Asia -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Mongols -- History; Polo, Marco, 1254-1323?; Voyages and travels
The title given to the sovereign in question of King of BENGAL, as
well as of Mien, is very remarkable. We shall see reason hereafter
to conceive that Polo did more or less confound Bengal with _Pegu_,
which was subject to the Burmese monarchy up to the time of the
Mongol invasion. But apart from any such misapprehension, there
is not only evidence of rather close relations between Burma and
Gangetic India in the ages immediately preceding that of our
author, but also some ground for believing that he may be right in
his representation, and that the King of Burma may have at this
time arrogated the title of “King of Bengal,” which is attributed
to him in the text.
Anaurahta, one of the most powerful kings in Burmese history
(1017–1059), extended his conquests to the frontiers of India,
and is stated to have set up images within that country. He also
married an Indian princess, the daughter of the King of _Wethali_
(_i.e._ _Vaiçali_ in Tirhút).
There is also in the _Burmese Chronicle_ a somewhat confused story
regarding a succeeding king, Kyan-tsittha (A.D. 1064), who desired
to marry his daughter to the son of the King of _Patteik-Kará_, a
part of Bengal.[1] The marriage was objected to by the Burmese
nobles, but the princess was already with child by the Bengal
prince; and their son eventually succeeded to the Burmese throne
under the name of Alaungtsi-thu. When king, he travelled all over
his dominions, and visited the images which Anaurahta had set up in
India. He also maintained intercourse with the King of Patteik-Kará
and married his daughter. Alaungtsi-thu is stated to have lived to
the age of 101 years, and to have reigned 75. Even then his death
was hastened by his son Narathu, who smothered him in the temple
called Shwé-Ku (“Golden Cave”), at Pagán, and also put to death
his Bengali step-mother. The father of the latter sent eight brave
men, disguised as Brahmans, to avenge his daughter’s death. Having
got access to the royal presence through their sacred character,
they slew King Narathu and then themselves. Hence King Narathu is
known in the Burmese history as the _Kalá-Ḳya Meng_, or “King slain
by the Hindus.” He was building the great Temple at Pagán called
_Dhammayangyi_, at the time of his death, which occurred about
the year 1171. The great-grandson of this king was Narathihapade
(presumably _Narasinha-pati_), the king reigning at the time of the
Mongol invasion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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