Hkonmaing I of Onbaung–Hsipaw

Hkonmaing ( , Shan: ၶုၼ်မိူင်း; also Hkonmaing Gyi, ) or Hso Tamla was saopha of the Shan principality of Onbaung–Hsipaw in what is now Myanmar. He was the only main ally of King Narapati II of Ava in the latter's 25-year struggle against the Mohnyin-led Confederation of Shan States, Prome and Toungoo. After Ava's fall, he became a member of the Confederation. He died during or shortly after his participation in the Confederation's 1542 campaign against Toungoo Dynasty. His son, also named Hkonmaing, and grandson Narapati III became kings of Ava.

Background What is known about Hkonmaing is solely from the Burmese chronicles. The Chinese annals (Ming Shilu) on the Tai-Shan frontier (present-day southern Yunnan, Kachin State and Shan State) stopped at Hsenwi, and make no mention of Hsipaw. The Burmese chronicles mention Hkonmaing as a supporting figure—albeit an important one—in King Narapati II's reign. According to the chronicles, Hkonmaing (also called Hkonmaing Gyi, lit. "Hkonmaing the elder") was the ruler of the Shan state of Onbaung–Hsipaw, certainly by 1505. Since his eldest son Hkonmaing the younger was born in 1497, he was likely born c. 1480.

At the time, Onbaung–Hsipaw was a major Shan state, which controlled (or claimed to control) the entire stretch of eastern Shan Hills west of the Salween River: Bhamo, Yawnghwe (Nyaungshwe), Moreover, Onbaung–Hsipaw's relationship with Ava in the early 16th century was closer to an alliance than a patron-client arrangement. Chronicles mention Hkonmaing and Narapati II as thwethauk brothers —men who have ritually entered into "a sacramental brotherhood" by drinking each other's blood. Ava had been disintegrating since the 1480s, and its rulers had been fighting losing wars on several fronts against its former vassal states. Narapati II, who came to power in 1501 amidst major rebellions, desperately tried to retain the loyalty of remaining "vassal" rulers like Hkonmaing of Onbaung and Mingyi Nyo of Toungoo.

Ally of Ava In the end, Hkonmaing was the only steadfast ally of Narapati II. In late 1505, he sent an army (4,000 men, 300 horses, 60 elephants) led by his younger brother to assist Narapati defend the town of Sale from the forces of Prome and Toungoo. In 1511, Hkonmaing lost Bhamo, its northernmost possession, to Sawlon whose army simply seized the border town between the two Shan states. Hkonmaing asked Narapati for help. Narapati sent a sizable army (12,000 men, 600 horses, 150 elephants). But the Ava army was ambushed en route at Myedu by a smaller Mohnyin force (4,000 men, 200 horses, 100 elephants), and was driven back with heavy losses.

But their troubles were not yet over. Sawlon returned in the dry season of 1526–27 with a 15,000-strong army. Hkonmaing again came to the aid of Narapati II, and defended Ava. Like in 1525, Sawlon's forces overwhelmed Ava's defenses. On 25 March 1527, Narapati II died in action, and Ava was taken. Sawlon appointed his eldest son Thohanbwa king of Ava.

Later years After the defeat at Ava, Hkonmaing retreated to Hsipaw. He later either agreed to a truce with, or submitted to Sawlon since Sawlon did not attack Hsipaw after Ava's fall. After Sawlon was assassinated in 1533, Hkonmaing like other leaders of the Confederation probably did not acknowledge Thohanbwa as the first among equals. However, he did stay in the Confederation. He actively participated in the Confederation's 1541–42 campaign to retake Prome (Pyay).

The campaign was a failure. The Confederation forces were defeated in April 1542 by Toungoo forces led by Gen. Bayinnaung.