The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c29.s3.4

v3.c29.s3.4

At the same time as he invested Kyawswa, the Emperor sent a seal to Athinhkaya as prince of Myinsaing in the Kyaukse district; Hsenwi had been similarly recognised in 1289, and Mohnyin² in 1296. Athinhkaya was the eldest of the Three Shān Brothers (1298–1324) who now became the real rulers of Upper Burma; the second was Yazāthinkyan, chief of Mokkayā; the youngest Thihathu, chief of Pinle. Their towns, all in the Kyaukse district, command passes into the Shān hills and were exactly where a chieftain ruling hill and plain would fix his stronghold—to command the plain and afford easy escape to his ancestral highlands. They were the sons of a hill chief who, owing to some feud, had fled to Myinsaing, where there was already a Shān colony; his daughter married no less a person than a son of the Pagān dynasty, so that the family gained favour at court and were entrusted with the administration of the Kyaukse canals. When the dynasty fell, they had every temptation to be disloyal, for, being in charge of the great canals and rice fields, they controlled the food supplies of the palace. In 1298 they plotted with the queen dowager, lured Kyawswa into a new monastery which they had built, and forced him to take the robe and dwell there under guard. They then reported to Yünnan that it had been necessary to dispose him because he was asking for armed assistance from Chiengmai and had intercepted envoys whom the new Talaing state of Pegu was sending to Yünnan. Finally they killed him³; at his death he said: ‘None of my ancestors was ever executed with the sword. Either throw me into the river or strangle me'; so they strangled and cremated him and cast his remains into the Irrawaddy¹. They killed also his son, his monk and principal followers, and seized the harem.