Tin Naing Toe - One Hundred Myanmar Soldiers

1. The liver 

The Kathawan was the chief of the Katha people, who were descendants of the Manipuri people. Manipur, now a state of India, shares a border with the Chin Hills of Burma. The Katha people are said to be descendants of the Kuki Chin tribe. Manipur, where the Katha people live, was a territory under the Burmese king during the reign of King Bayinnaung (1551-1581).

Katha-Myanmar relations during the Nyaungyan era

The Katha people invaded Myanmar at every opportunity during the Nyaungyan period. During the reign of King Thalon (1629-1648), in 1647, during the rebellion of his son Shin Taung, the Katha chieftain took advantage of the opportunity and surrounded and attacked the city of Thaungthup. Thus, on 15 January 1648, Min Ye Yan Naung

The Kathe Saw Bwa was sent to attack. Upon hearing that the Burmese troops were advancing in large numbers, he retreated for a while.

In December 1693, during the reign of Min Ye Kyaw Htin (1673-1698), the Kathe attacked Thaung Thup again. An army led by Tuyen Wera from the capital of Inwa was sent to suppress them. On 13 February 1705, during the reign of Sane Min (1698-1714), the Kathe Sawbwa came to the Burmese king with a daughter. The young woman, Hnin Long Kor, aged 15, was welcomed by nobles and officials to the border region. The Kathe invaded and attacked Myanmar territory when conditions allowed, and when conditions did not allow, they compromised by offering a daughter.

In 1724, during the reign of King Sangma (1714-1733), the Katha chieftain Gharib Niwaz (1719-1754) contacted the King of Inwa to ask for a daughter. He sent Burmese nobles to welcome him to Yuwa (in Mawlayt Township). Upon reaching Yuwa, the welcoming party was massacred by the Katha. On 8 November 1724, an army led by Min Ye Thiha Kyaw marched to attack. However, due to the cunning of the Katha and the outbreak of smallpox in the Burmese army, many Burmese nobles lost their lives.

During the reign of Mahadhammaraja (1733-1752), in 1737, the Kathe army invaded Myaydu and captured some of the locals. The following year, it reached Sagaing. A fierce battle took place near Kaungsindaung. The Kathe destroyed the houses and temples for five days and then retreated. In 1749, the Kathe Sawbwa, accompanied by his son Sham Shah and the general Sandaramawoni, again went down the Chindwin River to investigate. This time, the Taungoo Raja led a large army and naval campaign, but the plan was changed to marrying his daughter. The princess became the concubine of King Hanthawaddy during the fall of Inwa in 1752.

Those who live in settlements

After Alaungmindha's accession to the throne in 1753, the death of Gari Nawat created a problem of succession in Manipur. Alaungmindha was preparing to invade Manipur when its strength was weak, when one of Gari Nawat's heirs approached the Ratanasingha and asked for help. Thus, Alaungmindha's forces easily conquered Manipur.

King Alaung Min Da captured the capital of Katha on 19 January 1759 and erected a stone pillar at Nan U. In return, he brought many Katha people and settled them around Nay Pyi Taw. Among the Katha people were craftsmen, artists, and literati. Some were astrologers, others were silk weavers, and silversmiths. In addition, there were experts in horse breeding, horse riding, and horse warriors, and Alaung Min Da took good care of them.

The Katha people lived in close friendship with the local Burmese during the Konbaung period. Kayla, a concubine of King Badon (Bodaw Pagoda), was descended from the Katha family. In the poem "The Little Kathema" by King U Sa of Myawaddy, the king's daughter is depicted bargaining for mangoes from two Kathema girls. In this poem, King U Sa incorporates the sounds of the Katha language, such as "Leiksa Bien" (girl) and "Heindu" (mango). Henry Barney recorded that King U Sa was fluent in the Katha language. There were many Katha people around the capital during the Konbaung period. It is said that the nuns Mae Kin and Mae Nat Pei, who were famous in the later period, were also of the Katha lineage.

Early pregnancy

A Katha chieftain was appointed to govern the Katha people as early as the Konbaung period. It is said that the chieftain was usually chosen from among the Katha people. The person appointed as the chieftain during the reign of King Myaydu (Sinphyu Shin) (1763-1776) was Nay Myo Pyan Chi. The name of the chieftain Nay Myo Pyan Chi is found in the 40th Taw Blood Drinker, which was formed on 15 September 1764 after the reconstruction of Innwa during the reign of King Myaydu.

Nay Myo Pyanchi seems to have been appointed as the Kathewan during the reign of King Depayin (Naw Dawgyi) (1760-1763). During the campaign against Manipur on 15 January 1765, Nay Myo Pyanchi, the Kathewan, led an army. After conquering Manipur, Alaungmin Daw appointed Sandaramoni as the Kathewan, withdrew his troops, and returned to Yadanartheinga. After the Burmese troops withdrew, they established new cities and palaces in protest against the Burmese king’s subordination, which was attacked by Burmese troops.

The Burmese army marched to Manipur, where the Kathe Sawbwa fled, and they returned to Nay Pyi Taw on 7 April 1765. Later, they heard that Kengtung was surrounded by Chinese troops, so they marched again on 27 December 1765. Eleven Burmese troops went to attack, including one led by the Kathe Wun.

Nay Myo Thiha Tu

Even during the reign of King Myay Du, a daughter from Sandapuri (Lin Zin) was given a royal welcome by the Queen. When she arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on 5 September 1769, the welcoming party included the Kathewan Nay Myo Thiha Thu. Nay Myo Thiha Thu seems to have been the Kathewan who succeeded Nay Myo Pyan Chi. On 13 December 1769

The ceremony to mark the end of the Sino-Burmese war was held in Kawthong, and Kathewan Nay Myo Thiha Thu attended the ceremony.

The chief of the Kathewan Uyen

It seems that U Pyin was appointed as the chief of the Kathe during the reign of King Sin Ku. After the accession of King Badon (Bodaw Pagoda) (1782-1819), U Pyin is mentioned as the former Kathe chief. The son of the former Kathe chief, Maung Kyar (aged 20), was appointed as a junior officer of U Pao, the son of Bodaw Pagoda, on 1 July 1783. During the early Konbaung period, especially during the period of war, there seems to have been no difference between the positions of Kathe chief and Kathe Myin chief. Sometimes, instead of Kathe chief, the Kathe Myin chief was assigned to handle the affairs of the Kathe people.

King U Sani of Kathe 

During the reign of King Don (Bodaw Pagoda), a man named U Sani was appointed to oversee and administer the Katha clan, and was named the Katha King. This Katha King, U Sani, seems to have been the Katha ruler. U Sani's title was Maha Zeya Thura. He was born in 1760 to U Nay Don and Daw Nin, who were salt workers in Sallingyi, and served the Crown Prince U Pao during the reign of Bodaw Pagoda. He was appointed as the Katha King in 1805 after he had studied the 37 divine spirits by order of the king.

During the reign of King Sagaing (Ba Kyi Taw), U Sani was appointed as the King of Kathe. On 10 September 1820, the 37 Min Nat Chin that had been previously compiled was revised and added to by order of the King. Then, in December 1822, U Sani died of malaria while on a military campaign against Kacha.

Late Konbaung period

During the reign of King Thayarawaddy and King Bagan, there was no separate Kathewan. The Kathe Myin Wan also supervised and administered the Kathe clans. By the time of King Mindon (1853-1878), the role of the Kathewan had almost disappeared. It is known that in 1878, when U Latt, the deputy chief of the Kathewan, fell ill, he had to bring in Hazana, the title of Naymyo Nagashanta Kyaw, and the village headman Pauk Myaing, a village chief.

The position of Kathawan is not found in the list of officials during the reign of King Thibaw. It is not known whether the Kathawan of King Mindon continued to serve during the reign of King Thibaw or whether the position of Kathawan was no longer appointed. The number of Katha people during the Konbaung period also decreased considerably in the later period. According to the census of 1871, there were only 31 Katha people in Yangon.

By the late Konbaung period, the position of the Katha chieftain could be said to be that of a mere retainer. It is known that the Katha chieftain was no longer allowed to live in the palace, but had to live in the neighborhood where the Katha ethnic groups lived.