the five key irrigated zones south of Pinya, up to Yamethin, 200 km north of Toungoo. Having expanded Toungoo's borders to present-day Naypyidaw, the commoner proclaimed himself king. It was a bold proclamation. His predecessors had always stopped short of complete independence, even if they ruled like sovereigns. Pinya could not respond. Kyawswa II died in March 1359 during the latest raid, and the new king Narathu ultimately decided against a two-front war, and left Toungoo alone. Likewise, Theingaba also left Pinya alone as Narathu struggled to deal with the Maw Shan raids in the following years. In contrast, Toungoo's position became stronger by the day as Toungoo, along with Prome, continued receiving a large number of refugees fleeing the raids. In mid-1364, Theingaba's Toungoo was one of the stronger former vassal states left standing when the Maw Shans sacked both Sagaing and Pinya cities, and left Central Burma in ruins in their wake. But he watched with alarm as a young Sagaing prince named Thado Minbya emerged to reunify the core regions of Central Burma by September 1364. Thado Minbya founded the city of Ava in February 1365, and claimed all the former lands of Sagaing and Pinya Kingdoms. War with Ava In July 1365, Thado Minbya began his drive to reclaim the southern vassals of Pinya, starting with Pagan (Bagan) and Sagu. Theingaba could not allow Thado Minbya to acquire the Sagu−Minbu granary since it would give Thado Minbya all three key granaries of Central Burma. Realizing that it would be a matter of time before Ava turned to Toungoo, Theingaba decided to get involved. While Ava forces laid siege to Sagu, Theingaba sent an army led by Baya Kyawthu of Nganwegon to raid the Kyaukse district, the home region of Ava. The raid forced Thado Minbya to rush back but it also put Toungoo on the top of the young king's agenda. Ava forces invaded Toungoo territory in 1365–66. Toungoo forces made a valiant stand at Nganwegon but after months of heavy fighting, had to retreat in 1366. Ava now controlled the five irrigated zones of the northern Sittaung valley. Theingaba now hunkered down. He did not send any aid to Taungdwin when Ava attacked the state immediately west of Toungoo in 1366–67. At any rate, he was not to see Ava attacks on Toungoo as he died on 29 March 1367. His estranged son Pyanchi succeeded