Prince Phyo, Prince of Mekkhaya

Maha Thiri Thu Dhammayaza (, ; born Phyo; c. 1791 – 1848), commonly known as the Prince of Mekkhaya (also spelt Mekkhara Prince) and Prince of Malun, was a Burmese royal prince and scholar during the Konbaung dynasty who is known as the first compiler of an English–Myanmar dictionary. He was the first and only member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal from the Burmese royal family and was nicknamed the "philosopher-prince" by English officers for his knowledge of literature and science.

Prince Phyo was called 'the first Prince of Mekkhaya' by historians, not to be confused with the second Prince of Mekkhaya, the Governor-general of Taungdwingyi Province who was born half a century later.

Early life and education Maung Phyo was born in 1791 in Amarapura Palace to King Bodawpaya and the Queen of the Northern Palace. He had a younger brother and a sister: Maung Yoe the Prince of Hlaing and Shwe Nan Myint the Princess of Kyaukse.

He received the titles of Minye Kyawswa, Thado Minhla Kyawswa and Maha Thiri Dhammayaza in 1797, 1802 and 1806 respectively. The title of Maha Thiri Thu Dhammayaza was conferred on him in 1823.

In addition to Mekkhaya (a town on the western bank of the mouth of the Zawgyi River in Kyaukse District), he was granted the appanage of Bantkyi circle, but remained known as the Mekkhaya Prince. In 1841 it was printed in Calcutta and published by the library department of the British Museum; it is available at the National Library of Myanmar and the Library of Congress of the United States as of 2021.

Prince Phyo died in July 1848.

Family Prince Phyo had three wives: Min Shwe Yoke, the Princess of Kyannyat. She was a composer from Kyayze Yadu and received the appanages of Kyannyat, Nyaungyan and Megawady. They had two daughters: Nan Shwe Myint, the Princess of Padaung, who later became a consort of Crown Prince Sagaing and of King Tharrawaddy, and Min Shwe Kyu, the Chief Queen of King Pagan, Min Shwe Hmoke, the Princess of Magway. She received the appanages of Sakkapa, Magway and Laungshe. Min Shwe Lote, the Princess of Danubyu. She received the appanages of Tagaung and Danubyu. She was originally his brother's consort and married Prince Phyo when her first husband died.