Sao Long Hkam Hkai Hpa (d. 1412) was sawbwa of Hsenwi (in present-day northeastern Myanmar) from 1407/08 to 1412. A loyal vassal of Ming China, the sawbwa led a Chinese-supported expedition against Ava in 1412 during the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418). He was killed in action during the campaign.

Early life According to the Hsenwi Yazawin chronicle, Sao Long Hkam Hkai Hpa was born Hkun Nkam Hung into the ruling family of Hsenwi.Scott 1899: 243 At the time, Hsenwi was a Shan-speaking tributary state under Ming China. Nkam Hung's father, Sao Hkun Hkam Pöt, became the sawbwa (chief) of the Shan state in 1405/06. When his father died two years later in 1407/08, Nkam Hung, as the elder son, succeeded the throne, taking the title of Sao Long Hkam Hkai Hpa.

Sawbwa of Hsenwi Relations with Ava Hkam Hkai Hpa came to power during a period of significant geopolitical turmoil in the Shan states. The Irrawaddy valley-based Kingdom of Ava (present day central Myanmar) had recently expanded into the Shan Hills. By his accession in 1407/08, the Burmese-speaking kingdom had reached Hsenwi's border, having recently conquered Onbaung Hsipaw (1404/05), Yatsauk and Nyaungshwe (1405/06), and Bhamo and Mohnyin (1406).Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 224–225Fernquest Autumn 2006: 50–51 Meanwhile, China, which considered the Shan states its tributaries,Fernquest Autumn 2006: 32 was focused on a major rebellion in Đại Việt (present-day northern Vietnam), and had done little to stop Ava's expansion. Though the Ming court warned Ava in 1406 to cease its "aggression" in the Shan states, in reality, it actually withdrew troops from Yunnan to support the Đại Việt campaign the same year.Fernquest Autumn 2006: 51

According to the Hsenwi Yazawin chronicle, relations with Ava deteriorated to open hostilities by 1409 when Ava made two incursions into Hsenwi territory. However, the main Burmese chronicles—the Maha Yazawin, Yazawin Thit, Hmannan Yazawin—report no such military campaigns. Instead, they note that King Minkhaung I ordered conscriptions from all his vassals, including the Ava-held Shan states, for the 1409–1410 dry season campaign against Hanthawaddy.Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 26Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 235Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 2 Ming records state that the sawbwa dispatched a delegation to Beijing to request military assistance. The mission was received on 5 September 1409, and the Ming court was receptive. Encouraged by recent success in Đại Việt, the Yongle Emperor sent a eunuch delegate to Hsenwi, promising a punitive expedition against Ava.Fernquest Autumn 2006: 52

Invasion of Ava and death Hkam Hkai Hpa ultimately led the punitive expedition although planning required two more years. The Ming court took steps to build a coalition: it recognized King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy as a Chinese tributary ruler—Razadarit had been fighting Ava since 1408,Harvey 1925: 115 and by August 1411, it had secured an alliance with the powerful Shan state of Mong Mao (Maw).Fernquest Autumn 2006: 52 For his part, Hkam Hkai Hpa reinforced his capital's defenses, having moved the seat of government from Mong Keng to Wing Hkam Kai, north of Se-U (Se-Au), in 1408/09.Scott 1899: 244

Circa April 1412, Hkam Hkai Hpa's expeditionary force invaded Hsipaw, an Ava vassal state situated approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Hsenwi. They met minimal resistance. Hsipaw's sawbwa, Tho Kyaung Bwa, immediately fled to Ava. Hsenwi forces pressed on through the Shan Hills towards Ava (Inwa), located about 220 kilometers southwest of Hsipaw.Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 32Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 239Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 8 However, the Hsenwi army encountered the northern Ava army commanded by Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa near Wetwin, about 80 km from Ava. The sawbwa was killed in the battle, and most of the surviving Hsenwi forces retreated.Harvey 1925: 87Fernquest Autumn 2006: 53 The battle resulted in the deaths of about 300 Hsenwi troops; an additional 800 troops, 200 horses, and six elephants were captured.

Aftermath Following Hkam Hkai Hpa's death, his son and his son-in-law led the remaining troops back to Hsenwi. Minye Kyawswa pursued them, and laid siege to Hsenwi's fortified capital. The Hsenwi fortress was well provisioned, and held out through the entire rainy season. Chinese military help arrived five months into the siege, but Ava forces ambushed the Chinese troops as they approached Hsenwi.Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 9Goh 2009: 24Fernquest Autumn 2006: 53–54 The siege lasted another month until November 1412 when Razadarit opened a new southern front.

Hkam Hkai Hpa was succeeded by his middle son, Hkam Yawt. The new sawbwa continued to partake in the subsequent Chinese attacks into northern Ava. He signed a peace treaty with Ava in 1418/19 (or 1416).

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