Maung Myo Htwe, the eldest of 13 siblings, was born in about 1842 to the future
King Mindon and his consort, Khonnaywa Mibaya. Since his mother was a descendant of
Ekkathat, the
last king of Ayutthaya, he was a Siamese-Burmese prince. However, there is no direct evidence mentioned of his mother being a descendant of King Ekkathat or King Udumbara in the Burmese Chronicle. When his father ascended the throne, on 26 August 1853, he received the title of Thado Minsaw, and was granted the
appanage of Laungshe. On 13 March 1854, he received the appanage of
Thonze, and then became known as the Prince (or Myoza) of Thonze (Duke of Thonze). In July 1854 when he was 12 years old, he underwent the
Yaungdonbwe where he had his hair tied in a topknot and the
Shinbyu (
Coming of age) ceremonies, together with the princes of
Malun,
Myingun and
Padein. On 15 June 1862 when he was 20, he married
Yan Aung Myin Princess, a daughter of
Kanaung Mintha and his consort, Khin Kye. ==Later years==