 When the Hanthawaddy Kingdom of Lower Burma became a vassal of Sukhothai in 1293/94, it was the brothers, not Kyawswa, that sent a force to reclaim the former Pagan territory in 1295–96.Though the army was driven back, it left no doubt as to who held the real power in central Burma.In the following years, the brothers, especially the youngest Thihathu, increasingly acted like sovereigns.