Thihapate III of Taungdwin

Thihapate III of Taungdwin (, ; –) was the self-proclaimed ruler of Taungdwin (in present-day south-central Myanmar) from 1426 to . Previously, he had served as a loyal governor of the region under Ava kings, and as a regimental commander in the Royal Ava Army from to 1426. He participated in all three wars with the southern Hanthawaddy kingdom between 1401 and 1423.

Thihapate launched a rebellion after Governor Thado of Mohnyin seized the Ava throne in 1426. Although he controlled a relatively small region, he preserved his autonomous rule by forming an alliance with the rebel rulers of Toungoo (Taungoo) and Yatsauk. He was ultimately defeated and captured by Ava forces in .

Background The royal chronicles provide only limited information regarding Thihapate's ancestry: He was the younger brother of Thray Sithu of Myinsaing, He proved to be a loyal vassal, participating in all major military campaigns during Minkhaung's reign, including the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1401–1403) When Governor Thado of Mohnyin formally revolted in February 1426, King Nyo died on the run a few weeks later, and Queen Bo-Me was captured.

Nominal vassal (1426) Thihapate was among several regional vassals who refused to submit to Thado. By August 1426, Thado had captured the royals with the highest claim to the throne: Prince Tarabya of Pakhan and Prince Minye Kyawhtin. The new king then focused on Taungdwin and Toungoo, and summoned both governors to Ava.

Despite deep reservations, Thihapate traveled to Ava, only after learning that Thinkhaya of Toungoo had made the same decision. As Toungoo (Taungoo) was directly southeast of Taungdwin, securing his eastern flank was essential. At the Ava Palace, Thihapate and Thinkhaya were received respectfully and given lavish gifts by the king. They, in turn, politely pledged their allegiance. However, Thado's eldest son, Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa urged his father not to allow the governors to return to their fiefs. Thado dismissed the advice.

Independent rule (1426–c. 1441) Thihapate's rebellion was part of the widespread opposition by vassal rulers to Thado's regime. Many vassal rulers viewed Thado as a usurper, and "at best a senior." Thado in turn viewed them as "self-serving spoilers" who "swore oaths of allegiance only to suit their needs."

Thihapate became a junior partner in the Toungoo-led southern alliance. The ambitious ruler of Toungoo, Thinkhaya, had declared himself king, and allied with King Binnya Ran I of Hanthawaddy. Thihapate joined Thinkhaya when Toungoo seized the five irrigated districts of Yamethin region (northeast of Taungdwin, immediately north of Toungoo) in 1428–1429. Subsequently, the Shan state of Yatsauk, another former Ava vassal, joined the alliance to defend the region, including Taungdwin. However, Taungdwin apparently did not partake in the joint Hanthawaddy–Toungoo invasion into southern districts of Ava 1430–1431.

In the 1430s, Taungdwin and other former vassals benefited from Ava's policy to maintain the status quo. As early as 1429, Thado had given up on reunifying the peripheral states. His focus shifted to constructing Buddhist pagodas and monasteries in the central core regions along the Irrawaddy under his control. After the brief war with Hanthawaddy in 1430–1431, Thado did not launch any military campaigns for the rest of his reign aside from one minor expedition in 1433–1434. That dry season, Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa led a small army (5000 infantry, 300 cavalry and 120 elephants) on an expedition to the southern peripheral states in rebellion: Pinle, Taungdwin, and Toungoo. The army was too small to capture any of the fortified towns, and returned empty-handed in early 1434. Ava forces first captured Mohnyin, the king's birthplace, and Kale (Kalay) in 1439–1440. Ava–Launggyet War (1406) November 1406 1 regiment (1000 troops) Commanded a regiment in the Left Flank Division of the strike force Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418) First Ava invasion of Hanthawaddy April–August 1408 1 regiment (1000 troops) Served in the Vanguard Army at the start, and the Rearguard Army during the retreat Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418) Second Ava invasion of Hanthawaddy October 1409–c. February 1410 1 regiment (1000 troops) Served in the Vanguard Army under the command of Sithu of Yamethin Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418) Battles of Prome and Talezi December 1412 – March 1413 1 regiment Served in the Royal Main Army of King Minkhaung I Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1422–1423) 1422–1423 1 regiment (1000 troops) Served in the invasion army under the command of Thado of Mohnyin Ava succession crisis Campaign against Thado of Mohnyin February–May 1426 1 regiment Stationed in the Ava capital region; retreated when Mohnyin troops closed in Campaign against Prince Minye Kyawhtin late 1426 1 army (15,000 troops) Co-led the campaign alongside Yazathingyan and Nawrahta of Northern Cavalry.

As independent ruler CampaignDurationTroops commandedNotes Five Irrigated Districts campaign 1428–1429 not mentioned Participated in Toungoo's capture of the Five Irrigated Districts of Yamethin Battle of Taungdwin not mentioned Defeated and captured by Ava forces