Smin Maw-Khwin
Smin Maw-Khwin was a Hanthawaddy commander who participated in the first three wars of the Forty Years' War until 1414. He also served as governor of Sayat. He is best known for his key role in the successful 1408 Hanthawaddy invasion of Launggyet Arakan, which started the decade-long Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418). The commander was captured by Ava forces in 1414.
At least two other commanders held the title of Smin Maw-Khwin in the Hanthawaddy military between 1414 and 1422.
Biography
The name Smin Maw-Khwin is a Mon language title, conferred upon several commanders who served the monarchs of Hanthawaddy Pegu and the Toungoo Empire.This Smin Maw-Khwin is first mentioned in the royal chronicles in 1390. He served as a regimental commander in King Razadarit's main army during the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391). He is also noted as a regimental commander during the second siege of Prome in late 1402, part of the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1401–1403).
Arakan campaign (1408)
Maw-Khwin is best known for his role in the 1408 Hanthawaddy invasion of Arakan, then a vassal state of Ava. Chronicles provide conflicting accounts of his activities during and after the invasion. The Razadarit Ayedawbon and Yazawin Thit chronicles state that Maw-Khwin and Smin Paik-Nye led the successful invasion. However, other chronicles name Byat Za or Dein Mani-Yut as the theater commander-in-chief whom Maw-Khwin and Paik-Nye reported to.Furthermore, the Rakhine Razawin Thit chronicle states that Maw-Khwin remained with the Hanthawaddy garrison in Launggyet until later that year before being driven out by an Ava army led by the lord of Myinsaing. Other chronicles, however, say that Maw-Khwin immediately returned to Pegu, and took command of a regiment in the main Hanthawaddy army that defended the Pegu capital region during the rainy season of 1408.
Sittaung front (1414)
The war was still raging in 1414. By then, Maw-Khwin was governor of Sayat, a fortified town on the Sittaung front near the northern border with Ava. From this post, he was assigned to lead the defense of the Sittaung front.When Ava forces invaded the Irrawaddy delta in October 1414, King Razadarit ordered him to attack Toungoo to relieve pressure on the delta front. As his forces marched north, they were intercepted by Ava forces from Toungoo. Hanthawaddy forces won the initial engagement, after which both sides retired to camps on the opposite sides of the Sittaung river. The next morning at dawn, Hanthawaddy war boats attempted to assault the Ava camp but their war boats were punctured by concealed underwater stakes. Maw-Khwin was captured during the battle while his deputy Saw Paik was killed in action.
This Smin Maw-Khwin is not mentioned again in the chronicles. His title was succeeded by the acting commander of Bassein, who surrendered to Ava forces shortly after,. By 1422, another commander had succeeded the title. That Smin Maw-Khwin, commander of the Dala garrison, was executed by Prince Binnya Kyan during the 1422 Pegu succession crisis.
Military service
The following is a list of military campaigns in which Maw-Khwin is explicitly mentioned in the chronicles as a commander.| Campaign | Duration | Troops commanded | Notes |
| Defense of Hanthawaddy | 1390–1391 | 1000 | Part of Razadarit's main royal army |
| Second siege of Prome | 1402 | 1 marine regiment | Part of the invasion fleet |
| Hanthawaddy invasion of Arakan | March 1408 | 2000+ troops | Co-led the invasion alongside Smin Paik-Nye |
| Defense of the Pegu capital region | April–August 1408 | 1 regiment | Commanded a regiment in Razadarit's main army, and participated in the counterattack |
| Hanthawaddy attack on Toungoo | October 1414 | not mentioned | Captured in the battle of Pannin en route to Toungoo |