Hello ! everyone ! Today, my exam is finished, I will go back to Burma on Sunday. I 'm so excited to see my relatives, well, no friends :) I lost contact with them or most of them moved to foreign countries. I decided I will write about someone after my exam. I got an idea that I shall write about an ethnic leader this time.
Because I strongly believed that ethic people shall know each other history as we are coexisting in Burma.
Please if you are reading this article and if you have knowledge about some leaders, for sharing here, you can tell me. Welcome any sharing ! I am just amateur historian and my sources will not be credible like scholars so I allow any criticism, comments , advice and edits here :)
Please do not hesitate to share your knowledge about your ethnic past ! let all our brothers and sisters know it :) By the way, my article for this time is about the ancient Shan Prince ( Sao Pha, Chaofa or Saw Bwa) of Kengtung or Kyaing Tong Principality.
Leader Profile: Sao Kawng Kiao Intaleng, the Shan Prince of Kengtung ( Kyaingtone)
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| Downtown of Kengtung city |
Kengtung is the principle city of Kengtung township ( former Kengtung principality in Shan state)
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| 40th Prince of Kengtung |
Succession
His succeeded his brother Sao Kwang Hkam as Sao Pha ( Celestial Lord in Shan language) of Kengtung and his coronation was in 1895. He belonged to the House of Kengtung who were the descendants of the Lanna King Mangrai ( Thai Kingdom located on Northern Thailand) and they founded the Kengtung state in 13th century. He was succeeded by his grandson Sao Sailong. |
| Sao Saimong and his family |
Marriage and family
He has six consorts who are
- Sao Nang Paduma
- Nang Fong
- Nang Bodiphlong
- Nang Daeng
- Nang Bunyong
- Nang Bodipnoy and he has 19 children. One of his children is Sao Saimong who was scholar, linguist, historian and administer. He also had one sister, Princess Tip Htila who was a shrewd business woman.
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| Kengtung Palace |
Role and Achievements
He was a popular and capable leader. He abolished the domestic slavery system in the state. In 1903, He went to India with his family including his first wife and sister, also the other Shan princes. The purpose of the trip was to attend the Delhi Durbar which was the coronation ceremony of the British King in India. After, he came back from the trip, he got the idea to build his new palace which is inspired Imperial Indian style. The palace was built in 1906. Sadly, this unique architectural inspired palace was demolished by the Burmese military regime to destroy the landmark of shan people and their history.
Sources
- Andrew Marshall, The Trouser People: a Story of Burma in the Shadow of the Empire. London: Penguin; Washington: Counterpoint, 2002. ISBN 978-1-58243-120-8
- Sao Sāimöng Mangrāi, The Pādaeng Chronicle and the Jengtung State Chronicle Translated. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1981. ISBN 978-0-89148-020-4
- http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/states/burma/kengtung.html
Photo Gallery of Kengtung Royal Family
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| Saopha's sister Princess Tip Htila |
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| The mausoleum of the Kengtung Princes |
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| Old Palace Haw Hong |
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| One of the ancient city gates of Kengtung |
How are you related to Saopha Sine Lon who was Saopha if Kengtung and Member of Parliament in 1958? We are compiling Burmese genealogies, and we have added him to our database at www.vhproject.org.
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