Manisanda
Saw Lu
Saw Lu (1077–84)
Kyansittha (1084–1112)
Manisanda Khin U (Burmese: မဏိစန္ဒာ ခင်ဦး [mənḭsàɰ̃dà kʰɪ̀ɰ̃ ʔú]) was queen to three consecutive kings of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). The ethnic Mon queen is famous in Burmese history for her love triangle with Gen. Kyansittha and King Anawrahta. Their story has been compared to the legend of King Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere.[1]
Manisanda was a daughter of the ruler of Pegu (Bago), which was subject to Pagan. Circa early 1070s, her father gave the princess to Anawrahta as gratitude for Pagan's help in repelling attacks on Pegu by foreign invaders from the direction of Chiang Mai. Kyansittha, who led the Pagan army that drove out the invaders, rode alongside the lady Manisanda who was borne in a curtained litter. During the long journey, they fell in love with each other so violently that the matter had to be reported to Anawrahta. The king nearly killed Kyansittha, and banished his adopted son and best general for the rest of his reign. The princess, who was probably still in her early to mid teens, became one of his queens.[2]
After Anawrahta's death, Saw Lu became king and married her. She became the chief queen soon after as Lu's chief queen Usaukpan died soon after his accession.[3] Uninterested in running the kingdom, Lu brought back Kyansittha from banishment. But Kyansittha and Manisanda resumed their love affair, and Lu too had to banish Kyansittha.[4]: 155 Her father, the ruler of Pegu, had died by then, and Lu appointed his childhood friend Yamankan as governor of Pegu. In 1084, Lu was killed by Yamankan who had raised a rebellion against Pagan rule.[5]
Kyansittha defeated the rebellion, and became king of Pagan. He married his love Manisanda for whom he had twice endured exile, and made her his queen. She became queen to the third monarch in succession.[6]
References
Bibliography
- Harvey, G.E. (1925). History of Burma. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
- Maung Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.
- Maha Sithu (2012) [1798]. Myint Swe; Kyaw Win; Thein Hlaing (eds.). Yazawin Thit (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3. Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
Manisanda | ||
Royal titles | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Usaukpan | Chief queen consort of Burma 1077–1084 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by herself | Queen of the Northern Palace 1084–1112 | Succeeded byas Chief queen consort |
Preceded by | Queen of the Northern Palace 1070s–1077 | Succeeded by herself |
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Queens of the Southern Palace
- Taung Pyinthe (Saw Rahan II)
- Myauk Pyinthe (Kunhsaw)1
- Agga Mahethi
- Usaukpan
- Manisanda
- Apeyadana
- Thanbula
- Yadanabon I1 and Taung Pyinthe (Sithu I)2
- Ti Lawka Sanda I
- Taung Pyinthe (Narathu)
- Min Aung Myat
- Weluwaddy1 and Min Aung Myat (Sithu II)2
- Taung Pyinthe II (Sithu II)
- Pwadawgyi
- Shin Saw3
- Yaza Dewi
- Ti Lawka Sanda II
- Yadanabon II
- Pwa Saw
- Saw Thitmahti
- Myauk Pyinthe (Saw Rahan II and Kunhsaw)
- Saw Mon Hla
- Manisanda
- Yadanabon I
- Myauk Pyinthe (Narathu)
- Saw Lat
- Myauk Pyinthe II (Sithu II)
- Myauk Pyinthe (Htilominlo)
- Saw Min Waing3
- Pwa Saw
- Saw Soe
- Ale Pyinthe (Saw Rahan II and Kunhsaw)
- Khin Tan
- Ti Lawka Sanda I
- Saw Ahlwan
- Wadanthika
- Saw Mya Kan
- Saw Mi Pyan
- Mi Saw U