Crown Prince Ka Naung

Crown Prince Ka Naung ( _my. ကနောင်မင်းသား; 1829 - 1866) was a son of Tharrawaddy Min and younger brother of King Mindon, the penultimate king of Burma.cite web|url=http://www.royalark.net/Burma/konbau13.htm|title=The Royal Ark: Burma - The Konbaung Dynasty 13|last=Buyers|first=Christopher|year=2002-2006] Towards the end of the Second Anglo-Burmese War, they overthrew their half brother Pagan Min (1848-1853) which put Mindon on the throne. Kanaung became the Heir Apparent on July 11 1853. [cite web|url=http://www.lib.washington.edu/asp/myanmar/pdfs/YI0012A.pdf|title=Life at the Burmese Court under the Konbaung Kings|author=Dr Yi Yi|year=1982|publisher=Historical Research Department, Rangoon]

Moderniser

King Mindon was dedicated to religion but Crown Prince Ka Naung was skilful in administration. He tried to rebuild the Burmese Army with modern weapons by sending men to study in Western countries and established an arms industry. He was the fiery "War Prince" and the peoples' idol, expected to succeed King Mindon.cite book|author=Shway Yoe (Sir James George Scott) 1882|title=The Burman - His Life and Notions|publisher=The Norton Library 1963|location=New York|pages=456] He was considered a visionary who attempted to modernise the country. One story relates to his efforts in testing depth charges in order to repulse British troops sailing up the Irrawaddy being thwarted in the end by the head of the Buddhist Sangha who protested against their deadly effect on the fish! Another story tells of his visits to the factories on cold early winter mornings wrapped in a blanket. He was also known for his waywardness in a famous love song, written by his wife Princess Hlaing Hteik-hkaung Tin, called "Seinchu Kya-nyaung bawlè".

Assassination

In an unsuccessful palace coup on June 18 1866 by the princes "Myingun" and "Myin Khondaing" (sons of King Mindon), Ka Naung was killed and the king himself had a very narrow escape. He was buried in the grounds of the Sandamuni paya built in his memory at the foot of Mandalay Hill by Mindon. [cite web|url=http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/mandalay/sandamuniindex.htm|title=Sandamuni paya - the grave of Ka Naung] In 1878, King Mindon died and his son Prince Thibaw became king. Thibaw was defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Burmese War in December 1885 and sent to exile in India. Many, to this day, believe that Burmese history would have been very different if Crown Prince Ka Naung were to survive and succeed to the Burmese throne. The loss of this prince has been mourned by the Burmese nearly as much as that of Aung San a century later.And as with Aung San the British were believed to be behind the assassination plot by many Burmese.

Epilogue

June Rose Bellamy, aka Yadana Nat-Me (Precious Angel), a great granddaughter of Ka Naung, daughter of Princess Hteiktin Ma Lat and Herbert Bellamy, an Australian orchid collector long settled in Burma, became the fourth wife of General Ne Win later divorcing him.

References

*Burmese Encyclopedia Vol 1, p-49 "printed in 1955"

Notes