Saw Mon Hla

Who is Saw Mon Hla?

Saw Mon Hla was chief queen of King Anawrahta of Pagan. She is known in Burmese history for her beauty and her eventual exile instigated by other rival queens. Her story is still part of popular Burmese theater, and she is portrayed as a sad romantic figure.

The queen was daughter of the saopha of Maw Shan State, located between Pagan and Nanzhao Kingdom. The native stories of Hsipaw and Hsenwi claim Saw Mon Hla as their princess.

Circa 1059, Anawrahta led an expedition to Nanzhao. After his return from Nanzhao expedition, the king was presented with Saw Mon Hla by the chief of Maw Shan State presented his daughter. At Pagan, Saw Mon Hla quickly became the king's favorite queen. According to the Burmese chronicles, the beautiful young queen was driven out by her rival queens who were jealous of her status as Anawrahta's favorite. Her rivals accused her as a witch.

On her return to her homeland, the queen donated the Shwesayan Pagoda. A remorseful Anawrahta is said to have donated the surrounding land to the pagoda towards the end of his reign.