Career
Despite the historical importance, the king"s reign is recorded in the chronicles with what has been identified as a legend by scholarship. According to the legend, Sawrahan usurped the throne from King Theinhko. Once a farmer, Nyaung-u killed Theinhko when he stole a cucumber from his field
Nyaung-u Sawrahan was accepted as king by the queen to prevent unrest in the kingdom and became known as Taungthugyi Minister (Cucumber King or Farmer King.
တောင်သူကြီးမင်း). The story is likely a fairy tale. There are at least three other versions—an exact parallel in the Burmese fairy tale "Princess Thudhammasari" and two variants in Cambodian history, one in the eighth and another in the 14th century.
Kings of Cambodia claim descent from the gardener. Nyaung-u Sawrahan was overthrown by Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu, who in turn was overthrown by Nyaung-u"s sons Kyiso and Sokkate.
Various chronicles do not agree on the dates regarding his life and reign.
The table below lists the dates given by four main chronicles, as well as Hmannan"s dates when anchored by the Anawrahta"s inscriptionally verified accession date of 1044.
