Reign 1421–1424 Successor Binnya Ran I House Wareru Parents Razadarit | Predecessor Razadarit Issue Binnya Kyan Father Razadarit Children Binnya Kyan | |
Died 1424, Bago, Myanmar (Burma) Grandparents Binnya U, Mwe Daw, Mwei Daw Great-grandparents Saw Zein, Sanda Min Hla, Than-Bon Similar Thihathu of Ava, Razadarit, Shin Sawbu, Minye Kyawswa, Shin Mi‑Nauk | ||
Binnya Dhammaraza (Burmese: ဗညားဓမ္မရာဇာ, [bəɲá dəma̰jàzà]; c. 1392–1424) was the 10th king of the Hanthawaddy Pegu Kingdom in Burma from 1421 to 1424. He came to power after his father Razadarit died in a hunting accident but he never any real control of the kingdom. He faced both internal rebellions by his brothers Binnya Ran I and Binnya Kyan, and renewed invasions from the Ava Kingdom. While he survived the Ava invasions, the last of the Forty Years' War between Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdoms, he did not survive treachery by his brothers. In 1424, he was poisoned by his brother Binnya Ran, who succeeded the throne.
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Reign
Upon accession, Binnya Dhammaraza immediately faced rebellions by his younger brothers Binnya Ran and Binnya Kyan. Binnya Dhammaraza pacified Binnya Ran by making him the heir-apparent and governor of Bassein and the entire Irrawaddy delta. Binnya Kyan invited King Thihathu of Ava to invade the kingdom but became disillusioned with his alliance when Ava's troops plundered and looted towns. Binnya Dhammaraza again bought peace by giving Binnya Kyan the governorship of Martaban. Now, he was left with just Pegu of the three main provinces of the Hanthawaddy region.
Although he tried to buy peace and unity by giving territory to his brothers, his brothers were not satisfied. Binnya Kyan ruled Martaban as an independent king. Binnya Ran expanded his territory by occupying Dagon (Yangon), part of Pegu province. When the Ava forces came to occupy Dala opposite Dagon, Binnya Ran presented his sister Shin Sawbu to Thihathu, and bought peace. In 1424, Binnya Ran poisoned Binnya Dhammaraza and became the eleventh king of Hanthawaddy.
Historiography
Various Burmese chronicles do not agree on the key dates of the king's life. He ascended to the throne in 1421 according to Razadarit Ayedawbon. (Razadarit Ayedawbon is considered the most authoritative chronicle of Hanthawaddy history but it ends at the death of King Razadarit.)