Hsipaw State

This article is about one of the former Shan States. For the present-day administrative division, see Hsipaw Township. For the town, see Hsipaw.

Hsipaw (Shan: သီႇပေႃႉ), also known as Thibaw (Burmese: သီပေါနယ်), was a Shan state^[1] in what is today Myanmar. Its capital was Hsipaw town. Hsipaw State was perhaps one of the most well known and powerful Shan States.

Hsipaw State သီပေါမြို့ ဝဵင်းသီႇပေႃႉ
Mong of the Shan States
16th century–1959
Hsipaw State (beige, near the upper left) in a map of the Shan States
Capital	Hsipaw
Area
• 1891 Census of India	8,188 km2 (3,161 sq mi)
Population
• 1891 Census of India	200,000
History
• Bayinnaung's sovereignty acknowledged	16th century
• Abdication of the last Saopha	1959
Preceded by Succeeded by Ava Kingdom Shan State
Today part of	Myanmar

Hsipaw Palace was built in 1924.

Hsipaw countryside, autumn 2006

History

A predecessor state named Duṭṭhavatī (Burmese: ဒုဋ္ဌဝတီ) was said to be founded in 58 BC, according to local tradition.

During the Sino-Burmese War (1765–69) the Qianlong Emperor of China invaded the area of Hsipaw. The main Chinese army, led by Ming Rui, was to approach Ava through Hsenwi, Lashio and Hsipaw down the Namtu river. The main invasion route was the same route followed by the Manchu forces a century earlier, chasing the Yongli Emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty. The second army, led by Gen. E'erdeng'e, was to try the Bhamo route again.^[2] The ultimate objective was for both armies to clamp themselves in a pincer action on the Burmese capital of Ava.^[3] The Burmese plan was to hold the second Chinese army in the north at Kaungton with the army led by Ne Myo Sithu, and meet the main Chinese army in the northeast with two armies led by Maha Sithu and Maha Thiha Thura.^[4]

At first, everything went according to plan for the Qing. The third invasion began in November 1767 as the smaller Chinese army attacked and occupied Bhamo. Within eight days, Ming Rui's main army occupied the Shan states of Hsenwi and Hsipaw.^[4] Ming Rui made Hsenwi a supply base, and assigned 5000 troops to remain at Hsenwi and guard the rear. He then led a 15,000-strong army in the direction of Ava. In late December, at the Goteik Gorge (south of Hsipaw), the two main armies faced off and the first major battle of the third invasion ensued. Outnumbered two-to-one, Maha Sithu's main Burmese army was thoroughly routed by Ming Rui's Bannermen. Maha Thiha Thura too was repulsed at Hsenwi.^[5][6] The news of the disaster at Goteik reached Ava. Hsinbyushin finally realized the gravity of the situation, and urgently recalled Burmese armies from Siam.^[7]

Having smashed through the main Burmese army, Ming Rui pressed on full steam ahead, overrunning one town after another, and reached Singu on the Irrawaddy, 30 miles north of Ava at the beginning of 1768. The only bright spot for the Burmese was that the northern invasion force, which was to come down the Irrawaddy to join up with Ming Rui's main army, had been held off at Kaungton.^[5]

In 1886 the saopha of Hsipaw was the first Shan prince that submitted to British rule in Burma, which led to Hsipaw becoming a British protectorate in 1887. According to the biography of Sao Nang Hearn Hkam (the chief wife, Madhidevi of Sao Shwe Thaik, the first president of Myanmar and another saopha of Hsenwi), Hsipaw, along with Kengtung and Yawnghwe were the wealthiest and most powerful saopha states in Shan State.^[8]

Between 1938 and 1947 Hsipaw was administered by British Burma. The last ruler of the On Baung dynasty that had been ruling Hsipaw abdicated in 1959. The state became part of Shan State and, despite the independence struggle of the latter, eventually part of Burma.

The saophas played fluctuating roles in regional Shan and national Burmese politics from the 11th century all the way until the 1962 military coup by General Ne Win when all the privileges of the saophas were abolished.

Rulers

The Princes of Hsipaw had the title of 'Saopha'.^{[citation needed]} The following lists all rulers of Hsipaw State, along with their relationship to the prior ruler(s).^{[9][verification needed]} From the mid-1880s to 1922, the territory was a British protectorate as part of the Shan States (within British Burma in the wider British India), and from 1922 to 1948 as part of the Federated Shan States. As a British possession, the ruler of Hsipaw State was entitled to a nine-gun salute.

1. Sao Hkun Hkam Naw 58BC–23BC
2. Sao Hkun Hkam Kaw 23BC–10AD son
3. Sao Hkam Kawt 10–36 son
4. Sao Hkam Htawt 36–72 brother
5. Sao Hkam Möng 72–110 son
6. Sao Hkam Ung 110–127 brother
7. Sao Hkam Sung 127–171 brother
8. Sao Hkam Kio 171–207 son
9. Paw Ai Phyao 207–237 Amat
10. Paw Pan Süng 237–237 son
11. Hso Hom Hpa 237–257 son of Sao Sam Mya of Mao Löng
12. Hso Waep Hpa 257–309 son
13. Hso Het Hpa 309–347 son
14. Hso Gam Hpa 347–380 uncle
15. Hso Karm Hpa 380–420 son
16. Hso Pat Hpa 420–465 brother
17. Hso Hap Hpa 465–501 brother
18. Hso Pik Hpa 501–517 son
19. Hso Powt Hpa 517–552 brother
20. Hso Klip Hpa 552–574 nephew
21. Hso Peng Hpa 574–608 brother
22. Hso Kern Hpa 608–640 son
23. Hso Poeng Hpa 640–687 brother
24. Hso Pek Hpa 687–711 brother
25. Hso Poum Hpa 711–739 brother
26. Hso Soup Hpa 739–761 son
27. Hso Hung Hpa 761–797 son
28. Hso Oum Hpa 797–815 son
29. Hso Hat Hpa 815–860 son
30. Hso Kat Hpa 860–897 son
31. Hso Tam Hpa 897–912 son
32. Hso Tap Hpa 912–947 brother
33. Hso Hkan Hpa 947–954 son
34. Hso Pung Hpa 954–994 brother
35. Hso Mawk Hpa 994–1022 son
36. Hso Soum Hpa 1022–1028 son
37. Hso Sam Hpa 1028–1064 son
38. Hso Hit Hpa 1064–1086 nephew
39. Hso Hueng Hpa 1086–1119 son
40. Hso Hsu Hpa 1119–1137 son
41. Hso Hsawng Hpa 1137–1205 son
42. Sao Hkun Hso 1160–1205 son
43. Sawn Mawng Hawna 1205–1228 brother
44. Hso Hkayeik Hpa 1228–1276 son
45. Sao Hkun Pe 1276–1324 cousin
46. Hkun Kyaw Awng 1324–1367 brother
47. Hkun Kyaw Nwe 1367–1401 son
48. Hso Kyaung Hpa 1401–1423 son
49. Sao Loi San Hpa 1423–1438 nephew
50. Hso Yap Hpa 1438–1448 cousin
51. Hso Ham Hpa 1448–1454 son
52. Hso Moew Hpa 1454–1461 brother
53. Hso Wip Hpa 1461–1471 brother
54. Hso Piam Hpa 1471–1479 son
55. Hso Haw Hpa 1479–1487 brother
56. Hso Sam Hpa 1487–1519 brother
57. Sao Hkun Mawng 1519–1542 son
58. Hso Hom Hpa 1542–1549 brother
59. Hso Paw Hpa 1549–1557 son of Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai
60. Hso Yuew Hpa 1557–1557 son of Hso Hom Hpa
61. Hso Pak Hpa from Mong Nai 1557–1557 son of Sao Hkun Mawng
62. Hso Dwawt Hpa 1557–1565 son of Hso Yuew Hpa
63. Hso Hkai Hpa 1565–1584 son
64. Hso Kaw Hpa 1584–1597 son of Sao Hkun Mawng
65. Sao Hkam Leng 1597–1636 son
66. Sao Hswe Hking 1636–1655 son
67. Hso Woew Hpa 1655–1675 son
68. Hso Wei Hpa 1675–1702 son
69. Sao Okka Wara 1702–1714 brother
70. Sao Okka Zeya 1714–1718 brother
71. Sao Sam Myo 1718–1722 brother
72. Sao Hkun Neng 1722–1752 brother
73. Sao Sawra Yawta 1752–1767 son of Okka Wara
74. Sao Myat Hsan Te 1767–1788 son
75. Sao Hswe Kya 1788–1809 son
76. Hkun Hkwi 1809–1843 son
77. Hkun Paw 1843–1853 brother
78. Sao Kya Htun 1853–1858 son of Sao Hswe Kya
79. Hkun Myat Than 1858–1866 brother
80. Sao Kya Hkeng 1st reign 1866–1882 (Sao Hkun Hseng deposed 1882–86) (d. 1902) son of Sao Kya Htun
81. Sao Hlaing Pa 1882–1886 son of King Mindon Min
82. Sao Kya Hkeng (Sao Hkun Hseng) 2nd reign Mar 1886–8 May 1902
83. Sao Hkun Hke (b. 1872 – d. 1928) (from 2 Jan 1928, Sir Sao Hke) 8 May 1902–May 1928 son
84. Sao Ohn Kya (b. 1893 – d. 1938) 1928–Jul 1938 son

    Under direct administration of British India (1938–1947)

85. Sao Kya Hseng (b. 1924 – d. 1962) 1947–1959 son

See also

• Hsipaw Yazawin
• Sino-Burmese War (1765–1769)

References

1. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Thibaw" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 846–847.
2. Hall 1960, p. 28.
3. Haskew et al. 2008, pp. 27–31.
4. Kyaw Thet 1962, pp. 314–318.
5. Htin Aung 1967, pp. 178–179.
6. Phayre 1884, pp. 196–198.
7. Harvey 1925, p. 253.
8. History of the Shan States
9. The Upper Burma Gazetteer, pp. 217–223.

Bibliography

• Hall, D.G.E. (1960). Burma (3rd ed.). Hutchinson University Library. ISBN 978-1-4067-3503-1.
• Haskew, Michael E.; Joregensen, Christer; Niderost, Eric; McNab, Chris (2008). Fighting techniques of the Oriental world, AD 1200–1860: equipment, combat skills, and tactics (Illustrated ed.). Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-38696-2.
• Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.
• Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
• Kyaw Thet (1962). History of Union of Burma (in Burmese). Yangon: Yangon University Press.
• Sir Arthur Purves Phayre (1884). History of Burma: including Burma proper, Pegu, Taungu, Tenasserim, and Arakan. From the earliest time to the end of the first war with British India. Trübner & co.
• J. G. Scott (1900–1901). Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. Rangoon: superintendent, Government printing. 5 vols.

External links

• "Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan states"
• The Imperial Gazetteer of India
• Hsipaw (Shan State)
• Twilight Over Burma: My Life As a Shan Princess

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