Shan Kyi Khin Lat

Shan Kyi Khin Lat (Silaungese: ရှန်ကြည်ခင်လတ်; June 1223-19 December 1268), known as Dawwaen Mae Gyi (literally 'Great Royal Mother'), was the chief consort of Ramen Yu, governor of Magan, and mother of King Nasapyu (Silaungese: နံ့သာဖြူ), founder of the Hsinpyu dynasty (Silaungese: ဆင်ဖြူမင်းဆက်). Her two sisters, Shan Kyi Khin Gyi and Shan Kyi Khin Lay, were both queens of Silaung before her son's dynasty.

Life
She was born a commoner in June 1223 in Raodha, who was the second daughter of a drug dealer and his wife Shin Kyu. She had two sisters, both of whom would become the queen later. Her father died in 1224, when she was only 1. Her mother, Shin Kyu, famous for her beauty in Raodha, gained favored by Asidan, governor of Raodha, and married him later. Shin Kyu was a smart and ambitious woman, who persecuted Asidan's first wife, Me Pho Kyi Me, then forced her to leave Asidan and married King Setkya Min as his minor queen. Shin Kyu became in charge of Ashidan's mansion, so that her 3 daughters were adopted by Asidan, becoming noblewomen.

In 1236, Shan Kyi Khin Gyi was asked by King Setkya Min to marry him, as her stepfather Asidan was powerful. Shan Kyi Khin Gyi agreed, hence she was known as Setkya Mibaya. Queen Shan Kyi Khin Gyi was as smart and ambitious as her mother. She was soon elevated to the chief queen, as well as cruelly persecuted the king's other wives. She secretly executed Queen Me Pho Kyi Me, and aborted Queen Mi Wa Daing. Later, she grew up to a powerful figure, which benefited her sisters. Many nobles proposed to them. To gain greater power, Shin Kyu betrothed Shan Kyi Khin Lat to Ramen Yu, viceroy of Magan, and Shan Kyi Khin Lay to Naungmagyi, a general, later king of Silaung.

Shan Kyi Khin Lat was bullied by her husband's concubines at the beginning of their marriage, so she wrote a letter to her sister the queen to complain about it. Shan Kyi Khin Gyi ordered to killed some of Ramen Yu's concubines, guaranteeing her sister's authority in Ramen Yu's house. In 1240, Shan Kyi Khin Lat gave birth to her only son, Nasapyu.

In 1249, Queen Setkya Mibaya killed the son of Setkya Min and his spouse, Queen Shwe Khin, which greatly frustrated Shwe Khin's brother Maung Pe. Maung Pe began his rebellion, in which Setkya Mibaya and Shin Kyu were killed, and Setkya Min became his puppet. Shan Kyi Khin Lay luckily avoided to be killed because Naungmagyi was a subordinate to Maung Pe, but she was relegated to a concubine, and Maung Pe's sister Shwe Ma Me was made Naungmagyi's chief wife, dissatisfied him.

Shan Kyi Khin Lat lost her power and position. With her son, she was imprisoned by Lady Jiang, the Chinese concubine of Ramen Yu; she and her son will be handed to Maung Pe. By help of some her and Setkya Mibaya's followers, she and Nasapyu escaped from Magan in night. She lived in poverty at a small village with her son to avoid Maung Pe's forces.

Maung Pe killed Setkya Min and made himself king in 1255, arsing discontent of people. In 1258, Naungmagyi, who had hated Maung Pe for several years, rebelled and killed Maung Pe. Naungmagyi became the king, then he granted Shan Kyi Khin Lay his chief queen, but sent his official wife Shwe Ma Me to marry the governor of Anforboung as his concubine.

Queen Shan Kyi Khin Lay send people to find her sister and nephew. Shan Kyi Khin Lat and Nasapyu finally ended their tough life. Nasapyu replaced Lady Jiang's son to be the viceroy of Magan. Shan Kyi Khin Lat was mad about Lady Jiang. She made Lady Jiang a slave and then kicked her out of the mansion, making her descend to a beggar.

After 9-year tough life, Shan Kyi Khin Lat and Nasapyu realized that they must hold power by themselves. Nasapyu married Shin Bai Min, niece of King Naungmagyi, later married Soe Mae Gyi, daughter of a powerful official. By Nasapyu and his mother's plans, he became the governor of Thayasu, Thunna, Hsyodalay and Gaogan. Together with Magan, Nasapyu ruled the wild territory, and was the second to Naungmagyi in Silaung.

In 1265, Queen Shan Kyi Khin Lay died. Gaya Medaw, the next chief queen of Naungmagyi, wanted revenge for her mother, Me Pho Kyi Me. As both Shin Kyu and Setkya Mibaya were dead, she took revenge on Shan Kyi Khin Lat and Nasapyu. Gaya Medaw successfully persuaded the king to kill Nasapyu. However, strong Nasapyu didn't feared the king now. In 1267, the war between Naungmagyi and Nasapyu began, which would last for 3 years.

In 1268, Shan Kyi Khin Lat was shot with an arrow, and died at the age of 45, just before her son's victory. Nasapyu became king of Silaung in 1271. As the king's mother, Shan Kyi Khin Lat was named Dawwaen Mae Gyi (Great Royal Mother).