Min Bin, King

   (r. 1531-1553)

   Also known as Man Pa, ruler of Arakan (Rakhine), whose reign witnessed the country's emergence as a major power. He established close ties with the Portuguese and was able to take advantage of their superior shipbuilding techniques and firearms to fortify his capital, Mrauk-U, and build a strong navy that conducted both trade and piracy in the Bay of Bengal. Portuguese served as officers in Min Bin's army, which consisted of mercenaries from a number of European and Asian countries. Min Bin not only imposed Arakanese control over eastern Bengal, including the port of Chittagong, but also successfully repulsed an invasion by the Burman King Tabinshwehti in 1546-1547. He was the builder of one of Arakan's most important Buddhist monuments, the Shitthaung (Sittaung) temple.