# Tarabya of Ava

Tarabya (Burmese: တရဖျား, pronounced or; 22 December 1368 – c. October 1400) was king of Ava for about seven months in 1400. He was the heir apparent from 1385 to 1400 during his father King Swa Saw Ke's reign. He was a senior commander in Ava's first three campaigns (1385−91) against Hanthawaddy Pegu in the Forty Years' War. He was assassinated seven months into his rule by his one-time tutor, Gov. Thihapate of Tagaung. The court executed the usurper, and gave the throne to Tarabya's half-brother Min Swe.
Tarabya is remembered as the Mintara (Burmese: မင်းတရား, IPA:) nat spirit in the Burmese official pantheon of nats.

## Early life

The future king was born in Ava (Inwa) on 22 December 1368 to King Swa Saw Ke of Ava and Queen Shin Saw Gyi (or Queen Khame Mi). Because he was born on the same day as the birth of a white elephant, considered highly propitious symbol of Burmese monarchs, he was given the title "Hsinbyushin" (Lord of the White Elephant). The name was retained although the baby white elephant died soon after. His nickname was Min Na-Kye ("Lord Wide Ears"). He had either two full siblings (one younger brother and one younger sister) or four full siblings (one younger brother and three younger sisters).
Swa Saw Ke groomed his eldest surviving son to be his heir-apparent. But Tarabya saw his two younger half-siblings, Min Swe and Theiddat who were Swa's sons by a concubine as rivals. Because Tarabya kept picking on his half-siblings, the king had to send his two younger sons away from the Ava Palace in 1381/82. Nonetheless, c. April 1385, the king appointed Hsinbyushin his heir-apparent, and married him to Min Hla Myat, the only daughter of the powerful Gov. Thilawa of Yamethin.

## Heir-apparent

The only extant record of his years as the heir-apparent concerns his military service in the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391). The war was Swa's attempt to take over a divided Mon-speaking kingdom in Lower Burma. Its young king Razadarit controlled only the province, and was facing two rebellions in Martaban and in the Irrawaddy delta.
Tarabya was the overall commander of the 1385–86 campaign which came close to defeating Razadarit. The Ava forces missed their opportunity to finish off Razadarit as Min Swe, the commander of the Second Army, disobeyed Tarabya's order. (Although he and Min Swe were the commanders-in-chief of the two invasion armies, they were aided by Ava's best commanders, including Tarabya's father-in-law Thilawa and Theinkhathu Saw Hnaung.) Tarabya was second-in-command in the next Hanthawaddy campaigns. His army did not achieve any meaning battlefield successes in either of those campaigns. The war then entered a hiatus in early 1391 as the two sides agreed to a truce.

## Reign

In April 1400, King Swa died, and Tarabya succeeded. But Tarabya's reign was short. According to the chronicles, he became insane five months into his reign after a hunting trip to Aung Pinle (near modern Mandalay). The king was convinced that the beautiful fairy he made love to in the forest was a representation of Angel Thuyathadi (Saraswati). The king's behavior became totally erratic, and the court now entertained the murmurs of replacing him. Pretenders to the throne began circling. One such pretender, Governor Yazathingyan of Sagaing, had already amassed a force to take over the Ava throne before dying in a freak accident as he disembarked from his war boat at the Ava harbor. The king, who was totally oblivious to the surroundings, was assassinated by his one-time tutor, Governor Thihapate of Tagaung.
Thihapate, known by his given name Nga Nauk Hsan, proclaimed himself king. But the court led by Chief Minister Min Yaza of Wun Zin did not accept the usurper, and executed him. The court gave the throne to Min Swe, who ascended the throne as Minkhaung I on 25 November 1400.

## Veneration as a nat

Because of his violent death, Tarabya entered the official pantheon of nats (spirits) as the Mintara nat. He is portrayed sitting on a throne, wearing his royal garments with a fan in his right hand and his left hand resting on his knee.

## Family

Tarabya had two children both by his chief queen Min Hla Myat. His elder child, Min Nyo later became king of Ava from 1425 to 1426. His daughter Min Hla Htut was the first wife of Prince (later King) Thihathu of Ava, and later the chief consort of Gov. Saw Shwe Khet of Prome.

## Military service

| Campaign | Duration | Troops commanded | Summary |
| Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391) | 1385−86 | 1st Army 9 regiments (7000 men, 500 horses, 20 elephants) | Overall commander-in-chief. Invaded from Toungoo (Taungoo); Took Fort Pankyaw after a fierce battle. Bypassed Pegu to assist the 2nd Army at Hlaing (modern Taikkyi). Rushed back to Pankyaw when Razadarit came out of Pegu to retake Pankyaw. Relieved the siege at Pankyaw, engaging Razadarit in elephant to elephant combat. Retreating Razadarit's army was met by Min Swe's army from Hlaing. Tarabya warned Min Swe not to engage the enemy until his troops. But Min Swe ignored his elder brother's order, and engaged Razadarit's army. Min Swe's 2nd Army was routed. Ava armies retreated after five plus months of campaign. |
| Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391) | 1386−87 | 1st Army 11 regiments (12,000 men, 600 horses, 40 elephants) | Second-in-command after King Swa of the overall campaign. 1st Army invaded from Prome, and took Hmawbi. But the army could not take Hlaing, and was bogged down there for a month. Meanwhile, Razadarit retook Hmawbi from 1st Army's rearguard units. Over the next month, Ava armies could not make any headway against any Ramanya strongholds at Dagon, Hlaing, Dala or Hmawbi, and lost many troops from disease and battle. Ava armies retreated close to the rainy season. |
| Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391) | 1390−91 | 1st Army 12 regiments (12,000 men, 1000 horses, 80 elephants) | Second-in-command after King Swa. 1st Army invaded from Toungoo but was stopped at Pankyaw by Razadarit's defenses. Army was bogged down. The main battle was taking place at Gu-Htut (Myan-Aung) on the Irrawaddy. The army retreated after a truce was reached. |

## Ancestry

Tarabya was descended from Pagan, Myinsaing and Sagaing royal lines.
Ancestry of King Tarabya of Ava :

## Historiography

| Source | Birth–Death | Age | Reign | Length of reign | Reference |
| Zatadawbon Yazawin | 16 December 1366 − in or after September 1401 | 34 (35th year) | 1401 − in or after September 1401 | 5 months | </ref> |
| Maha Yazawin | 1369 − June/July 1401 | 31 (32nd year) | November/December 1400 − June/July 1401 | 7 months | |
| Yazawin Thit | 1368 − in or after September 1400 | 31 (32nd year) | 1400 − in or after September 1400 | 5 months | |
| Hmannan Yazawin | 1369 − June/July 1401 | 31 (32nd year) | November/December 1400 − June/July 1401 | 7 months | |
| Mani Yadanabon | 1369 − in or after September 1400 | 31 (32nd year) | 1400 − in or after September 1400 | 5 months 7 days | |
| Inscriptions | ? − by October/November 1400 | | ? − by October/November 1400 | | |