The empire founded by Anawrahta over two centuries earlier was still peaceful but already on its last legs, unprepared for the internal disorders and external forces that were to come.

An inscription donated by his maternal aunt (younger sister of his mother) states that Kyaswa was born on Monday, 4 May 1198 at 4 o'clock in the morning.

The devout king, unlike predecessors before him, did try to address the issue by reclaiming some of religious land from forest-dwelling monks.

Frustrated, the king left the administration of the kingdom to his son and his deputies, and spent his time composing religious writings, and giving his patronage only orthodox (Theravada) sects.

In 1249, he issued a series of royal edicts (dated 22 April, 1 May and 6 May 1249)[9] to be put up, carved on stone, in every village of more than 50 houses in the empire: The king died sometime between 1249 and 1251, according to the main chronicles.