He was born c. 1520 at the Toungoo Palace to Mingyi Swe and Shin Myo Myat, royal household servants of Crown Prince Tabinshwehti. He also had two younger half-brothers, Minkhaung II and Thado Minsaw who were born to his aunt (his mother"s younger sister) and his father.
The eldest younger brother of Bayinnaung was appointed governor of Zayweon by King Tabinshwehti in 1541, and viceroy of Martaban in 1552 by Bayinnaung. He participated in the military campaigns of the Toungoo Empire from 1534, and as a commander from 1540 to 1555. He had one elder sister, Dhamma Dewi, an elder brother, Bayinnaung, and a younger brother, Thado Dhamma Yaza World War II
He was appointed governor of Zayweon (modern Labutta) in 1541 by Tabinshwehti.
He served as a regimental commander in Toungoo"s campaigns against Prome (1541-1542) and Ava Kingdom (1543-1544).
He led a naval squadron in the Arakan campaign (1546-1547). He led an elephant battalion in the Siam campaign of (1548-1549).
He led a regiment in Bayinnaung"s 1550-1551 assault on the city of Toungoo, whose ruler Minkhaung II was their own half-brother. He was given a royal title of Minye Sithu on 11 January 1551 by Bayinnaung after Minkhaung surrendered on the same day.
Minye Sithu led an army in the Prome campaign (1551) and in the Pegu campaign (1552).
Bayinnaung appointed Minye Sithu viceroy of Martaban on 6 June 1552 (Monday, 14th waxing of Waso 914 Master of Engineering). He was given the responsibility to guard the rear against a possible attack by Siam. He led the forces that guarded the upper Tenasserim coast down to Ye.
The viceroy"s principal queen was a granddaughter of Baya Nandameit of Dwarawaddy, a descendant of Toungoo royalty.
The Arakanese prince had fled his homeland, having lost a succession struggle there. Minye Sithu died in March 1556.
He was a key member of Bayinnaung"s drive to restore the Toungoo Empire which fell apart after Tabinshwehti was assassinated on 30 April 1550.
