Ma Mya

Ma Mya (; ) was a Burmese woman of Mon descent who lived in Moulmein (မော်လမြိုင်). She was best known for her tragic love legend story between her and Prince Sukkasem na Chiengmai, who at the time studied at St. Patrick School (now Basic Education High School No. 5 Mawlamyine). Her story still intrigues many in Myanmar, where she is seen as a romantic yet tragic figure, often told as a bedtime story about a commoner who fell in love with a royal prince.

Story According to Thai biographer Prani Siridhara na Badalung (ปราณี ศิริธร ณ พัทลุง) from the book Phet Lanna No.1 (เพชรลานนา เล่ม 1), Ma Mya was a young female cigarette merchant in Moulmein. She met Prince Sukkasem when he studied at Mawlamyine after his father sent him to St. Patrick School, and they fell in love and swore to be lovers at the Kyaikthanlan Pagoda. However, after Prince Sukkasem graduated, he went back to Chiang Mai with Ma Mya, disguised as a man and followed him back to Chiang Mai, but later it was revealed that she was a Burmese woman. Prince Kaew (then Viceroy of Chiang Mai), father of Prince Sukkasem, told him that it was inappropriate for a Chiang Mai royalty to marry a Burmese woman, especially Prince Sukkasem who would be next ruler of Chiang Mai, and Prince Sukkasem was already engaged to Princess Buachum.

There have been suggestions that Prince Sukkasem and Ma Mya had to part ways because Ma Mya was under British jurisdiction, raising concerns of potential international political issues. However, scholars have researched this claim and concluded that it lacks foundation. As evidence, the marriage between Prince Inthanon of Chiang Mai and Princess Sukantha of Kengtung did not cause any political issues.

Some Thai historians claim that Ma Mya may have never existed and that her story could be fictional, while others argue it was real. However, Burmese historians agree that the story of Ma Mya truly happened. Some disputed facts are as follows:

Succession of Ruler in the future of Prince Sukkasem wasn't a problem for the love story because Prince Laokaew, his cousin, has a higher chance of succession and Lanna's succession must follow in Agnatic seniority, so it wasn't true that Prince Sukkasem would be the next ruler of Chiang Mai. With his failed life and his position that wasn't part of The Royalties with five bowls's group (เจ้าขันห้าใบ Chao Khan Ha Bai), the highest royalty - authority ranks in then-Northern Thailand Kingdoms, it was also made impossible to be next ruler. Prince Wongsak Na Chiang Mai, Prince Sukkasem's nephew and pretender to the Chiang Mai throne, said, 'It wasn't a sad story like they wrote it.' He said Prince Sukkasem was just a playboy and had relationships with some Burmese women, but not seriously. and this made Prince Kaew, his father, upset because he just wanted Prince Sukkasem to go study and not do other things. He also said Prince Sukkasem wasn't an alcoholic until he died because he was heartbroken due to failed love with Ma Mya. Story of Prince Sukkasem should rather be true story of Prince Wongtawan, his younger brother, from the irregularities found: traveled to find out about the story of Ma Mya and interviewed a Thilashin who believed to be Ma Mya's student and found the photo that was believed to be Ma Mya. The lady in that photo had a Thai husband and gave born a baby, then gave the baby to others for raising and the baby died when was 9 months old. It was found that the lady who was believe to be Ma Mya was born in 1902, the same year Prince Sukkasem studied at Mawlamyine, and it was impossible that Ma Mya and Prince Sukkasem met at that time. Some historians speculate that Ma Mya was a Burmese which in under British rule at that time, so relationship between Prince Sukkasem and Ma Mya can made national conflict between Siam (who ruled Chiang Mai) and British. However, it was revealed that it was impossible, because when Prince Inthanon na Chiengmai, Prince Sukkasem's half brother, married with Princess Sukantha of Kengtung, There was no any problem or conflict whatsoever.

In popular culture Ma Mya is the subject of Prani Siridhara na Badalung's historic book Love Life of Chiang Mai Prince, first published in 1980. Ma Mya is the subject of Lanna folk song "Ma Mya" by Charan Manophet, and Soontaree Vechanont. Portrayed by Suvanant Kongying in 1994 Channel 7 drama Ma Mya.