Min Pale of Paukmyaing
ပေါက်မြိုင် မင်းပုလဲ
Governor of Paukmyaing
Reignc. 1347 – c. 1402
SuccessorSithu
KingKyawswa I of Pinya
Kyawswa II of Pinya
Narathu of Pinya
Uzana II of Pinya
Swa Saw Ke
Tarabya
Minkhaung I
Bornc. 1330
Diedc. 1402
SpouseShwe Einthe of Pinya
IssueSaw Diga of Mye-Ne
HousePinya
FatherYandathu I of Lanbu
MotherMway Medaw of Lanbu
ReligionTheravada Buddhism

Min Pale (Burmese: မင်းပုလဲ, pronounced [mɪ́ɴ pəlɛ́]; c. 1330 – c. 1402) was governor of Paukmyaing in the Kingdom of Ava in the late 14th century. He was a grandson of King Uzana I of Pinya, and was one of the four top commanders of King Swa Saw Ke of Ava. He was the paternal grandfather of King Mohnyin Thado. All the kings of the Konbaung Dynasty claimed descent from him.

Brief

According to the 18th century Alaungpaya Ayedawbon chronicle, Min Pale's father Yandathu was descended from kings Naratheinkha and Sithu II of Pagan Dynasty while his mother Mway Medaw was a daughter of King Uzana I of Pinya.[1] The 19th century Hmannan Yazawin chronicle identifies his personal name as Nga Shwe.[2][3] He had at least one younger sister named Saw Khit Ke.[4] Pale was married to Shwe Einthe, daughter of King Kyawswa I of Pinya (r. 1344–50).[note 1] The couple had at least one son, Saw Diga.[1]

Kyawswa I appointed his son-in-law governor of Paukmyaing, a small town in modern Kyaukse Township.[5] He was reappointed at the position at the accession ceremony of King Swa Saw Ke.[6] Pale rose to become one of the four highest ranking generals[note 2] in the Royal Army although his ascent to the top echelon came late in his life. He was first mentioned as a commander only in 1390.[7]

Pale most probably had died by 1402 when King Minkhaung I appointed Sithu as the new governor of Paukmyaing.[8] He was the paternal grandfather of King Mohnyin Thado (r. 1426–39). King Alaungpaya, the founder of Konbaung Dynasty, claimed descent from him.[1]

Military service

The following is his military service as a commander.

Campaign Duration Troops commanded Notes
Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391) 1390–91 1 regiment Commanded a regiment in the riverine force (12,000 men in 12 regiments)[7]
Mohnyin–Ava War 1392–93 1 regiment Commander of armored infantry corps[9]

Ancestry

The governor was descended ultimately from the Pagan royalty.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Hmannan (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 380) gratuitously states that Shwe Einthe married late because her face was full of scars from chickenpox, and that her parents were resigned her to be single until Min Pale came along.
  2. ^ (MSK Vol. 13 1973: 134–135) and (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 435): The other three top generals were Thilawa of Yamethin, Theinkhathu Saw Hnaung and Tuyin of Inyi.

References

  1. ^ a b c d AA 1961: 12
  2. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 380, 435
  3. ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 205, in-line commentary by the editors, confirming that Nga Shwe was Min Pale.
  4. ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 82
  5. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 382
  6. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 405
  7. ^ a b Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 430
  8. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 443
  9. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 432–433

Bibliography

Min Pale of Paukmyaing Ava KingdomBorn: c. 1330 Died: c. 1402 Royal titles Preceded by Governor of Paukmyaing c. 1347–1402 Succeeded bySithu
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