The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.77

v4.c23.s4.77

Maung Maung was placed on the throne. Having spent most of his life in a monastery, he was terrified at his elevation and offered each of his seniors the crown, recalling them from the villages to which they had been exiled in the interests of his predecessor’s safety. They all refused, suspecting some deep device. Soon, however, his impotence became apparent, and after seven days on his unhappy throne he was executed by one who had many faults but was no puppet. This was Bodawpaya (1782–1819), the eldest of Alaungpaya’s surviving sons. The palace plots which were the bane of Burma proceeded in part from the lack of a clearly observed law of succession. Alaungpaya had expressed the wish that he should be succeeded by his sons in order of seniority, and this appears to have been in accordance with a recognised theory of succession¹ by the eldest agnate, but Hsinbyushin had disregarded it by nominating Singu.