until 1314. From 1369 onwards, the Hanthawaddy kings ruled the kingdom from Bago (Pegu). From 1364 to 1388, Martaban was under the de facto independent rule of Byattaba. In 1388, King Razadarit reconquered the city. Though it was no longer the capital, the city remained an important trading port from the 14th century to the early 16th century.

The old name of the city, Martaban, came to mean 'jar' in several varieties of Arabic,