Narathu

Narathu (, ; 1118–1171) was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1167 to 1171. Narathu ascended the throne after murdering his father King Alaungsithu and his elder brother Min Shin Saw. Narathu built the largest of all the Buddhist temples, the Dhammayangyi. Nonetheless, his conduct greatly lowered the prestige of the dynasty, and he was deeply disfavored. The king was assassinated by the Indian mercenaries sent by the king of Paṭikkarā in 1171. His mother was a daughter of Dhamma Kyin, a minister at King Kyansittha's court. The chronicles do not agree on the dates regarding his life and reign. The table below lists the dates given by the four main chronicles.

Chronicles Birth–Death Age Reign Length of reign Zatadawbon Yazawin 1118–1170 52 1167–1170 3 Maha Yazawin 1114–1161 47 1158–1161 3 Yazawin Thit 1117–1171 54 1168–1171 3 Hmannan Yazawin 1123–1171 48 1167–1171 4

Narathu was a senior prince for much of his father's reign, whereas the king's eldest son Min Shin Saw was the heir apparent. However, Min Shin Saw had a major falling out with his father, and was sent to exile at Aung Pinle Lake (near present-day Mandalay). With Min Shin Saw in exile, Narathu now positioned himself to take over the throne. He impressed his father with his management of day-to-day affairs of the kingdom. He soon became the de facto heir apparent at the court.

Reign Narathu's conduct lowered the prestige of the empire, and he was deeply unpopular. Burdened by his guilt, he shut himself in his palace. To atone for the sins, he built the largest of all the Pagan temples, the Dhammayangyi.

Death Assassination by Pateikkaya The chief of Pateikkaya, angered by Narathu's action, sent a group of eight assassins, disguised as Brahmin astrologers in 1171. The eight managed to gain an audience with the king while hiding their swords underneath their robes. They quickly slew the king. When the palace guards rushed in, they all committed suicide. His theory 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".