Sanda Min Hla

Sanda Min Hla (, ; 1300s–1363/64) was the chief queen consort of three kings of Martaban, and the real palace power behind the throne. Her murder of her second husband King Saw E, grandson of the king of Sukhothai provoked an invasion from Sukhothai. Her third husband King Binnya E Law, whom she also placed on the throne, defeated the invasion.

Early life She was a daughter of King Hkun Law (r. 1307–1311), and niece of the dynasty founder King Wareru (r. 1287–1307). Her personal name was Hnin An Po (; ). She had one full younger sister, Tala Shin Saw Bok, and at least one half brother, Binnya E Law.

In 1311, she lost her father who was assassinated in a coup led by Gov. Min Bala of Myaungmya, husband of her aunt Hnin U Yaing. Bala and U Yaing spared the children of Hkun Law. Nonetheless, they married her off to their son (and her first cousin) Saw Zein in the late 1310s. By 1323, she had three children with Zein: Mwei Ne, Mwei Na and Binnya U.

Palace power In 1323, Zein ascended the throne, and she became the chief queen with the title of Sanda Min Hla. After Saw Zein was assassinated in 1330, she emerged as the kingmaker. One week later, the queen organized a successful counter coup against the usurper Zein Pun, and put him to death. She then placed Saw E, nephew of Saw Zein and grandson of the king of Sukhothai, on the throne. Although E was her first cousin, once removed, she made herself his chief queen.

But she was soon dissatisfied with the 16-year-old E. Her dissatisfaction may have something to do with the young king's decision to renew the allegiance to his grandfather Loe Thai of Sukhothai. E's father was the first to declare independence from Sukhothai in 1317/18, and Saw Zein had fought wars with the Siamese kingdom over the control of the Tenasserim coast. Martaban's subordination to Sukhothai ceased.

She remained the chief queen until 1348. E Law was so concerned about the temper of his half sister that he left his concubines in Pegu (Bago). At any rate, her son became the heir presumptive as E Laung died soon after from smallpox. E Law also died soon after in 1348, and her son U ascended the throne.

The queen dowager died in 1363/64 during her son's reign.