Background
His mother, who was of noble birth, was Anawrahta"s son Sawlu"s wet nurse
His mother, who was of noble birth, was Anawrahta"s son Sawlu"s wet nurse
He nearly succeeded. He captured and killed Sawlu. But he was driven out of Upper Burma by Sawlu"s brother, Kyansittha and was killed while in retreat. Yamankan, an ethnic Mon, was raised in Pagan at the court of King Anawrahta.
He was blind in one eye.
(The name Yamankan (literally, Blind Mon) was not his true name. lieutenant was an insulting name given by the Burmese chronicles for his rebellion.
Yaman or Raman means Mon, and Kan means Blind. His true name is lost to history.)
He and Sawlu grew up together at the Pagan court, and became close friends.
When Sawlu became in king in 1077, he appointed his childhood friend governor of Pegu.
Sawlu proved an ineffective ruler, and over time, Yamankan became convinced that he could successfully break away. He wanted independence for his Mon homeland, which was conquered by Anawrahta only in 1057. In 1084, Yamankan had a fallout with Sawlu, and raised a rebellion.
They marched south and halted near Myingun (near Magwe).
Yamankan"s army was stationed at Thayet. Sawlu was impatient and against Kyansittha"s warning, attacked.
But Yamankan had expected such an attack and prepared his positions well. Sawlu"s army was routed and the king was taken prisoner.
Yamankan executed Sawlu after Kyansittha tried to rescue Sawlu.