Narathu

For other uses, see Narathu (disambiguation).

Narathu နရသူ
Dhammayangyi Temple built by Narathu
King of Burma
Reign	1167–1170
Predecessor	Alaungsithu
Successor	Naratheinkha
Issue
Naratheinkha Narapatisithu
House	Pagan
Father	Alaungsithu
Born	1117 Pagan
Died	1170 (aged 53) Pagan
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

Narathu (Burmese: နရသူ, pronounced [nəɹəθù]; 1117–1170) was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1167 to 1170. Narahthu ascended to the throne by murdering his father King Alaungsithu and his elder brother Min Shin Saw. In atonement for his many cruelties, Narathu built the largest of all the Pagan temples, the Dhammayangyi.^[1]

Narathu's conduct lowered the prestige of the dynasty, and he was widely unpopular. Narathu's reign came to an abrupt end in 1170 when the king was killed by the mercenaries sent by the chief of Pateikkaya, a tributary kingdom in the west (near or today's Chin State). The reason was to avenge for Narathu's murder of the chief's daughter, whom the chief had sent to Narathu as tribute. Narathu did raise the chief's daughter as queen but killed her with his own hands in one of his episodes of violence.^[2]

References

1. ^ DGE Hall. Burma (2008 ed.). Read Books. p. 22. ISBN 1443725412, 9781443725415. 
2. ^ Maung Htin Aung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press. pp. 50–51. 

Narathu Pagan Dynasty Born: c. 1117 Died: 1170
Regnal titles
Preceded by Alaungsithu	King of Burma 1167–1170	Succeeded by Naratheinkha
Royal titles
Preceded by Min Shin Saw	Heir to the Burmese Throne 116?–1167	Succeeded by Naratheinkha

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1117
Place of birth	Pagan
Date of death	1170
Place of death	Pagan