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Ananda Thuriya (Burmese:အနန္တ သူရိယ,pronounced[ʔənàɴda̰θùɹḭja̰]) was the firstgovernor of Kanba Myint, the region that would later become the Principality of Toungoo (Taungoo), the predecessor state of theToungoo dynasty. The governor started out his career in the military service of KingSithu II ofPagan (Bagan), rising to commander-in-chief of theroyal army. He later became a chief minister at the royal court, and married a daughter of the king. In 1191, he was appointed governor of Kanba Myint, (modern Taungoo District), then a frontier region. He was the paternal great grandfather ofThawun Gyi andThawun Nge, who founded Toungoo in 1279.

Theroyal chronicles say nothing about his early life except for his personal name,Yanman Nga Htwe (ရန်မန် ငထွေး).^[1] Based on his honorific, Yanman, he was likely an ethnicMon.^{[note 1]} The first mention of him the chronicles is as a member of thesecurity detail of King Sithu II (r. 1174–1211). Chronicles say that Htwe made his name one day when the king was sailing upriver fromPagan (Bagan), and the royal barge was attacked by a large crocodile. Htwe jumped into the river, and wrestled the crocodile and killed it with the royalsceptre.^[1]

The grateful king appointed him an officer in his army. There, Htwe served with distinction. He started out leading small expeditions to put down minor rebellions, and later became a commander leading major expeditions to more remote regions.^{[1][note 2]} Chronicles say that he proved to be a successful commander, and usually brought home the rebel leader.^[1][2] Legends grew about his bravery: He supposedly wrestled and killed a tiger, and an elephant on separate occasions.^[1][3] For his battlefield successes, the king rewarded him by granting a senior court title, Ananda Thuriya (Pali: Ananta Suriya),^{[note 3]} and his teenage daughter Saw Min Hla in marriage.^{[note 4]} The minister-general built the Laymyethna Temple in Pagan, inscribing a curse on all those who should injure his dedication.^[2]

According to the Toungoo region's chronicleToungoo Yazawin, in 1191, Ananda Thuriya was given in fief a frontier region calledKanba Myint (ကမ်းပါးမြင့်), a small settlement on the Swa, a tributary to the Paunglaung river. The king made the appointment while travelling through the region on his return trip fromPegu (Bago) in the south. He observed that the hitherto frontier region, about 250 km from the Mon-speaking Pegu, was now populated with Mon and Burmese speakers, and decided to closely administer the region. According to historian Sein Lwin Lay, the king likely considered his son-in-law Ananda Thuriya, a proven military commander and probably an ethnic Mon (based on his name), a perfect fit for the region.^[5]

Except for a couple of pagoda renovations, not much is known about his years as governor at Kanba Myint. He died in an unknown year, and was succeeded by his son Min Hla Saw.^[5] In 1279, two of his great grandsonsThawun Gyi andThawun Nge foundedToungoo (Taungoo), about 40 km south of Kanba Myint. Toungoo became the principal city of the region by the early 14th century.^[6]

• Aung-Thwin, Michael (2005).The Mists of Rāmañña: The Legend that was Lower Burma (illustrated ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.ISBN 978-0-8248-2886-8.
• Harvey, G. E. (1925).History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
• Kala, U (1724).Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2006, 4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
• Lieberman, Victor B. (1984).Burmese Administrative Cycles: Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580–1760. Princeton University Press.ISBN 0-691-05407-X.
• Royal Historians of Burma (c. 1680). U Hla Tin (Hla Thamein) (ed.).Zatadawbon Yazawin (1960 ed.). Historical Research Directorate of the Union of Burma.
• Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832).Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
• Sein Lwin Lay, Kahtika U (1968).Min Taya Shwe Hti and Bayinnaung: Ketumadi Taungoo Yazawin (in Burmese) (2006, 2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Yan Aung Sarpay.
• Than Tun (1964).Studies in Burmese History (in Burmese). Vol. 1. Yangon: Maha Dagon.

• Ministers of Pagan dynasty
• 12th-century births
• Burmese generals
• Burmese Mon people
• 12th-century Burmese people
• 13th-century Burmese people

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