He was born c. 1520 at the Toungoo Palace to Mingyi Swe and Shin Myo Myat, royal household servants of Crown Prince Tabinshwehti.
[1] He participated in Toungoo's campaigns against Hanthawaddy (1534–41), and by 1540 had achieved the rank of regimental commander with the style of Thiri Zeya Kyawhtin (သီရိဇေယျကျော်ထင်).
[6] In 1550, he joined his brothers Bayinnaung and Thado Dhamma Yaza II on the campaign to suppress the rebellion of Smim Htaw.
[12] In November 1554, Minye Sithu for the first time did not accompany his elder brother to the front when Toungoo forces marched to Ava (Inwa).
In July 1554, his elder daughter was married to Thiri Dhammathawka, former governor of Sandoway (Thandwe) and a son of King Min Bin of Arakan.