Alaungsithu

Alaungsithu (1112-1167) was King of Pagan, a former kingdom of southeast Asia. He succeeded Kyanzittha. Alaungsithu's father was Sawyun, son of King Sawlu (1077-1084), and his mother was a daughter of Kyanzittha.

Reign

The early part of Alaungsithu's reign was spent repressing revolts, especially in Tenasserim and north Arakan. A Pali inscription found at Mergui is evidence that Tenasserim then paid allegiance to the Pagan monarchy. In north Arakan, an usurper had driven out the rightful heir, who had fled to Pagan, where he subsequently died. His son, with Alaungsithu’s assistance, recovered his inheritance. Alaungsithu travelled far and wide throughout his dominions, building many works of merit; these pious pilgrimages form the main theme of the chronicles of his reign. But he neglected the work of administration, and there was apparently much disorder during his long absences from the capital. His zeal for religion found its highest expression in the noble Thatpyinnyu Temple, consecrated in 1144. It stands about 500 yards from the Ananda Temple, and with its spire rising to a height of over convert|200|ft|m, it is the tallest of all the Pagan monuments. Its style is similar to that of the Ananda, but there is a much greater elevation of the mass before the tapering process begins, and the position of the main shrine is thus high above the ground. In his old age Alaungsithu fell a victim to a court intrigue engineered by three of his sons. One of them, Narathu, murdered his father and seized the throne. [cite book |author=DGE Hall |title=Burma |edition=3rd edition |date=1960 |publisher=Hutchinson University Library |pages=pp.21-22 |isbn=978-1406735031]

References