Alaungsithu

Alaungsithu
အလောင်းစည်သူ
King Sithu I of Pagan
Portrayed as Min Sithu nat (spirit)
King of Burma
Reign1112/13 – 1167
PredecessorKyansittha
SuccessorNarathu
Chief MinisterAleimma
Born17 January 1090
Thursday, full moon of Tabodwe 451 ME
Pagan
Died1167 (aged 77)
529 ME[1]
Pagan
ConsortYadanabon
Ti Lawka Sanda Dewi
Yazakumari
Taung Pyinthe
IssueMin Shin Saw
Narathu
Htauk Hlayga
Taung Phya
Shwe Kyu
Chit Oo
Kyaungdaw
Names
Jayyasura Cansu I
HousePagan
FatherSaw Yun
MotherShwe Einthi
ReligionTheravada Buddhism

Alaungsithu or Sithu I (Burmese: အလောင်းစည်သူ [ʔəláʊɰ̃ sìðù]; also Cansu I; 1090–1167) was king of Pagan Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1112/13 to 1167. Sithu's reign was a prosperous one in which Pagan was an integral part of in-land and maritime trading networks. Sithu engaged in a massive building campaign throughout the kingdom, which included colonies, forts and outposts at strategic locations to strengthen the frontiers, ordination halls and pagodas for the support of religion, as well as reservoirs, dams and other land improvements to assist the farmers. He also introduced standardized weights and measures throughout the country to assist administration as well as trade. He presided over the beginning of a transition away from the Mon culture toward the expression of a distinctive Burman style.

Sithu is remembered a peripatetic king who traveled extensively throughout his realm, built monuments and nurtured Theravada Buddhism with acts of piety.

  1. ^ Zata 1960: 40