List of rulers of Shan states


The Shan State, a state of Myanmar, was once made up of a large number of traditional monarchies or fiefdoms. These are collectively known as Shan States.

Ranks of rulers

Three ranks of chiefs were recognized by the King of Burma and later by the British administration. These ranks were:
  1. Saopha or Sawbwa
  2. Myosa , "duke" or chief of town.
  3. Ngwegunhmu, silver revenue chief.

    Hierarchy and precedence

The distinction in the titles dates from the days of the Burmese monarchy although the same states have not continued to hold the same titles for their chiefs during the centuries -- changes took place according to royal favour, results of battles and later, the decisions of the British authorities. The privileges and titles were so much a matter of royal ordinance that every one of a Sawbwa's symbols of power was laid down in a special book of dispensations granted by the higher court. His regalia and clothes, the guilding and jewel decoration of betel boxes, spittoons, fly-whisks and such articles of use, the dress of ministers, the umbrellas, spears and horses in procession, the caparisoning of the royal elephant, the instruments for processional music, the gateways and the style of residence, all were rigidly prescribed to ensure that the dignity kept up accordance with the status of a royal chieftain, yet did not encroach on the special privileges reserved for the court of Ava itself. The British, whose success in administration was largely bound up with observance, of precedence in a hierarchy, listed states also as Sawbaships, Myosaships and Ngwegunhmuships.
The following lists the Sawbwas in order of the precedence, at the time of the British annexation of the Shan States.
StateArea Classical nameNotes
Sawbwas
Kengtung12,400Khemaraṭṭha
Hsipaw4,524Duṭṭhavatī
Mongnai2,717Saturambha/Nandapwa
Yawnghwe1,392Kambojaraṭṭha
Tawngpeng800Pappatasara
South Hsenwi2,400Siwirata or KawsampiAlso known as Mongyai
North Hsenwi6,330Siwirata or Kawsampi
Mongmit3,733Gandhalaraṭṭha
Mongpai730
Lawksawk2,362Kambojaraṭṭha
Laikha1,560Hansawadi
Mawkmai2,557Lawkawadi
Mongpan2,988Dhannawadi
Mongpawn366Rajjawadi
ManglunJambularaṭṭha
Kantarawadi3,015
Samka314
Mongkung1,593Lankawadi
MongkawngUdigirirataKingdom of Nora
MongyangAhluwipurata
Myosas
Nawngwawn28PokkharawadiAmalgamated with Mong Pawn, 1931
Mongnawng1,646Nandawadi
Mongsit
Kehsi-bansam551
MawnangAmalgamated with Hsamongkham, 1934
Loilong 1,098
Hsahtung471
Wanyin219
Hopong212
Namkhok108Amalgamated with Mong Pawn, 1931
Sakoi82-
Mongshu470Hansawadi
Kenglun54Amalgamated with Kehsh Bansam, 1926
Bawlake565
Kyetbogyi700
Hsamongkham449
Baw741
Pwehla178
Ngwegunhmus
Yengan 359
Pangtara 86
Pangmi30
Loi-ai156Amalgamated with Hsamongkham, 1930
Kyaukku76Amalgamated with Pwehla, 1928
Loimaw48Amalgamated with Yawnghwe, 1928
Kyone24
Namtok14Amalgamated with Loilong, 1931

Shan states

Maw">Maw (state)">Maw (Baw)

Last Sawbwa – Sao Hkun Aung

[Hopong] (Hopon)

Rulers
Rulers
Founded before 1700 and under a Myosa, its known rulers were:
Last – Sao Htun Aye aka. Aungban Sawbwa

[Hsawnghsup] (Thaungdut)

Founded before 1858 under a Saopha, it ceased to exist in 1893. The rulers were:
Hsenwi sets its legendary foundation before 650. It was ruled by a Saopha and ceased to exist in March 1888, when it was split into North Hsenwi and South Hsenwi. The rulers were:
Created in March 1888 from Hsenwi state. the main state was split into two, North and South Hsenwi.
Created in March 1888 by the splitting of the Hsenwi state. The state is also known as Mong Yai. The rulers were:
Founded before 600, it ceased to exist in 1886, when it was incorporated into Yawnghwe. It was ruled by a Myosa and the rulers were:
Founded, according to legend, in 58 BC, it was ruled by a Saopha. Its formal name was Dutawadi. For the state capital see Thibaw.
Myosas:
Myosas:
For the state capital see Kengtung.
Ruled and founded by the Yang dynasty, it was founded in 1739 by Yang Shien Tsai, Chief of Shin Da Hu. Later his successor Yang Wei Shin expanded his territory and renamed it Kho Kan Shan. Yang Yon Gen then finally renamed it to Kokang. The first 2 reigned as chiefs, the 3rd assumed the title of Heng which was to be held until Yang Chun Yon assumed the Myosa title. Colonel Sao Yang Wen Pin assumed the title of Saopha, after the British recognised Kokang in 1947 as a state for services in the Second World War; it lasted until the state ceased to exist in 1959.
The rulers were:

[Kyawkku] Hsiwan (Kyaukku)

Ngwegunhmus:
Myosas:
Saophas
Ngwegunhmus
Ngwegunhmus
Myosas
Ngwegunhmus:
Saophas :

[Monglin]

Saopha of Monglin
Saopha of MongLeam Sao Mwamp Fa

[Mongtorm]

Myosa
Saophas:
Myosas
Ngwegunhmus:
Mong kong Mong Yawngis situated in Hukawng valley, near the Uyu river. Some Tai Leng manuscripts, also, mention about the establishment of Bein Kawng on the west bank of Nam Kawng, near the Kaming but lists of Saophas has not given. 3rd-Möngkawng is situated at a distance of about 9 miles from Mogaung.
Saophas:
Myowuns:
Myosa
Myosas:
Myosas
Saophas:
Saophas:
Myosas:
Saophas:
Myosas:
Saophas
Myosas:
Saophas:
After 1842 this state was occupied by Lawksawk.
Rulers :
Myosas
This state was occupied by Hsenwi between 1886 and 1888.
Myosas:
State existed before 1400 and after 1604.
Saophas:
Myowuns:
Myosas:
Ngwegunhmus:
Myosas:
....–........

[Namhkom] (Nankon)

Rulers:
....–........

Namtok">Namtok (state)">Namtok (Nantok)

Rulers:
Ngegunhmus:
Sao Tun Yean WW2
Sao Noi Nyin

[Panglawng]

[Pangmi]

Sao Khun Min

[Pangtara] (Pindara)

Ngwegunhmus:
Myosas:
Khun Soe Min

Sakoi">Sa-koi">Sakoi

Myosas:
Myosas:
Saophas :
Saophas:
This state existed 1470–1772, when it was incorporated into Burma.
Saophas:
Myowuns:
Rulers:
Myosas:
Saophas:
Myothugyi
The formal and the ritual name of the state was Kambosarattha, in short term Kanbawza. The rulers full titular style was Kambawsarahta Thiri Pawaramahawuntha Thudamaraza. For the state capital see Nyaung Shwe.
Ngwegunhmus:
Saophas: