Sithu Kyawhtin

For other people named Sithu Kyawhtin, see Sithu Kyawhtin (disambiguation).

Sithu Kyawhtin Narapati IV of Ava စည်သူကျော်ထင်
King of Ava
Reign	c. February 1552 – March 1555
Predecessor	Mobye Narapati
Successor	Bayinnaung
House	Mohnyin Sawlon
Father	Sawlon
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

Sithu Kyawhtin (Template:Lang-my, pronounced [sìθù tɕɔ̀tʰìɴ]; also known as Sagaing Narapati; 1496–15??) was the last king of Ava who reigned from 1552 to 1555. The ethnically Shan king, a son of Sawlon the saopha (chief) of Mohnyin, came to power in 1552 after driving out King Mobye Narapati from Ava. In March 1555, Ava was taken by King Bayinnaung of Toungoo, and Sithu Kyawhtin was carried off to Pegu (Bago). He was treated with honor in Pegu, which he repaid by successfully suppressing a rebellion which broke out while Bayinnaung was away on the front in Siam. He was given many more honors.

Early history

Governor of Salin

Sithu Kyawhtin was a son of Sawlon of Mohnyin, who led a confederation of Shan States and conquered Ava in 1527. Sawlon appointed his sons to rule the newly conquered kingdom. His elder brother Thohanbwa was made king of Ava, and Sithu Kyawhtin was given Salin, a southern region of Ava Kingdom, as an appanage.

In the 1540s, Sithu Kyawhtin became immersed in power struggles among the Shan chiefs of the confederation. In 1543, Thohanbwa was assassinated by his ministers, who handed the throne to Hkonmaing, the saopha of Thibaw. (His father Sawlon was too assassinated by his ministers in 1533.) Sithu Kyawhtin felt that the throne was his as Mohnyin was the leader of the confederation. Still, he set aside the differences and joined in on the confederation's attacks on the Toungoo Dynasty in 1544 because the southern kingdom was becoming too powerful. The attacks failed. In 1545, King Tabinshwehti of Toungoo counter-attacked, and conquered Sithu Kyawhtin's appanage Salin, and up to Pagan. Sithu Kyawhtin fled to Sagaing, across the Irrawaddy river from Ava.

At Sagaing

When Mobye Narapati, who was the saopha of Mobye and son of Hkonmaing, came to power in 1546, he scarcely acknowledged the new king, who had authority in the small extent of territory around the capital. In late 1551, Sithu Kyawhtin openly rebelled, forcing Mobye Narapati to flee Ava in early 1552. Sithu Kyawhtin came to the throne of Ava with the title of Narapati (known as Sagaing Narapati for his base of Sagaing).

Reign at Ava

Realizing that Bayinnaung of southern kingdom of Toungoo was about to attack Ava, Sithu Kyawhtin asked the saophas of the confederation to set aside their mutual differences, and renew their league against the common foe. In 1553, a large army was raised to oppose to the upcoming invasion from the south. The army was massed around Pagan, which was the border between the two kingdoms. In late 1554, the invasion came, personally led by Bayinnaung himself. In March 1555, the southern forces took the city of Ava. Sithu Kyawhtin was taken prisoner and was sent to Pegu.

At Pegu

At Pegu, the former king was given an estate with thirty servants. Bayinnaung's good treat was repaid. In 1564, while Bayinnaung was at the front in Siam, a rebellion broke out in Pegu. Sithu Kyawhtin, a former commander, was called in for help to suppress the rebellion. He suppressed the rebellion. Bayinnaung, pleased with Sithu Kyawhtin's work, he gave Sithu Kyawhtin many more honors.