Zein Pun

Zein Pun ( ; 1295–1330) was king of Martaban for one week in 1330. Of commoner background, Zein Pun rose from a childhood servant of Prince Saw Zein to a powerful commander during Saw Zein's reign. The ambitious commander then staged a coup against his lord, killing the king. But the usurper himself was killed a week later in a counter-coup organized by Queen Sanda Min Hla.

Brief Zein Pun was born on 26 May 1295 to commoner parents. As a young boy, he left his native village of Atawgana (အတောဂန), and came to work as a servant in the household of Gov. Min Bala of Myaungmya and Princess Hnin U Yaing. He was part of the staff that took care of Prince Saw Zein since childhood. The commoner had begun eyeing the throne for himself especially after Saw Zein's recent battlefield setbacks at Prome (Pyay) in the north and at Tavoy in the south. In April/May 1330, he invited the king to his estate, which apparently was outside the capital, to his housewarming ceremony. When the unsuspecting king entered the house, his men ambushed and killed him. The royal family of Martaban was in shock but soon reacted. The fallen king's chief queen Sanda Min Hla managed to escape the coup, and organized a counter coup of the usurper seven days later. That day, Sanda Min Hla and her retinue led by Gen. Sit Thingyan went to the palace, ostensibly to submit to the new king. Inside the palace, Sit Thingyan's men managed to overcome Zein Pun's troops. Zein Pun was put to death immediately. He was 34.