56 Facts About Razadarit

Razadarit successfully unified his Mon-speaking kingdom, and fended off major assaults by the Burmese-speaking Ava Kingdom in the Forty Years' War.

Razadarit is one of the most famous kings in Burmese history.

Razadarit's life is recorded in a classic chronicle called Razadarit Ayedawbon.

Razadarit's mother died shortly after giving birth to him, and he was adopted by his paternal aunt Princess Maha Dewi of Dagon.

Razadarit grew up in Dagon in his early years before moving to Pegu with his adoptive mother, c mid 1370s.

Razadarit had been persuaded by Minister Zeik-Bye that his adoptive mother was planning to put her lover Smim Maru on the throne.

Razadarit quietly went on recruiting local governors around Dagon to come over to his side.

Razadarit had set up defensive preparations around Dagon but still did not have enough manpower.

Razadarit had help from Zeik-Bye who was able to forestall action when the three armies showed up outside Dagon.

Razadarit had been deeply dissatisfied that he had not only left her in Pegu but taken on more wives in Dagon.

Razadarit initially accepted Ngan-Mohn's pledge of allegiance, but soon ordered his paternal half-brother imprisoned.

Razadarit initially planned to punish court factions that did not support him.

Razadarit was on the verge of ordering Minister Dein's execution when Dein famously pleaded that his only crime was being loyal to his father the king.

Razadarit eventually concluded that he needed more than the Zeik-Bye faction of the court.

Razadarit pardoned Dein, and accepted the pledge of allegiance by court officials.

In 1385, Laukpya on his own sought Ava's military assistance to oust Razadarit, offering to hold Pegu as a vassal state.

Razadarit sent an embassy to Ava bearing lavish gifts to secure a peace treaty.

Razadarit's plan was again to outlast the invaders from inside the walls.

Razadarit had received intelligence that Kan-Kaung had entered into a secret pact with Laukpya.

Razadarit's forces went on to occupy the entire delta, including Ava's territory, Gu-Htut, in the northern delta, in 1390.

Razadarit's forces chased Lauk Shein, governor of Bassein, all the way to Sandoway in Arakan, and laid siege to the city until Sandoway's ruler gave up Lauk Shein and his men.

Razadarit had successfully reunified all three provinces of the Mon-speaking kingdom.

Razadarit again had Piya Yaza Dewi by his side as the chief queen.

Razadarit was a king's daughter, but he used her like a slavewoman and drove her to an evil death.

Razadarit ordered their only child Baw Law Kyan Daw executed.

Razadarit was greatly disturbed when he heard of the terrible oath.

Razadarit had now emerged as a bona fide power, and was recognized as such.

King Ramesuan even sent a white elephant, a symbol of Southeast Asian monarchs, and a letter acknowledging Razadarit as being of the same race as himself.

Razadarit's administration consisted mainly of ministers from his father's court led by Dein Mani-Yut, Byat Za, Zeik-Bye and Maha Thamun.

Razadarit reasoned that Minkhaung was weak, and that he could quickly invade Ava and make it a vassal state.

Razadarit stubbornly continued the blockade before finally withdrawing at the start of the rainy season.

Razadarit had Maha-Rit executed for fleeing and losing his daughter.

Razadarit had abandoned turning Ava into a vassal state but still believed that he could extract territory.

Razadarit ordered his court to prepare for war, and removed any veneers of friendly relations.

Razadarit readily gave shelter to the Arakanese prince Min Khayi.

Razadarit now scrapped the 1403 treaty; he stopped sending the annual shipment of elephants and customs revenue of the port of Bassein.

Razadarit had Anawrahta executed, and raised Pyei Chantha as his queen.

Minkhaung was especially furious that Razadarit raised his daughter, outside of the norms of the day.

Near Tharrawaddy, the two kings faced on their respective war elephants, and Razadarit drove back Minkhaung.

The crown prince was eager to take on Razadarit who held both his mother and sister in his harem.

Razadarit would be forced to seek alliances with Hswenwi and Ming China to outlast determined Ava attacks.

Razadarit sought and secured an alliance with the Shan state of Hsenwi.

Razadarit had regained Arakan but his ally was in trouble.

Razadarit immediately sent an embassy carrying 7 viss of gold to Hsenwi to make sure that the Shan state open the northern front after the rainy season.

Razadarit decided to save his forces for the likely Ava invasion in the following dry season.

Razadarit evacuated Pegu, and moved to Martaban as the Ava command planned a pincer movement on Pegu from Toungoo and from Dala.

Razadarit had been catching elephants at the foot of the Pegu Yoma Hills north of Pegu before getting his leg caught in the rope, and receiving mortal injuries.

Razadarit died on the way home at Kama Thamein Paik.

Razadarit was cremated there, and the remains were brought to Pegu where they were interred within a wooden stockade, reminiscent of ancient Pyu practices.

Razadarit instituted a more uniform administrative system across the kingdom.

Razadarit kept the three province system, and reorganized the districts within each province.

Razadarit is one of the most famous kings in Burmese history.

Razadarit was certainly held in high regard by his successors.

From his father's side, Razadarit was descended from kings of Martaban; he was a great-grandson of King Hkun Law and a great-grandnephew of Wareru, founder of the dynasty.

Razadarit had three maternal half-siblings, and at least three paternal half-siblings.

The earliest extant chronicle about Razadarit is the 16th-century Razadarit Ayedawbon chronicle.