Laihka State

Laihka (Legya)
Laihka (Legya)
State of the Shan States
1505–1959
	; Laihka State (in yellow) in a map of the Shan States
Area
• 1901	3,711 km2 (1,433 sq mi)
Population
• 1901	25,811
History
• State founded	1505
• Abdication of the last Saopha	1959
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Hsenwi
Shan State

Laihka State (Shan: လၢႆးၶႃႈ), also spelt Legya or Lecha (Burmese: လဲချား), was a state in the central division of the Southern Shan States of Burma, with an area of 3,711 square kilometres (1,433 sq mi).

The general character of the state was hilly and broken, with a mean altitude of a little under 3,000 feet (910 m). The main rivers were the Nam Teng, an important tributary of the Salween, and the Nam Pawn. Laihka, located in the plain of the Nam Teng, was the capital where the saopha had his palace (haw).^[1] The town of Panglong, where the Panglong Agreement took place, is located close to Laihka.

History

Traditional legends talk about a predecessor kingdom in the area named Hansavadi. Laihka State was founded in 1505 as a state subordinated to Hsenwi State. On the downfall of King Thibaw civil war broke out, and reduced the population to a few hundred. In 1901 it had risen again to 25,811. About seven-ninths of the land under cultivation consisted of wet rice cultivation. A certain amount of upland rice was also cultivated, and cotton, sugarcane and garden produce made up the rest. Laihka, the capital, was noted for its ironwork, both the iron and the implements made being produced at Pang Long in the west of the state. This and lacquerware were the chief exports, as also a considerable amount of pottery. The imports were chiefly cotton piece-goods and salt.^[2]

Rulers

The rulers bore the title Myosa until mid nineteenth century.^[3]

Myosas

1734 - 1794 Khun Lek
1794 - 1803 Law Na
1803 - 1807 La Hkam
1807 - 18.. Hkun Lek

Saophas

The ritual style was Kambawsa Rahta Mahawunths Thiri Thudamaraza. The saopha start at 1505 the first Sao Khua Hpa and in 1542 the linege of him is vacant Sao Hkun Möng (Hso Han Hpa) the saopha of Hsipaw send his son Hkun Naw to be the saopha here

1505–1542 Sao Khua Hpa
1542–1567 Hso Naw Hpa
1567–1609 Hso Haum Hpa
1609–1628 Hso Kyaw Hpa
1628–1650 Hso Kawn Hpa
1674–1680 Hso Yat Hpa (Sao Ne Ya)
1680–1683 The wife of Sao Ne Ya (female), whose name is unknown – Because Sao Ne Ya left no children, his wife succeeded him and reigned for three years until her death.^[4]
1683–1697 Hso Hkai Hpa
1697–1720 Hso Ko Hpa
1720–1735 Hso Kluen Hpa
1735–1745 Hso Serk Hpa
1745–1771 Hso Bu Hpa
1771–1794 Hso Pen Hpa
1794–1803 Hkun Law Na
1803–1807 Sao Hla Hkam
1807–1854 Hkun Lek Hpa
1854–1856 Phu Hkam Kyaw
1856–1860 Hkun Long Hpa
1860–1862 Hkun Mawng Hpa (1st time)
1862–1866 Hkun Hkawt Hpa
1866–1868 The youngest sister of Hkun Hkawt (female), whose name is unknown – She was also one of Queens consort of Burma, because the monarch of Burma had many wives. When Hkun Hkawt died in 1866, she was appointed as ruler of Laihka and governed the State for two years.^[5]
1868–1879 Hkun Mawng Hpa (2nd time)
1879–1882 Vacant
1882–1928 Hkun Lai
1928–1952 Sao Num
1505–1542 Sao Khua Hpa

References

^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 16, p. 118.
^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lègya" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 384.
^ Shan and Karenni States of Burma
^ James George Scott; John Percy Hardiman. Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, Part 2, Volume 2. p. 5. He was succeeded in 1012 B.E. (1650) by his younger brother, Sao Ne Ya, who reigned for thirty years. He left no children and was succeeded by his wife, who held the State for three years and then died.
^ James George Scott; John Percy Hardiman. Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, Part 2, Volume 2. p. 6. Hkun Hkawt, a brother of Hkun Lek, was appointed Sawbwa, but died in four years. In 1228 B.E. (1866), therefore, his youngest sister, one of the Queens, was appointed to the charge of Lai Hka with the title of Myoza. She appointed myooks and myo-teins to govern the State for her. This continued for two years and then the former Sawbwa, Hkun Mawng, now become a youth, was appointed to the State.