Background
He was a grandson of kings Thihathu of Pinya and Kyawswa of Pagan. His father died about three months after his birth. Minye grew up at the Sagaing Palace until he was about nine.
He was a grandson of kings Thihathu of Pinya and Kyawswa of Pagan. His father died about three months after his birth. Minye grew up at the Sagaing Palace until he was about nine.
He reversed his predecessor Kyaswa"s policy of peace with Sagaing"s cross-river rival Pinya although no war broke out. Minye was the third child of Queen Saw Hnaung and King Saw Yun of Sagaing. In 1335/36, he and his three full siblings had to flee to Mindon, deep inside Pinya"s territory after their half-cousin Shwetaungtet seized the throne.
But after a palace battle between loyalists of Shwetaungtet and Tarabya I killed both Shwetaungtet and Tarabya, Kyaswa was placed on the throne by Nanda Pakyan.
Kyaswa reigned for the next nine plus years. Minye likely played no more than a nominal role in his brother"s administration since Nanda Pakyan actually ran the country.
However, he was thrust into the center stage in 1349 when Kyaswa died without leaving a male heir. Minye became king with the reign name of Anawrahta.
He apparently found a white elephant, considered a propitious symbol, during his reign, and proclaimed himself Hsinbyushin ("Lord of White Elephant").
His reign lasted just over seven months. He may have reversed Kyaswa"s policy of peace with Sagaing"s cross-river rival Pinya. But no war broke out.
Minye died shortly after 8 November 1349.
The royal chronicles do not agree on his birth, death and reign dates.