Htilominlo (, , lit. "Throne-willing"; 1175 – 1235), also called Nadaungmya (နားတောင်းများ, ("Earrings") or Zeya Theinkha Uzana (ဇေယျသိင်္ခဥဇနာ), was king of the Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1211 to 1235. His 24-year reign marked the beginning of the gradual decline of Pagan dynasty. It was the first to see the impact of over a century of continuous growth of tax-free religious wealth, which had greatly reduced the potential tax base. Htilominlo was the last of the temple builders although most of his temples were in remote lands outside the Pagan region, reflecting the deteriorating state of royal treasury.Htin Aung 1967: 50–54
All the royal chronicles say he was succeeded by his son Kyaswa, but two contemporary inscriptions indicate that another son of his, Naratheinga Uzana, was at least acting as the regent towards the end of his reign.Htin Aung 1970: 43Than Tun 1964: 131–132
Early life Htilominlo was born to King Sithu II and his queen Saw Mya Kan. Chronicles do not agree on the birth, death and reign dates. According to the Zatadawbon Yazawin chronicle, considered the most accurate chronicle for the Pagan period, he was born on 4 February 1175.Zatadawbon Yazawin's royal horoscopes section (Zata 1960: 67) says he was born on Thursday, 13th nekkhat (14th waxing) of the 12th month (Tabaung) of 534 ME (Monday, 26 February 1173) and died at age 58 (1231). But 534 ME is certainly a typographical error, and the year should be 536 for the following reasons: (1) the next horoscope (of King Kyaswa) says King Kyaswa ascended the throne in 1234 (not 1231); (2) Zata's own list of monarchs section (Zata 1960: 40) says he was born in year 536 on a Tuesday; (3) 14th waxing of Tabaung 536 ME gives Tuesday, 4 February 1175. The table below lists the dates given by the four main chronicles.Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 348
Chronicles Birth–Death Age Reign Length of reign Zatadawbon Yazawin (List of monarchs section) 1175–1234 59 1210–1234 24 Zatadawbon Yazawin (Royal horoscopes section) 26 February 1173 [sic]–1234 58 1209 [sic]–1234 22 Maha Yazawin 1178–1219 41 1197–1219 22 Yazawin Thit and Hmannan Yazawin 1175–1234 59 1211–1234 23
Reign The king, a devout Buddhist and a scholar, gave up the command of the army, and left the day-to-day affairs to a privy council consisted of ministers,=Coedès 1968: 178, 183 the forebear of the Hluttaw, or the supreme administrative body of government. He focused his energies on religion and temple-building. He completed the majestic Gawdawpalin Temple, begun by his father Narapatisithu, built the Mahabodhi, a replica of the Buddhagaya temple, and the Htilominlo Temple, named after himself.Tarling 1993: 166–167
His reign was largely peaceful, except for one rebellion north of Tagaung, which was put down by his commander in chief. By all accounts, he was popular with the people. Still, he never really governed, and was especially oblivious to the growing problem of reduced tax base brought about by the continuous growth of tax-free religious holdings. To be sure, his predecessors did not face the problem, and his successors also continued to ignore the problem, where by the 1280s, two-thirds of Upper Burma's cultivable land had been alienated to the religion. Thus the throne also lost resources necessary to retain the loyalty of courtiers and military servicemen, inviting a vicious circle of internal disorders and external challenges by Mons, Mongols and Shans.Lieberman 2003: 120
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