Hsipaw State





Hsipaw, also known as Thibaw (သီပေါနယ်), was a Shan state in what is today Myanmar. Its capital was Hsipaw town. Hsipaw State was perhaps one of the most well known and powerful Shan States.

History
A predecessor state named Duṭṭhavatī (ဒုဋ္ဌဝတီ) was said to be founded in 58 BC, according to local tradition.

During the Sino-Burmese War (1765–69) the Qianlong Emperor of China invaded the area of Hsipaw. The main Chinese army, led by Ming Rui, was to approach Ava through Hsenwi, Lashio and Hsipaw down the Namtu river. The main invasion route was the same route followed by the Manchu forces a century earlier, chasing the Yongli Emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty. The second army, led by Gen. E'erdeng'e, was to try the Bhamo route again. The ultimate objective was for both armies to clamp themselves in a pincer action on the Burmese capital of Ava. The Burmese plan was to hold the second Chinese army in the north at Kaungton with the army led by Ne Myo Sithu, and meet the main Chinese army in the northeast with two armies led by Maha Sithu and Maha Thiha Thura.

At first, everything went according to plan for the Qing. The third invasion began in November 1767 as the smaller Chinese army attacked and occupied Bhamo. Within eight days, Ming Rui's main army occupied the Shan states of Hsenwi and Hsipaw. Ming Rui made Hsenwi a supply base, and assigned 5000 troops to remain at Hsenwi and guard the rear. He then led a 15,000-strong army in the direction of Ava. In late December, at the Goteik Gorge (south of Hsipaw), the two main armies faced off and the first major battle of the third invasion ensued. Outnumbered two-to-one, Maha Sithu's main Burmese army was thoroughly routed by Ming Rui's Bannermen. Maha Thiha Thura too was repulsed at Hsenwi. The news of the disaster at Goteik reached Ava. Hsinbyushin finally realized the gravity of the situation, and urgently recalled Burmese armies from Siam.

Having smashed through the main Burmese army, Ming Rui pressed on full steam ahead, overrunning one town after another, and reached Singu on the Irrawaddy, 30 miles north of Ava at the beginning of 1768. The only bright spot for the Burmese was that the northern invasion force, which was to come down the Irrawaddy to join up with Ming Rui's main army, had been held off at Kaungton. In 1886 the saopha of Hsipaw was the first Shan prince that submitted to British rule in Burma, which led to Hsipaw becoming a British protectorate in 1887. According to the biography of Sao Nang Hearn Hkam (the chief wife, Madhidevi of Sao Shwe Thaik, the first president of Myanmar and another saopha of Hsenwi), Hsipaw, along with Kengtung and Yawnghwe were the wealthiest and most powerful saopha states in Shan State.

Between 1938 and 1947 Hsipaw was administered by British Burma. The last ruler of the On Baung dynasty that had been ruling Hsipaw abdicated in 1959. The state became part of Shan State and, despite the independence struggle of the latter, eventually part of Burma.

The saophas played fluctuating roles in regional Shan and national Burmese politics from the 11th century all the way until the 1962 military coup by General Ne Win when all the privileges of the saophas were abolished.

Rulers
The Princes of Hsipaw had the title of 'Saopha'. The following lists all rulers of Hsipaw State, along with their relationship to the prior ruler(s). From the mid-1880s to 1922, the territory was a British protectorate as part of the Shan States (within British Burma in the wider British India), and from 1922 to 1948 as part of the Federated Shan States. As a British possession, the ruler of Hsipaw State was entitled to a nine-gun salute.


 * 1) Sao Hkun Hkam Naw 58BC–23BC
 * 2) Sao Hkun Hkam Kaw 23BC–10AD son
 * 3) Sao Hkam Kawt 10–36 son
 * 4) Sao Hkam Htawt 36–72 brother
 * 5) Sao Hkam Möng 72–110 son
 * 6) Sao Hkam Ung 110–127 brother
 * 7) Sao Hkam Sung 127–171 brother
 * 8) Sao Hkam Kio 171–207 son
 * 9) Paw Ai Phyao 207–237 Amat
 * 10) Paw Pan Süng 237–237 son
 * 11) Hso Hom Hpa 237–257 son of Sao Sam Mya of Mao Löng
 * 12) Hso Waep Hpa 257–309 son
 * 13) Hso Het Hpa 309–347 son
 * 14) Hso Gam Hpa 347–380 uncle
 * 15) Hso Karm Hpa 380–420 son
 * 16) Hso Pat Hpa 420–465 brother
 * 17) Hso Hap Hpa 465–501 brother
 * 18) Hso Pik Hpa 501–517 son
 * 19) Hso Powt Hpa 517–552 brother
 * 20) Hso Klip Hpa 552–574 nephew
 * 21) Hso Peng Hpa 574–608 brother
 * 22) Hso Kern Hpa 608–640 son
 * 23) Hso Poeng Hpa 640–687 brother
 * 24) Hso Pek Hpa 687–711 brother
 * 25) Hso Poum Hpa 711–739 brother
 * 26) Hso Soup Hpa 739–761 son
 * 27) Hso Hung Hpa 761–797 son
 * 28) Hso Oum Hpa 797–815 son
 * 29) Hso Hat Hpa 815–860 son
 * 30) Hso Kat Hpa 860–897 son
 * 31) Hso Tam Hpa 897–912 son
 * 32) Hso Tap Hpa 912–947 brother
 * 33) Hso Hkan Hpa 947–954 son
 * 34) Hso Pung Hpa 954–994 brother
 * 35) Hso Mawk Hpa 994–1022 son
 * 36) Hso Soum Hpa 1022–1028 son
 * 37) Hso Sam Hpa 1028–1064 son
 * 38) Hso Hit Hpa 1064–1086 nephew
 * 39) Hso Hueng Hpa 1086–1119 son
 * 40) Hso Hsu Hpa 1119–1137 son
 * 41) Hso Hsawng Hpa 1137–1205 son
 * 42) Sao Hkun Hso 1160–1205 son
 * 43) Sawn Mawng Hawna 1205–1228 brother
 * 44) Hso Hkayeik Hpa 1228–1276 son
 * 45) Sao Hkun Pe 1276–1324 cousin
 * 46) Hkun Kyaw Awng 1324–1367 brother
 * 47) Hkun Kyaw Nwe 1367–1401 son
 * 48) Hso Kyaung Hpa 1401–1423 son
 * 49) Sao Loi San Hpa 1423–1438 nephew
 * 50) Hso Yap Hpa 1438–1448 cousin
 * 51) Hso Ham Hpa 1448–1454 son
 * 52) Hso Moew Hpa 1454–1461 brother
 * 53) Hso Wip Hpa 1461–1471 brother
 * 54) Hso Piam Hpa 1471–1479 son
 * 55) Hso Haw Hpa 1479–1487 brother
 * 56) Hso Sam Hpa 1487–1519 brother
 * 57) Sao Hkun Mawng 1519–1542 son
 * 58) Hso Hom Hpa 1542–1549 brother
 * 59) Hso Paw Hpa 1549–1557 son of Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai
 * 60) Hso Yuew Hpa 1557–1557 son of Hso Hom Hpa
 * 61) Hso Pak Hpa from Mong Nai 1557–1557 son of Sao Hkun Mawng
 * 62) Hso Dwawt Hpa 1557–1565 son of Hso Yuew Hpa
 * 63) Hso Hkai Hpa 1565–1584 son
 * 64) Hso Kaw Hpa 1584–1597 son of Sao Hkun Mawng
 * 65) Sao Hkam Leng 1597–1636 son
 * 66) Sao Hswe Hking 1636–1655 son
 * 67) Hso Woew Hpa 1655–1675 son
 * 68) Hso Wei Hpa 1675–1702 son
 * 69) Sao Okka Wara 1702–1714 brother
 * 70) Sao Okka Zeya 1714–1718 brother
 * 71) Sao Sam Myo 1718–1722 brother
 * 72) Sao Hkun Neng 1722–1752 brother
 * 73) Sao Sawra Yawta 1752–1767 son of Okka Wara
 * 74) Sao Myat Hsan Te 1767–1788 son
 * 75) Sao Hswe Kya 1788–1809 son
 * 76) Hkun Hkwi 1809–1843 son
 * 77) Hkun Paw 1843–1853 brother
 * 78) Sao Kya Htun 1853–1858 son of Sao Hswe Kya
 * 79) Hkun Myat Than 1858–1866 brother
 * 80) Sao Kya Hkeng 1st reign 1866–1882 (Sao Hkun Hseng deposed 1882–86) (d. 1902) son of Sao Kya Htun
 * 81) Sao Hlaing Pa 1882–1886 son of King Mindon Min
 * 82) Sao Kya Hkeng (Sao Hkun Hseng) 2nd reign Mar 1886–8 May 1902
 * 83) Sao Hkun Hke (b. 1872 – d. 1928) (from 2 Jan 1928, Sir Sao Hke) 8 May 1902–May 1928 son
 * 84) Sao Ohn Kya (b. 1893 – d. 1938) 1928–Jul 1938 son
 * 85) ; Under direct administration of British India (1938–1947)
 * 86) Sao Kya Hseng (b. 1924 – d. 1962) 1947–1959 son