Smim Payu
| Smim Payu | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Myaungmya | |
|
In office 1541–1544 |
|
| Succeeded by | Satu Gamani |
| Minister at Toungoo court | |
|
In office 1536–1544 |
|
| Monarch | Tabinshwehti |
| Minister at Hanthawaddy court | |
|
In office ? – 1536 |
|
| Monarch | Takayutpi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Payu |
| Died | c. November/December 1544 Natdaw 906 ME |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch |
Royal Burmese Navy Royal Burmese Army |
| Years of service | 1536–1544 |
| Rank | Admiral, General |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Martaban (1541) Battle of Prome (1541–1542) Battle of Prome (1543–1544) |
Smim Payu (Burmese: သမိန်ပရူ,Burmese pronunciation: [θəmèiɴ pəjù]; died 1544) was a general and admiral of the Royal Burmese Armed Forces, and a senior minister at the court of King Tabinshwehti of Toungoo Dynasty from 1536 to 1544. The ethnic Mon commander was originally a minister at the court of King Takayutpi of Hanthawaddy but joined Tabinshwehti's service in 1536 and rose to be one of the top advisers to the Toungoo king. He is most well known for planning and commanding the 1541 naval attack on Martaban (Mottama) that finally breached the defenses of the last Hanthawaddy holdout, and ended the Toungoo–Hanthawaddy War (1534–41).
Smim Payu was a minister at the court of King Takayutpi and a general in the Hanthawaddy Army. He battled Toungoo forces early in the Toungoo–Hanthawaddy War (1534–41). In November 1536, he commanded a cavalry battalion in the Hanthawaddy regiments sent to the front to meet the invading Toungoo forces on their way to Pegu, the capital of Hanthawaddy. The opposing armies met near Kawliya (modern Thongwa, Bago Region), and the Hanthawaddy army was defeated. Payu himself was captured. After the capture, Payu decided to switch sides. He was made a senior commander in the Toungoo army and an adviser to King Tabinshwehti. In the 1538–1539 campaign that finally captured Pegu, Payu commanded one of the seven flotillas that chased the retreating Hanthawaddy forces.
He made his name at the battle of Martaban. The city of Martaban (Mottama) on the upper Tenasserim coast was the last Hanthawaddy holdout. In November 1541, Toungoo forces laid siege to the port city. He led an army at first but was later reassigned to take command of the Toungoo navy with the rank of admiral (လှေတပ်ဝန်; lit. "Minister of War Boats"). For months, Toungoo forces tried but could not break through the wealthy port's heavily fortified defenses that included Portuguese mercenaries, firearms and warships. Toungoo armies could not even get near the high walls of the city defended by Portuguese muskets and cannon. Payu's "navy", which consisted of small war boats, too was unable to take on seven Portuguese warships guarding the harbor.
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