Hkam Yawt Hpa (, ; d. 1444/45) was sawbwa of Hsenwi (in present-day northern Shan State, Myanmar) from 1412 to 1444/45. As a vassal of Ming China, he participated in the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418).
Early life According to the Hsenwi Yazawin, Hkam Yawt was the middle son of Prince Hkam Hkai Hpa of Hsenwi.Scott 1899: 244 He had an older brother, Hkam Hawt; a younger brother, Hkam Lat; and at least one sister.
Despite being the middle son, Hkam Yawt became the heir apparent to the Hsenwi throne after his father became sawbwa of the Shan-speaking state in 1407/08.Scott 1899: 243 Hsenwi was then a tributary state under Ming China. His two brothers Hkam Hawt and Hkam Lat were given smaller districts to govern—Wing Hkum, and Kung Ma, respectively. Hkam Yawt likely participated in his father's invasion of Ava in 1412 although the chronicles do not explicitly name him.
Sawbwa of Hsenwi Hkam Yawt succeeded the Hsenwi throne after his father fell in action during the invasion. He spent his first months, until November, defending the Hsenwi fortress which was under siege by Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa of Ava. The sawbwa requested military assistance from Yunnan. However, the Chinese relief force which arrived only in October was defeated by Ava forces.Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 9Goh 2009: 24Fernquest Autumn 2006: 53–54 The siege only ended when King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy opened a new southern front in November, and Minye Kyawswa's forces were redirected to the southern front.
As a Chinese vassal, Hkam Yawt continued to execute China's Ava policy. He participated in subsequent Chinese-sponsored attacks into northern Ava.Fernquest Autumn 2006: 53–54 According to the Ming Shilu, Hsenwi forces raided Ava's northern territories, destroying "over 20 cities and stockades." The Hsenwi delegation presented the captured elephants, horses, and other goods at the Chinese capital in September 1413. Hkam Yawt also continued the alliance with King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy whom China had recognized as a vassal.Harvey 1925: 115 In 1413, Razadarit sent an embassy to Hsenwi carrying seven viss (11.43 kg) of gold to keep Hsenwi in the war.Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 244Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 16
However, when China later shifted its focus to its protracted conflict in Đại Việt,Fernquest Autumn 2006: 54–55 Hkam Yawt recalibrated his Ava policy. Hsenwi may have reached a ceasefire agreement with Ava as early as 1416, followed by a peace treaty in 1418/19.
Hkam Yawt moved the capital to Wing Leng. He ruled until 1444/45, and was succeeded by his son Hkam Wat. According to the Hsenwi Yazawin, Hkam Yawt's daughter Nang Han Hkön Saw was "carried off and married by the King of the Nagas."
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