Thohanbwa (1505 – May 1542) is king of Ava from 1527 to 1542.
The eldest son of Sawlon of Mohnyin is a commander who actively participates in Monhyin's numerous raids of Ava's territories in the first quarter of sixteenth century.
In March 1527, the ethnically Shan king is appointed king of Ava by Sawlon after the Mohnyin-led confederation of Shan States defeats Ava in 1527.
After Sawlon is assassinated in 1533, Thohanbwa becomes the undisputed king of Ava as well as chief of Mohnyin.
However, he iss not immediately accepted by other chiefs as the leader of the confederation.
He is remembered in Burmese history as a "full-blooded savage" who killed learned monks, looted treasures from Buddhist pagodas and burned books.
He is hated by his Burman and Shan subjects alike.
Yet it is his inaction and inability to mobilize the various Shan states to the threat posed by Toungoo, former vassal state of Ava, that proves most crucial, allowing the upstart kingdom to gain strength and buy time.
Toungoo goes on to defeat the Hanthawaddy Kingdom after a five-year war (1534–1539) during which Ava does nothing.
Only when Toungoo turnson Prome, Ava's vassal, in 1539 do Thohanbwa and his bickering Shan allies send in help.
It is too late.
The Confederation troops are driven back by Gen. Bayinnaung of Toungoo in April 1542.
Right after the defeat, the Ava court plots a putsch.
In May 1542, Thohanbwa is assassinated by his chief minister Yan Naung.
