Quick Facts
Biography
Letya Pyanchi (Burmese: လက်ျာပျံချီ, [lɛʔ jà pjàɴ tɕʰì]; d. c. April 1413) was governor of Prome (Pyay) from 1390 to 1413. The governor, a Hanthawaddy royal, was a key Ava commander in the Forty Years' War against Hanthawaddy Pegu.
Brief
He was a Hanthawaddy royal, and son-in-law of Viceroy Laukpya of Myaungmya. His Mon language title is reported in Burmese as Bya Kyin or Bya Kyi. Kyin remained loyal to his father-in-law who in 1384 decided to revolt against the new king at Pegu, Razadarit. Their rebellion in the Irrawaddy delta lasted for the next five years with the help of King Swa Saw Ke of Ava.
Kyin and his brother-in-law Bya Kon were driven out by Razadarit's invasion of the delta in 1389–90. Swa Saw Ke welcomed the duo, and appointed Bya Kon governor of Salin with the title of Nawrahta, and Bya Kyin governor of Prome (Pyay) with the title of Letya Pyanchi. It was early 1390. He ruled, Prome, a key province and the gateway to Upper Burma for the next 22+ years. He fought several campaigns in the Forty Years' War. He was wounded by an arrow at the battle of Hmawbi c. April 1413. He died en route to Prome, soon after having reached Dagon.
Military service
All his campaigns were part of the Forty Years' War on the side of Ava.
| Campaign | Troops commanded | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1390−91 | 1 regiment(1000 troops) | Part of the 17,000-strong river-borne invasion force that attacked Gu-Htut. |
| 1401−03 | unknown | Defended Prome from Hanthawaddy Pegu forces in the dry season of 1401–02. Led the 1402 counterattack that broke the siege that captured a daughter of King Razadarit. Prome came under siege by Pegu forces again c. September 1402 until Ava forces defeated Pegu forces at the battle of Nawin outside of Prome on 26 December 1402. |
| 1408 | 1 regiment | Part of the disastrous invasion that began at the outset of the rainy season. Also commanded a regiment in the rearguard army in the retreat about four months after. |
| 1410–11 | 1 regiment | Commanded a regiment in the 7000-strong First Army that unsuccessfully tried to take the Irrawaddy delta. |
| 1412–13 | unknown (defense of Prome) 1 regiment (1413 invasion) | Defended Hanthawaddy's siege of Prome for 4 months before Ava reinforcements broke the siege. Participated in Ava's subsequent invasion of the south. Led the attack on Hmawbi where he was wounded by an arrow. Died en route to Prome. |