Kanaung Mintha

Kanaung Mintha (; 31 January 1820 – 2 August 1866) was crown prince of Burma and son of King Tharrawaddy and younger brother of King Mindon of Burma. He overthrew the king Pagan Min in 1853 with his brother Mindon and served as heir apparent and modernising influence until his assassination in 1866.

Early life Kanaung Mintha was born to King Tharrawaddy and the Kyaukmaw queen consort (later Queen Chandra Mata Mahay) in the palace of Amarapura. He was born with the style Thado Minye Kyawhtin in September 1819 (1181 Myanmar Era, Tawtalin Waxing 2). He was given the personal name Taung Min, reflecting his birth in the new South Hall of the Amarapura Palace. Upon coming of age, he was given the town of Mindat as its myoza and receiving the title Mindat Min. After the accession of King Pagan Min in 1846, the he was reassigned governorship to the town of Kanaung.

Towards the end of the Second Anglo-Burmese War, Kanaung and Mindon overthrew their half brother Pagan (1848–1853); Mindon ascended the throne and Kanaung became the Heir Apparent on 11 July 1853. He was the fiery "War Prince" and the peoples' idol. Kanaung attempted to modernize the country by sending scholars to Western countries and by founding an arms industry. However, his efforts were cut short when he was killed by his two nephews. Notwithstanding his short life, he is revered by Burmese nationals for his innovations in modernizing Burma.

Role as a modernizer King Mindon was dedicated to religion, but Kanaung was skillful in administration, serving as the leader (, thamada) of the Hluttaw, the kingdom's administrative body. Under Kanaung's guidance, the following reforms were undertaken: centralization of the kingdom's internal administration, introduction of a salary system for the bureaucracy (to dampen the authority and income of bureaucrats), fixed judicial fees, comprehensive penal laws, reorganization of the financial system, removal of trade barriers including custom duties, reform of the thathameda taxes (to increase direct taxation), and modernization of the kingdom's army and introduction of new police forces.

Kanaung tried to rebuild the Burmese Army with modern weapons. He sent men to study in Western countries to establish an up-to-date arms industry. His efforts were well depicted in contemporary stories and poems. One story relates to his effort in testing depth charges in order to repulse British troops sailing up the Irrawaddy. Eventually, these testings were thwarted by the head of the Buddhist Sangha who protested against them by asserting their harmful effects on aquatic life. Another story tells about his visits to the factories on cold early winter mornings wrapped in a blanket. He was also known for his waywardness as depicted in a famous love song called Seinchu Kya-nyaung bawlè written by his wife, Princess Hlaing Hteik Khaung Tin.

Assassination In an unsuccessful palace coup on 2 August 1866, Kanaung Mintha was beheaded by the princes Myingun and Myinkhondaing (sons of King Mindon), at the Hluttaw (People's Assembly), killed along with 3 of his sons.

Upon his death, he was conferred the royal title Thiri Pawara Maha Dhamma Yaza, nominally reserved for kings, as part of a yadaya ritual to "substitute" for Mindon's death.

In 1878, King Mindon died and his son Prince Thibaw acceded to the throne. In November 1885, King Thibaw surrendered to the British after the defeat at Third Anglo-Burmese War. Consequently, Thibaw was sent to exile in India. To this day, Burmese citizens believe that their history would have been considerably different if Kanaung had survive and ascended the Burmese throne. The loss of Kanaung Mintha has been mourned by the Burmese nearly as much as that of Aung San. In addition, Burmese people believe British officers were behind the assassination plot of Aung San and Kanaung.

Epilogue In 1978 Ne Win, dictator of Burma since leading a military coup in 1962, married June Rose Bellamy, aka Yadana Nat-Me (Precious Angel), a great-granddaughter of Ka Naung, daughter of Princess Hteiktin Ma Lat and Herbert Bellamy, an Australian orchid collector long settled in Burma. The marriage lasted only a few months and ended in divorce.