NARAMEIKHLA

flourished 15th century also called Meng Soamwun founder and first king (reigned 140434) of the Mrohaung dynasty in Arakan, the maritime country lying to the west of Lower Burma on the Bay of Bengal, which had been settled by the Burmese in the 10th century. When Arakan became the scene of a struggle between rival centres of power in the 15th century, Narameikhla, the son of King Rajathu (reigned 13971401), was forced in the first year of his reign to flee to Bengal, where he became a vassal to King Ahmad Shah of Gaur. With the aid of Ahmad Shah's successor, he regained control of Arakan in 1430. In 1433 he built at Mrohaung a new capital, which remained the capital of Arakan until the 18th century. As a nominal vassal of the Muslim kings of Gaur, Narameikhla employed Muslim titles in his coins and inscriptions, though he and his subjects were Buddhists. He was succeeded by his son, Ali Khan (reigned 143459), who had adopted a Muslim name.