Athinkhaya

Athinkhaya (Burmese: အသင်္ခယာ, pronounced [ʔəθɪ̀ɰ̃ kʰəjà]; also spelled Athinhkaya; c. 1261–1310) was a co-founder of Myinsaing Kingdom in present-day Central Burma (Myanmar).

[2][3] But the historian Michael Aung-Thwin has rejected the assertion, given that no historical evidence of any kind exists to support the claim.

Over the next two years, they manned the front (north of present-day Mandalay) while the king and his court relocated to Lower Burma.

In Central Burma, the brothers officially took over the leadership of the army, and consolidated their hold of the Kyaukese region, the main granary of the Pagan Kingdom.

Their youngest brother Thihathu was the least diplomatic, proclaiming himself hsinbyushin (ဆင်ဖြူရှင်, "Lord of White Elephant") in 1295 and mingyi (မင်းကြီး, "Great King") in 1296.

The brothers now ruled Central Burma as co-regents from their respective capitals of Myinsaing, Mekkhaya and Pinle.

In January 1300, the brothers decided to force the issue by attacking and occupying southernmost Mongol garrisons at Singu and Male.

The brothers decided to face the Mongols in Central Burma at their heavily fortified city of Myinsaing.

The Mongol army began the siege of Myinsaing on 25 January 1301, and launched a major attack on the fort on 28 February 1301.

On 12 March 1301, Athinkhaya, with his brothers' support, made an offer to the Mongol command, to give them a bribe in exchange for their withdrawal.

[16][17] The Yunnan government did not agree with the withdrawal; the two senior Mongol commanders were executed for abandoning the original mission.

The youngest brother assumed a royal title of Ananda Thiha Thura Zeya Dewa in 1306, and proclaimed himself king on 20 October 1309.

[note 6] Nevertheless, Thihathu proclaimed himself as the successor of the Pagan dynasty, as he founded Pinya Kingdom on 7 February 1313.