Sawlu

Saw Lu ( ; also spelled Sawlu; also known as Min Lulin , ; 19 April 1049 – 21 April 1084) was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1077 to 1084. He inherited from his father Anawrahta the Pagan Empire, the first ever unified kingdom of Burma (Myanmar) but proved an inexperienced ruler. In 1082, he faced a rebellion in Lower Burma, and was captured c. April 1083. He was killed in captivity about a year later.

Early life Saw Lu was born to King Anawrahta and Queen Agga Mahethi, Queen of the Southern Palace. and scholarship. 1050–1084 34 1077–1084 7 Zatadawbon Yazawin (Royal Horoscopes Section) 1049–1084 34 1077–1084 7 Maha Yazawin 1006–1061 55 1035–1061 26 Yazawin Thit 1010–1065 54 February 1060 – 1065 5 Hmannan Yazawin 1020–1065 45 1060–1065 5 Scholarship 19 April 1049 –before 21 April 1084 34 11 April 1077–before 21 April 1084 7 Saw Lu was not interested in running the kingdom, and never participated in any of his father's military campaigns. He viewed Kyansittha, his half-brother and general in the Pagan army who was extremely popular with the people, with suspicion.

Reign Saw Lu ascended to the Pagan throne on 11 April 1077 after his father Anawrahta had died under mysterious circumstances. When he became king, he married his father's Mon queen Manisanda (Khin U) and made her the chief queen. His regnal title was Śrīvájrabharaṇatribupati .

To run the Mon-speaking territories in the south, he appointed his trusted childhood friend Yamankan, an ethnic Mon. To administer the upcountry, Saw Lu, at the urging of Primate Shin Arahan, reluctantly brought back Kyansittha, who had been sent to exile by Anawrahta for his affair with Manisanda. However, Saw Lu soon had to banish Kyansittha again (this time to Dala near Yangon) because the latter renewed his affair with Manisanda.

Mon rebellion As governor of Pegu, Yamankan continued to visit Saw Lu at Pagan. Knowing the inexperience of his childhood friend well, Yamankan decided to rebel. The chronicles describe the final breach between Saw Lu and Yamankan in a dramatic way. The two were playing a game of dice, and Yamankan won. As Yamankan romped about in joy at his victory, Saw Lu taunted him, "If you are so clever, why don't you rebel against me?"

Death Kyansittha tried to rescue but Saw Lu refused to be rescued. His last fatal miscalculation that Kyansittha would kill him to get the throne but his friend Yamankan would not. He was killed by Yamankan to prevent the further rescue attempts. According to scholarship, he likely died c. April 1084 before 21 April 1084. The battle may not be the final battle in which Yamankan was slain since Zata says Saw Lu died in 1084 after having reigned seven years. However, other chronicles (Hmannan and Yazawin Thit) say he reigned only for five years, followed by an interregnum that lasted till 1084—implying that the king died in 1083.