[2] Khin Thet Hnin of Mone Khin Myat Hset of Pinya
Issue	11 sons and 20 daughters including: Pindale Pye Ne Myo Ye Kyaw[3] Khin Ma Min Sit[3]
Full name Birth name: Thakin Gyi[4]
House	Toungoo
Father	Nyaungyan
Mother	Khin Hpone Myat[5]
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

In 1608, Anaukpetlun captured Prome and made Thalun the governor of Prome. In 1628, Anaukpetlun was murdered by his own son Minyedeippa who made himself king. Thalun was then on his campaigns against the Shans at Kengtung with his brother Minye Kyawswa II, the governor of Ava. However, the death of Anaukpetlun forced the two to return to Pegu to claim the throne from the unlawful king and to counter the opportunistic Arakanese invasions. Thalun became the center of rallying against Minyedaikpa and was proclaimed the crown prince.

In 1629, Thalun and Minye Kyawswa were able to take Pegu and executed Minyedeippa.[6]^:218 At Pegu, there was an assassination attempt by a Mon on King Thalun, which resulted in the massacre of the Mons.

Thalun fought a three-year campaign against Lanna, finally subjugating them in 1632. In 1634, Thalun moved the capital to Ava and crowned himself king of Ava and made his brother Minye Kyawswa crown prince, Maha Uparaja. Thalun then concentrated on building pagodas and other works of merit.[6]^:219

However, Minye Kyawswa died on 28 August 1648. Thalun then made his own son Pindale as the crown prince. The son of Minye Kyawswa who wanted the crown prince title for himself staged a rebellion. The palace was sacked and Thalun fled to Sagaing. However, the rebellion was soon put down and the conspirators were burnt alive. Thalun died on 19 October 1648, succeeded by his son Pindale.

Notes

1. Hmannan Vol. 3 2003: 247
2. Hmannan Vol. 3 2003: 249–251
3. Maha Yazawin Vol. 3 2006: 214
4. Hmannan Vol. 3 2003: 143
5. Hmannan Vol. 3 2003: 42
6. Rajanubhab, D., 2001, Our Wars With the Burmese, Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd., ISBN 9747534584

References

• Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
• Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 1829.
• Lieberman, Victor B. (1984). Burmese Administrative Cycles: Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580–1760. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-05407-X.
• Than Tun (1968). "Administration under King Thalun (1629-48)" (PDF). Journal of Burma Research Society. 51 (2).
• Than Tun (1985). The Royal Orders of Burma, A.D. 1598–1885. 2. Kyoto University. hdl:2433/173789.
• Kala, U (1724). Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). 1–3 (2006, 4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.

External links

• "Thalun Mint Let-Htet Ote-Chote-Yay" (PDF). (1444 KB).