Thalun, King

   (r. 1629-1648)

   Monarch of the Toungoo Dynasty, who came to the throne after the assassination of his brother, Anaukpetlun. He is best remembered for moving the capital of his kingdom from Pegu (Bago) to Ava (Inwa) in Upper Burma. This was a momentous decision, because it isolated the royal capital from foreign contact and deprived the state of that cultural and economic stimulation that made Ayuthaya, capital of Siam, one of Southeast Asia's major cities. Although Pegu's port was of doubtful use because of silting, there was some thought of establishing a new capital at Syriam (Thanlyin), across the Pegu (Bago) River from present-day Rangoon (Yangon). In contrast to his predecessors, Thalun's reign was largely peaceful. He promoted administrative reform, the composing of the first law code (Dhammathat) in the Burmese (Myanmar) language, expansion of the irrigation facilities at Kyaukse, and a detailed land survey, carried out in 1638.