Nyaungyan Min

Who is Nyaungyan Min?

Nyaungyan Min was king of Toungoo Dynasty of Burma from 1599 to 1606. Nyaungyan is also often referred to as the founder of Restored Toungoo Dynasty or Nyaungyan Dynasty because his successful efforts to reunify main parts of his father Bayinnaung's empire which had famously collapsed under his step-brother King Nanda's watch, done in by a multitude of domestic and external attacks.

A son of King Bayinnaung from a commoner, Nyaungyan was only one of many claimants to the Burmese throne after the kingdom's capital Pegu was sacked by combined Arakanese and rebellious Toungoo forces and Nanda was deposed in December 1599. Nyaungyan, based out of Ava in central Burma, stayed out of low country battles between other claimants. Instead, he focused on reclaiming the Shan States and successfully fended off Siamese attacks on the Shan States. He died of illness while on march home from his campaign from Hsenwi. By his death in March 1606, Nyaungyan had reunified major areas of Upper Burma and cis-Salween Shan States. His son and successor Anaukpetlun went on to complete the work Nyaungyan started by recapturing Lower Burma and Lanna. His another son Thalun went on to rebuild the war torn country.