# Hsipaw State

Hsipaw (Shan: သီႇပေႃႉ; Burmese: သီပေါနယ်, Thibaw), also known as Ông Pawng (Shan: ဢုင်းပွင်ႇ; Burmese: အုန်းဘောင်, Onbaung) after an old capital, 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 (Burmese: 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.
| # | Rulers | Enthrone | Dethrone | Detail |
| 1 | Sao Hkun Hkam Naw | 58BC | 23BC | |
| 2 | Sao Hkun Hkam Kaw | 23BC | 10AD | Son of Sao Hkun Hkam Naw |
| 3 | Sao Hkam Kawt | 10 | 36 | Son of Sao Hkun Hkam Kaw |
| 4 | Sao Hkam Htawt | 36 | 72 | Brother of Sao Hkam Kawt |
| 5 | Sao Hkam Möng | 72 | 110 | Son of Sao Hkam Htawt |
| 6 | Sao Hkam Ung | 110 | 127 | Brother of Sao Hkam Möng |
| 7 | Sao Hkam Sung | 127 | 171 | Brother of Sao Hkam Ung |
| 8 | Sao Hkam Kio | 171 | 207 | Son of Sao Hkam Sung |
| 9 | Paw Ai Phyao | 207 | 237 | Former senior officer (Amat) |
| 10 | Paw Pan Süng | 237 | 237 | Son of Paw Ai Phyao |
| 11 | Hso Hom Hpa | 237 | 257 | Son of Sao Sam Mya of Mao Löng (Möng Mao), great grandson of Sao Hkam Möng |
| 12 | Hso Waep Hpa | 257 | 309 | Son of Hso Hom Hpa |
| 13 | Hso Het Hpa | 309 | 347 | Son of Hso Waep Hpa |
| 14 | Hso Gam Hpa | 347 | 380 | Uncle of Hso Het Hpa |
| 15 | Hso Karm Hpa | 380 | 420 | Son of Hso Gam Hpa |
| 16 | Hso Pat Hpa | 420 | 465 | Brother of Hso Karm Hpa |
| 17 | Hso Hap Hpa | 465 | 501 | Brother of Hso Pat Hpa |
| 18 | Hso Pik Hpa | 501 | 517 | Son of Hso Hap Hpa |
| 19 | Hso Powt Hpa | 517 | 552 | Brother of Hso Pik Hpa |
| 20 | Hso Klip Hpa | 552 | 574 | Nephew of Hso Powt Hpa |
| 21 | Hso Peng Hpa | 574 | 608 | Brother of Hso Klip Hpa |
| 22 | Hso Kern Hpa | 608 | 640 | Son of Hso Peng Hpa |
| 23 | Hso Poeng Hpa | 640 | 687 | Brother of Hso Kern Hpa |
| 24 | Hso Pek Hpa | 687 | 711 | Brother of Hso Poeng Hpa |
| 25 | Hso Poum Hpa | 711 | 739 | Brother of Hso Pek Hpa |
| 26 | Hso Soup Hpa | 739 | 761 | Son of Hso Poum Hpa |
| 27 | Hso Hung Hpa | 761 | 797 | Son of Hso Soup Hpa |
| 28 | Hso Oum Hpa | 797 | 815 | Son of Hso Hung Hpa |
| 29 | Hso Hat Hpa | 815 | 860 | Son of Hso Oum Hpa |
| 30 | Hso Kat Hpa | 860 | 897 | Son of Hso Hat Hpa |
| 31 | Hso Tam Hpa | 897 | 912 | Son of Hso Kat Hpa |
| 32 | Hso Tap Hpa | 912 | 947 | Brother of Hso Tam Hpa |
| 33 | Hso Hkan Hpa | 947 | 954 | Son of Hso Tap Hpa |
| 34 | Hso Pung Hpa | 954 | 994 | Brother of Hso Hkan Hpa |
| 35 | Hso Mawk Hpa | 994 | 1022 | Son of Hso Pung Hpa |
| 36 | Hso Soum Hpa | 1022 | 1028 | Son of Hso Mawk Hpa |
| 37 | Hso Sam Hpa | 1028 | 1064 | Son of Hso Soum Hpa |
| 38 | Hso Hit Hpa | 1064 | 1086 | Nephew of Hso Sam Hpa |
| 39 | Hso Hueng Hpa | 1086 | 1119 | Son of Hso Hit Hpa |
| 40 | Hso Hsu Hpa | 1119 | 1137 | Son of Hso Hueng Hpa |
| 41 | Hso Hsawng Hpa | 1137 | 1205 | Son of Hso Hsu Hpa |
| 42 | Sao Hkun Hso | 1160 | 1205 | Son of Hso Hsawng Hpa |
| 43 | Sawn Mawng Hawna | 1205 | 1228 | Brother of Sao Hkun Hso |
| 44 | Hso Hkayeik Hpa | 1228 | 1276 | Son of Sawn Mawng Hawna |
| 45 | Sao Hkun Pe | 1276 | 1324 | Cousin of Hso Hkayeik Hpa |
| 46 | Hkun Kyaw Awng | 1324 | 1367 | Brother of Sao Hkun Pe |
| 47 | Hkun Kyaw Nwe | 1367 | 1401 | Son of Hkun Kyaw Awng |
| 48 | Hso Kyaung Hpa | 1401 | 1423 | Son of Hkun Kyaw Nwe |
| 49 | Sao Loi San Hpa | 1423 | 1438 | Nephew of Hso Kyaung Hpa |
| 50 | Hso Yap Hpa | 1438 | 1448 | Cousin of Sao Loi San Hpa |
| 51 | Hso Ham Hpa | 1448 | 1454 | Son of Hso Yap Hpa |
| 52 | Hso Moew Hpa | 1454 | 1461 | Brother of Hso Ham Hpa |
| 53 | Hso Wip Hpa | 1461 | 1471 | Brother of Hso Moew Hpa |
| 54 | Hso Piam Hpa | 1471 | 1479 | Son of Hso Wip Hpa |
| 55 | Hso Haw Hpa | 1479 | 1487 | Brother of Hso Piam Hpa |
| 56 | Hso Sam Hpa | 1487 | 1519 | Brother of Hso Haw Hpa |
| 57 | Sao Hkun Mawng | 1519 | 1542 | Son of Hso Sam Hpa, later was elected as the King of Ava |
| 58 | Hso Hom Hpa | 1542 | 1549 | Brother of Sao Hkun Mawng |
| 59 | Hso Paw Hpa | 1549 | 1557 | Son of Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai, grandson of Sao Hkun Mawng |
| 60 | Hso Yuew Hpa | 1557 | 1557 | Son of Hso Hom Hpa |
| 61 | Hso Pak Hpa of 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 of Hso Dwawt Hpa |
| 64 | Hso Kaw Hpa | 1584 | 1597 | Son of Sao Hkun Mawng, brother of Hso Pak Hpa of Mong Nai |
| 65 | Sao Hkam Leng | 1597 | 1636 | Son of Hso Kaw Hpa |
| 66 | Sao Hswe Hking | 1636 | 1655 | Son of Sao Hkam Leng |
| 67 | Hso Woew Hpa | 1655 | 1675 | Son of Sao Hswe Hking |
| 68 | Hso Wei Hpa | 1675 | 1702 | Son of Hso Woew Hpa |
| 69 | Sao Okka Wara | 1702 | 1714 | Brother of Hso Wei Hpa |
| 70 | Sao Okka Zeya | 1714 | 1718 | Brother of Sao Okka Wara |
| 71 | Sao Sam Myo | 1718 | 1722 | Brother of Sao Okka Zeya |
| 72 | Sao Hkun Neng | 1722 | 1752 | Brother of Sao Sam Myo |
| 73 | Sao Sawra Yawta | 1752 | 1767 | Son of Sao Okka Wara |
| 74 | Sao Myat Hsan Te | 1767 | 1788 | Son of Sao Sawra Yawta |
| 75 | Sao Hswe Kya | 1788 | 1809 | Son of Sao Myat Hsan Te |
| 76 | Hkun Hkwi | 1809 | 1843 | Son of Sao Hswe Kya |
| 77 | Hkun Paw | 1843 | 1853 | Brother of Hkun Hkwi |
| 78 | Sao Kya Htun | 1853 | 1858 | Son of Sao Hswe Kya |
| 79 | Hkun Myat Than | 1858 | 1866 | Brother of Sao Kya Htun |
| 80 | Sao Kya Hkeng (Sao Hkun Hseng) – 1st reign | 1866 | 1882 | Son of Sao Kya Htun, deposed by King Mindon Min of Burma in 1882 |
| 81 | Sao Hlaing Pa | 1882 | 1886 | Son of King Mindon Min of Burma |
| 80 | Sao Kya Hkeng (Sao Hkun Hseng) – 2nd reign | 1886 | 1902 | Son of Sao Kya Htun, reappointed by King Mindon Min of Burma in March 1886, died 8 May 1902 |
| 82 | Sao Hkun Hke | 1902 | 1928 | Son of Sao Kya Hkeng, born 1872, reigned 8 May 1902, died May 1928 |
| 83 | Sao Ohn Kya | 1928 | 1938 | Son of Sao Hkun Hke, born 1893, died July 1938 |
| — | — | 1938 | 1947 | Under direct administration of British India |
| 84 | Sao Kya Hseng | 1947 | 1559 | The Last saopha of Hsipaw, son of Sao Ohn Kya, born 1924, (some records indicate that he is the son of Sao O, who is the son of Sao Kya Hkeng), disappeared 3 March 1962 |