princely state · Mainland Southeast Asia
Momeik State
Origins
Momeik, Shan Mong Mit, traces its ruling house to the 13th century in Shan tradition, and for much of its early history it was closely linked to Hsenwi. It lay north-east of Mandalay, between the Irrawaddy valley and the Shan plateau.
Rule and society
Its saopha ruled valleys of rice and tea worked by Shan, Palaung and Kachin peoples, under the overlordship first of Ava and later of the Toungoo and Konbaung kings. The state's territory at times included Mogok, whose rubies made the region famous, though the mines were usually under direct royal control.
Decline and legacy
After the British annexation of Upper Burma in 1885, Momeik became one of the Shan states under British protection and later part of the Federated Shan States. Like other saophas, its ruler surrendered his powers to the Shan State government in 1959.
Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.
On the connections map
Open the full map →Connections (3)
- Momeik State was a vassal of Konbaung dynasty1752 CE – 1885 CE
- Momeik State was a protectorate of British Burma1887 CE – 1922 CE
- Momeik State was part of Federated Shan States1922 CE – 1948 CE
More states of Mainland Southeast Asia →
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Momeik State. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/momeik-state
- MLA
- “Momeik State.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/momeik-state. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Momeik State.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/momeik-state.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Momeik State’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/momeik-state (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻