Narapatisithu

Narapati Sithu (, ; also Narapatisithu, Sithu II or Cansu II; 1138–1211) was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1174 to 1211. He is considered the last important king of the Pagans. His peaceful and prosperous reign gave rise to Burmese culture which finally emerged from the shadow of Mon and Pyu cultures. The Burman leadership of the kingdom was now unquestioned. The Pagan Empire reached its peak during his reign, and would decline gradually after his death.

The reign saw many firsts in Burmese history. For the first time, the term Mranma (the Burmans) was openly used in Burmese language inscriptions. Burmese became the primary written language of the kingdom, replacing Mon and Pyu. The first Burmese customary law based on his grandfather Alaungsithu's judgments was compiled, and used as the common system of law for the entire kingdom.

He encouraged further reforms of the Burmese Buddhism. By the efforts of his primate Shin Uttarajiva, the majority of the Burmese Buddhist monks realigned themselves with the Mahavihara school of Sri Lanka.

Early life The future king was born to Prince Narathu and his wife (later known as Myauk Pyinthe, "Queen of the Northern Palace") in Pagan (Bagan) on 8 October 1150. The chronicles do not agree on his birth and reign dates. The table below lists the dates given by the four main chronicles.

Chronicles Birth–Death Age Reign Length of reign Zatadawbon Yazawin (List of Monarchs section) 1148–1210 62 1173–1210 37 Zatadawbon Yazawin (Royal Horoscopes section) 1146–1212 66 1175–1212 37 Maha Yazawin 1132–1197 65 1164–1197 33 Yazawin Thit and Hmannan Yazawin 1138–1211 73 1174–1211 37 Scholarship 8 October 1150 – 18 August 1211 60 May 1174 – 18 August 1211 37

Note that all the chronicles say he was born on a Tuesday but the king's date of birth by scholarship fell on Sunday.

Heir apparent In 1171, his elder brother Naratheinkha succeeded the throne, the new king was greeted with multiple rebellions by the Kudus in the Tagaung region in the north and the Mons of Tenasserim coast in the south. Naratheinkha appointed his younger brother Narapatisithu as the heir apparent and commander-in-chief to deal with the rebellions. In 1174, Naratheinkha seized Narapati's wife Weluwaddy (Veluvati) after he sent Narapati on a mission. Narapati retaliated by sending a group of 80 led by Aungzwa to assassinate his brother. After the assassination, he ascended the throne as Sithu II in honor of his grandfather Alaungsithu.

He came to power some time between 27 March 1174 and 10 August 1174, most probably between April or May 1174. He assumed the regnal name "Śrī Tribhuvanāditya Pavaradhammarāja."

Reign One of the first acts of Sithu II was to found the Royal Palace Guards, whose sole duty was to guard the palace and the king. (The Palace Guards later evolved to become the nucleus round which the Burmese army assembled in war time.)

Sinhalese raids According to the Pali Culawamsa Chronicles, the King of Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka), Parakramabahu I, dispatched an expedition in 1180 to settle a trade dispute. It suffered from storms and several ships were wrecked. But one ship reached the Crow Island near Mawlamyaing and five reached Pathein, killing a governor, burning villages, massacring the inhabitants, and carrying off a number into slavery.

The Devanagala Rock Inscription of Parakramabahu I in Sri Lanka confirms the raid as it records donation of lands to a returning General from the victories in Ramanna (Burma).

This Sinhalese raid has been strongly refuted by Htin Aung as pure conjecture. Wilhelm Geiger also refuted this in his trustworthiness of Mahavamsa saying "It is hardly doubtful that the report in the Culavamsa of the Ramanna campaign is much exaggerated, as the Burmese chronicles have nothing to say about such a catastrophe having overtaken their country". Nevertheless, friendly relations were soon resumed and historical cultural exchanges between the countries continued. The reformation of Burmese Buddhism through the Sinhalese Mahavihara school also continued.

Death Sithu II died at age 73 (in his 74th year) on 18 August 1211 (11th waxing of Tawthalin 573 ME). On his deathbed, he placed the hands of his five sons on his chest and enjoined them to rule with mercy and justice, and to live together in brotherly love.

Veneration Narapatisithu is venerated as a nat (spirit) in Burmese folk religion and is enshrined at the Kuni Shrine in Pakhan.