Sithu Pauk Hla of Yamethin

Sithu of Yamethin (, ; – ), also known by his birth name Pauk Hla , was governor of Yamethin from 1400 to . He was the eldest child of Chief Minister Min Yaza, and also served as a senior commander in the Royal Ava armed forces. He fought in all the major campaigns of the Forty Years' War between 1408 and 1412.

Early life Probably born before 1368, commoner family of Nga Nyo and Me Chit from Wun Zin, a rural village in the Kingdom of Ava. He had at least two siblings: one full younger sister Saw Myat Lay, and a half younger brother, Saw Yin; he may have also had another younger brother.

He grew up in the royal capital of Ava (Inwa) from 1368 onwards. His father had entered the service of King Swa Saw Ke, and the entire family had moved to Ava since 1368. His father went on to become the chief minister of the court with the title of Min Yaza. Previous governors of Yamethin include Swa Saw Ke later king of Ava; Thilawa of Yamethin and Maha Pyauk of Yamethin. The appointments came alongside Minkhaung's other appointments which included Yaza's son-in-law Thado Theinkhathu being made governor of Badon and Tabayin. Indeed, the Yamethin governorship previously belonged to Maha Pyauk of Yamethin, who had tried to seize the Ava throne from Minkhaung.

Pauk Hla, now known by the title of Sithu, loyally served as governor for the next dozen plus years. As governor of a major fief, Sithu served in the Royal Ava Armed Forces, and fought in various campaigns—from Hanthawaddy in the south (1408–1410), to Arakan in the west (1411–1412) While it is not clear if Sithu Pauk Hla had fallen in action or had died by natural causes, he did not lose the governorship because his father had lost power. Min Yaza remained the chief minister of the Ava court until his death in 1421.

Ava invasion of Hanthawaddy May 1408 1 regiment (1000 troops) Commanded a regiment in the 20,000+ strong vanguard invasion army Ava withdrawal from Hanthawaddy August 1408 Rearguard Army (8000 troops) Commanded the rearguard army (8 regiments, 8000 troops, 800 cavalry, 20 elephants) Ava invasion of Hanthawaddy 1409–1410 Vanguard Army (10,000 troops) Commanded the vanguard army that invaded Hanthawaddy Ava invasion of Hanthawaddy late 1410 Navy (7000 troops) One of the commanders of the naval invasion force (7000 troops, 7 war ships, 70 war boats, 20 armored war boats, 20 transport boats, 30 supply boats) Siege of Sandoway late 1411–March 1412 1 regiment Commanded a regiment in the 8000-strong army led by Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa that invaded Sandoway Battle of Wetwin c. April 1412 1 regiment Commanded a regiment in Minye Kyawswa's army from Sandoway that went to meet invading Hsenwi forces at Wetwin. Siege of Hsenwi May–November 1412 1 regiment Part of Minye Kyawswa's army that laid siege to Hsenwi