Hsipaw (Shan: သီႇပေႃႉ), also known as Thibaw (Burmese: သီပေါနယ်), was a Shan state[1] in what is today Myanmar. Its capital was Hsipaw town. Hsipaw State was perhaps one of the most well known and powerful Shan States.

Hsipaw State
သီပေါမြို့
ဝဵင်းသီႇပေႃႉ
Mong of the Shan States
16th century–1959

Hsipaw State (beige, near the upper left) in a map of the Shan States
CapitalHsipaw
Area 
8,188 km2 (3,161 sq mi)
Population 
200,000
History 
• Bayinnaung's sovereignty acknowledged
16th century
• Abdication of the last Saopha
1959
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Ava Kingdom
Shan State
Today part ofMyanmar
Hsipaw Palace was built in 1924.
Hsipaw countryside, autumn 2006

History

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A predecessor state named Duṭṭhavatī (Burmese: ဒုဋ္ဌဝတီ) was said to be founded in 58 BC, according to local tradition.

During the Sino-Burmese War (1765–69) the Qianlong Emperor of China invaded the area of Hsipaw. The main Chinese army, led by Ming Rui, was to approach Ava through Hsenwi, Lashio and Hsipaw down the Namtu river. The main invasion route was the same route followed by the Manchu forces a century earlier, chasing the Yongli Emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty. The second army, led by Gen. E'erdeng'e, was to try the Bhamo route again.[2] The ultimate objective was for both armies to clamp themselves in a pincer action on the Burmese capital of Ava.[3] The Burmese plan was to hold the second Chinese army in the north at Kaungton with the army led by Ne Myo Sithu, and meet the main Chinese army in the northeast with two armies led by Maha Sithu and Maha Thiha Thura.[4]

At first, everything went according to plan for the Qing. The third invasion began in November 1767 as the smaller Chinese army attacked and occupied Bhamo. Within eight days, Ming Rui's main army occupied the Shan states of Hsenwi and Hsipaw.[4] Ming Rui made Hsenwi a supply base, and assigned 5000 troops to remain at Hsenwi and guard the rear. He then led a 15,000-strong army in the direction of Ava. In late December, at the Goteik Gorge (south of Hsipaw), the two main armies faced off and the first major battle of the third invasion ensued. Outnumbered two-to-one, Maha Sithu's main Burmese army was thoroughly routed by Ming Rui's Bannermen. Maha Thiha Thura too was repulsed at Hsenwi.[5][6] The news of the disaster at Goteik reached Ava. Hsinbyushin finally realized the gravity of the situation, and urgently recalled Burmese armies from Siam.[7]

Having smashed through the main Burmese army, Ming Rui pressed on full steam ahead, overrunning one town after another, and reached Singu on the Irrawaddy, 30 miles north of Ava at the beginning of 1768. The only bright spot for the Burmese was that the northern invasion force, which was to come down the Irrawaddy to join up with Ming Rui's main army, had been held off at Kaungton.[5]

In 1886 the saopha of Hsipaw was the first Shan prince that submitted to British rule in Burma, which led to Hsipaw becoming a British protectorate in 1887. According to the biography of Sao Nang Hearn Hkam (the chief wife, Madhidevi of Sao Shwe Thaik, the first president of Myanmar and another saopha of Hsenwi), Hsipaw, along with Kengtung and Yawnghwe were the wealthiest and most powerful saopha states in Shan State.[8]

Between 1938 and 1947 Hsipaw was administered by British Burma. The last ruler of the On Baung dynasty that had been ruling Hsipaw abdicated in 1959. The state became part of Shan State and, despite the independence struggle of the latter, eventually part of Burma.

The saophas played fluctuating roles in regional Shan and national Burmese politics from the 11th century all the way until the 1962 military coup by General Ne Win when all the privileges of the saophas were abolished.

Rulers

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The Princes of Hsipaw had the title of 'Saopha'.[citation needed] The following lists all rulers of Hsipaw State, along with their relationship to the prior ruler(s).[9][verification needed] From the mid-1880s to 1922, the territory was a British protectorate as part of the Shan States (within British Burma in the wider British India), and from 1922 to 1948 as part of the Federated Shan States. As a British possession, the ruler of Hsipaw State was entitled to a nine-gun salute.

# Rulers Enthrone Dethrone Detail
1 Sao Hkun Hkam Naw 58BC 23BC
2 Sao Hkun Hkam Kaw 23BC 10AD Son of Sao Hkun Hkam Naw
3 Sao Hkam Kawt 10 36 Son of Sao Hkun Hkam Kaw
4 Sao Hkam Htawt 36 72 Brother of Sao Hkam Kawt
5 Sao Hkam Möng 72 110 Son of Sao Hkam Htawt
6 Sao Hkam Ung 110 127 Brother of Sao Hkam Möng
7 Sao Hkam Sung 127 171 Brother of Sao Hkam Ung
8 Sao Hkam Kio 171 207 Son of Sao Hkam Sung
9 Paw Ai Phyao 207 237 Former senior officer (Amat)
10 Paw Pan Süng 237 237 Son of Paw Ai Phyao
11 Hso Hom Hpa 237 257 Son of Sao Sam Mya of Mao Löng (Möng Mao), great grandson of Sao Hkam Möng
12 Hso Waep Hpa 257 309 Son of Hso Hom Hpa
13 Hso Het Hpa 309 347 Son of Hso Waep Hpa
14 Hso Gam Hpa 347 380 Uncle of Hso Het Hpa
15 Hso Karm Hpa 380 420 Son of Hso Gam Hpa
16 Hso Pat Hpa 420 465 Brother of Hso Karm Hpa
17 Hso Hap Hpa 465 501 Brother of Hso Pat Hpa
18 Hso Pik Hpa 501 517 Son of Hso Hap Hpa
19 Hso Powt Hpa 517 552 Brother of Hso Pik Hpa
20 Hso Klip Hpa 552 574 Nephew of Hso Powt Hpa
21 Hso Peng Hpa 574 608 Brother of Hso Klip Hpa
22 Hso Kern Hpa 608 640 Son of Hso Peng Hpa
23 Hso Poeng Hpa 640 687 Brother of Hso Kern Hpa
24 Hso Pek Hpa 687 711 Brother of Hso Poeng Hpa
25 Hso Poum Hpa 711 739 Brother of Hso Pek Hpa
26 Hso Soup Hpa 739 761 Son of Hso Poum Hpa
27 Hso Hung Hpa 761 797 Son of Hso Soup Hpa
28 Hso Oum Hpa 797 815 Son of Hso Hung Hpa
29 Hso Hat Hpa 815 860 Son of Hso Oum Hpa
30 Hso Kat Hpa 860 897 Son of Hso Hat Hpa
31 Hso Tam Hpa 897 912 Son of Hso Kat Hpa
32 Hso Tap Hpa 912 947 Brother of Hso Tam Hpa
33 Hso Hkan Hpa 947 954 Son of Hso Tap Hpa
34 Hso Pung Hpa 954 994 Brother of Hso Hkan Hpa
35 Hso Mawk Hpa 994 1022 Son of Hso Pung Hpa
36 Hso Soum Hpa 1022 1028 Son of Hso Mawk Hpa
37 Hso Sam Hpa 1028 1064 Son of Hso Soum Hpa
38 Hso Hit Hpa 1064 1086 Nephew of Hso Sam Hpa
39 Hso Hueng Hpa 1086 1119 Son of Hso Hit Hpa
40 Hso Hsu Hpa 1119 1137 Son of Hso Hueng Hpa
41 Hso Hsawng Hpa 1137 1205 Son of Hso Hsu Hpa
42 Sao Hkun Hso 1160 1205 Son of Hso Hsawng Hpa
43 Sawn Mawng Hawna 1205 1228 Brother of Sao Hkun Hso
44 Hso Hkayeik Hpa 1228 1276 Son of Sawn Mawng Hawna
45 Sao Hkun Pe 1276 1324 Cousin of Hso Hkayeik Hpa
46 Hkun Kyaw Awng 1324 1367 Brother of Sao Hkun Pe
47 Hkun Kyaw Nwe 1367 1401 Son of Hkun Kyaw Awng
48 Hso Kyaung Hpa 1401 1423 Son of Hkun Kyaw Nwe
49 Sao Loi San Hpa 1423 1438 Nephew of Hso Kyaung Hpa
50 Hso Yap Hpa 1438 1448 Cousin of Sao Loi San Hpa
51 Hso Ham Hpa 1448 1454 Son of Hso Yap Hpa
52 Hso Moew Hpa 1454 1461 Brother of Hso Ham Hpa
53 Hso Wip Hpa 1461 1471 Brother of Hso Moew Hpa
54 Hso Piam Hpa 1471 1479 Son of Hso Wip Hpa
55 Hso Haw Hpa 1479 1487 Brother of Hso Piam Hpa
56 Hso Sam Hpa 1487 1519 Brother of Hso Haw Hpa
57 Sao Hkun Mawng 1519 1542 Son of Hso Sam Hpa, later was elected as the King of Ava
58 Hso Hom Hpa 1542 1549 Brother of Sao Hkun Mawng
59 Hso Paw Hpa 1549 1557 Son of Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai, grandson of Sao Hkun Mawng
60 Hso Yuew Hpa 1557 1557 Son of Hso Hom Hpa
61 Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai 1557 1557 Son of Sao Hkun Mawng
62 Hso Dwawt Hpa 1557 1565 Son of Hso Yuew Hpa
63 Hso Hkai Hpa 1565 1584 Son of Hso Dwawt Hpa
64 Hso Kaw Hpa 1584 1597 Son of Sao Hkun Mawng, brother of Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai
65 Sao Hkam Leng 1597 1636 Son of Hso Kaw Hpa
66 Sao Hswe Hking 1636 1655 Son of Sao Hkam Leng
67 Hso Woew Hpa 1655 1675 Son of Sao Hswe Hking
68 Hso Wei Hpa 1675 1702 Son of Hso Woew Hpa
69 Sao Okka Wara 1702 1714 Brother of Hso Wei Hpa
70 Sao Okka Zeya 1714 1718 Brother of Sao Okka Wara
71 Sao Sam Myo 1718 1722 Brother of Sao Okka Zeya
72 Sao Hkun Neng 1722 1752 Brother of Sao Sam Myo
73 Sao Sawra Yawta 1752 1767 Son of Sao Okka Wara
74 Sao Myat Hsan Te 1767 1788 Son of Sao Sawra Yawta
75 Sao Hswe Kya 1788 1809 Son of Sao Myat Hsan Te
76 Hkun Hkwi 1809 1843 Son of Sao Hswe Kya
77 Hkun Paw 1843 1853 Brother of Hkun Hkwi
78 Sao Kya Htun 1853 1858 Son of Sao Hswe Kya
79 Hkun Myat Than 1858 1866 Brother of Sao Kya Htun
80 Sao Kya Hkeng (Sao Hkun Hseng) – 1st reign 1866 1882 Son of Sao Kya Htun, deposed by King Mindon Min of Burma in 1882
81 Sao Hlaing Pa 1882 1886 Son of King Mindon Min of Burma
80 Sao Kya Hkeng (Sao Hkun Hseng) – 2nd reign 1886 1902 Son of Sao Kya Htun, reappointed by King Mindon Min of Burma in March 1886, died 8 May 1902
82 Sao Hkun Hke 1902 1928 Son of Sao Kya Hkeng, born 1872, reigned 8 May 1902, died May 1928
83 Sao Ohn Kya 1928 1938 Son of Sao Hkun Hke, born 1893, died July 1938
1938 1947 Under direct administration of British India
84 Sao Kya Hseng 1947 1559 The Last saopha of Hsipaw, son of Sao Ohn Kya, born 1924, (some records indicate that he is the son of Sao O, who is the son of Sao Kya Hkeng), disappeared 3 March 1962

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Thibaw" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 846–847.
  2. ^ Hall 1960, p. 28.
  3. ^ Haskew et al. 2008, pp. 27–31.
  4. ^ a b Kyaw Thet 1962, pp. 314–318.
  5. ^ a b Htin Aung 1967, pp. 178–179.
  6. ^ Phayre 1884, pp. 196–198.
  7. ^ Harvey 1925, p. 253.
  8. ^ History of the Shan States
  9. ^ The Upper Burma Gazetteer, pp. 217–223.

Bibliography

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  • Hall, D.G.E. (1960). Burma (3rd ed.). Hutchinson University Library. ISBN 978-1-4067-3503-1.
  • Haskew, Michael E.; Joregensen, Christer; Niderost, Eric; McNab, Chris (2008). Fighting techniques of the Oriental world, AD 1200–1860: equipment, combat skills, and tactics (Illustrated ed.). Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-38696-2.
  • Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.
  • Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
  • Kyaw Thet (1962). History of Union of Burma (in Burmese). Yangon: Yangon University Press.
  • Sir Arthur Purves Phayre (1884). History of Burma: including Burma proper, Pegu, Taungu, Tenasserim, and Arakan. From the earliest time to the end of the first war with British India. Trübner & co.
  • J. G. Scott (1900–1901). Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. Rangoon: superintendent, Government printing. 5 vols.
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27°37′N 97°17′E / 27.617°N 97.283°E / 27.617; 97.283