Bayinnaung

Bayinnaung ဘုရင့်နောင်
King of Burma and dominions Lower Burma (1551–1581) Upper Burma (1555–1581) Shan States (1557–1581) Lan Na (1558–1581) Manipur (1560–1581) Chinese Shan States (1562–1581) Siam (1564–1581) Lan Xang (1574–1581)
Reign	11 January 1551 – 9 November 1581 (&1000000000000003000000030 years, &10000000000000302000000302 days)
Coronation	12 January 1554
Predecessor	Tabinshwehti
Successor	Nanda
Consort	Atula Thiri Sanda Dewi Yaza Dewi
Issue
Nanda Nyaungyan Nawrahta Minsaw Yaza Datu Kalaya
Full name
Ye Htut (ရဲထွတ်)
House	Toungoo
Father	Mingyi Swe
Mother	Myo Myat
Born	16 January 1516(1516-01-16) Wednesday, 12th waxing of Tabodwe 877 ME
Died	9 November 1581(1581-11-09) (aged 65) Thursday, Full moon of Tazaungmon 943 ME (aged 65) Pegu
Burial	Pegu
Religion	Theravada Buddhism

Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta (Burmese: ဘုရင့်နောင် ကျော်ထင်နော်ရထာ [bəjɪ̰ɴ nàʊɴ tɕɔ̀ tʰɪ̀ɴ nɔ̀jətʰà]; Thai: พระเจ้าบุเรงนอง; 16 January 1516 – 9 November 1581) was the third king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma (Myanmar). During his 30-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma", Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern day Burma, Manipur, Chinese Shan States (southern Yunnan), Lan Na (northern Thailand), Siam (central and southern Thailand) and Lan Xang (Laos and northeastern Thailand).

Although he is best remembered for his empire building, Bayinnaung's greatest legacy was his integration of Shan States into the Irrawaddy-valley-based Burmese kingdoms, which eliminated the threat of Shan raids into Upper Burma, an overhanging concern to Upper Burma since the late 13th century. After the conquest of Shan States in 1557, the king put in an administrative system that reduced the power of hereditary Shan saophas (chiefs), and brought Shan customs in line with low-land norms. His Shan policy was followed by Burmese kings right up to the final fall of the kingdom to the British in 1885.

He could not replicate this administrative policy everywhere in his far flung empire, however. His empire was a loose collection of former sovereign kingdoms, whose kings were loyal to him as the Cakravartin (Universal Ruler), not the kingdom of Toungoo. Indeed, Siam revolted just after three years of his death in 1584. By 1599, all the sub-kings had revolted, and Bayinnaung's empire completely collapsed.

He is considered one of the three greatest Burmese kings, along with Anawrahta and Alaungpaya. Some of the most prominent places in modern Myanmar are named after him. He is also well-known in Thailand on account of a popular song and a popular book both titled "Phu Chana Sip Thit" meaning "the Conqueror of Ten Directions."

Early life

The legend holds that Bayinnaung was born to a couple living near Pagan, and was named Shin Ye Htut (ရှင်ရဲထွတ်). Ye Htut's mother later moved to Toungoo to become Prince Mintaya's milkmaid. At Toungoo, Ye Htut was married to Mintaya's sister. Prince Mintaya was then crowned as King Tabinshweti of Toungoo in 1531. As an acquinted childhood friend to the king, Ye Htut gained the royal trust and was made Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta (Bayinnaung means "the royal brother-in-law.).

After the failed campaign against Ayutthaya in 1548, Tabinshweti lost his momentum and suffered mental illness. The Crown Prince Bayinnaung then took control of state affairs to protect the kingdom. Smim Htaw, a son of the last Mon king of Pegu, staged a rebellion and Tabinshweti himself was assassinated in 1550 by Smim Sawhtut - his close Mon advisor who was also of Pegu dynasty descent. Smim Sawhtut then crowned himself as the king of Pegu but found himself also under competition with Smim Htaw. Smim Htaw led the Mon armies to assault Pegu and was able to execute Smim Sawhtut after three months of rule.

Military campaigns

Reconquest of Burma (1550–1555)

Bayinnaung was the name conferred by his brother-in-law King Tabinshwehti, the founder of the Second Burmese Empire, nearly 3 centuries after the fall of Bagan in 1287 to the Mongol invasion under Kublai Khan. After Tabinshwehti was assassinated by Mon members of his court in Pegu in 1550, Bayinnaung fought to recover Tabinshwehti's kingdom retaking Toungoo and Prome in 1551, Pegu, Martaban, and Bassein in 1552, and finally Ava in 1555.

Shan States(1556–1557)

After he had retaken both Upper Burma and Lower Burma, he led a military expedition northwards to the Shan region and took Mong Mit, Hsipaw, Yawnghwe, Mong Yang, and Mogaung in 1557.

Lan Na (1558)

The following year he marched to the Lanna kingdom of Chiang Mai in 1558 taking both cities. In 1562, he conquered the Chinese Shans of Mong Mao.

Ayutthaya (1563–1564, 1564–1569)

Main articles: Burmese–Siamese War (1563–1564) and Burmese–Siamese War (1568–1569)

In 1563, Bayinnaung launched an invasion of Siam, and forced Siamese king Maha Chakkraphat to surrender in April 1564. The royal family was taken to Pegu, with the king's eldest son Mahinthrathirat installed as the vassal king. In 1568, Mahinthrathirat revolted when his father managed to return back from Pegu as a monk. The ensuing invasion captured Ayutthaya in August 1569, and Bayinnaung made Maha Thammarachathirat vassal king. Siamese nobles, including one Prince Naresuan, were brought to Pegu.

Starting in the late 1560s several European travellers such as Cesar Fedrici and Gaspero Balbi travelled to Pegu, the capital of Burma, and left detailed descriptions of Bayinnaung's kingdom in their travel journals (See external links below).

Lan Xang (1565, 1569–1570, 1572–1574)

The remote kingdom of Lan Xang (Laos) proved to be Bayinnaung's longest and most pesky problem. Although the Burmese armies first captured the Laotian capital Vientiane in 1565, they had little control beyond the city. They could not defeat Laotian resistance led by King Setthathirat who ruled the countryside and kept eluding multiple Burmese invasions. After Setthathirat death in 1572, Bayinnaung sent another invasion force led by his best general Binnya Dala once again but it too failed. Finally, the king himself led an invasion force in 1574 that finally brought Lan Xang to his fold.

Arakan (1580–1581)

In November 1580, Bayinnaung turned his attention to the western coastal kingdom of Arakan, and sent in an invasion force. As with their last Arakan campaign of (1546–1547), the Burmese easily took Thandwe but could not take a heavily fortified capital of Mrauk-U. Bayinnaung sent reinforcements in October 1581, and even planned to lead the campaign himself. But he was unwell, and died soon after. The Burmese withdrew after his death. (The Arakanese would later retaliate by sacking Pegu in 1599).

Death (1581)

Bayinnaung died in November 1581 at age 65. Bayinnaung was succeeded by his son Nanda.

Legacy

Although he is best remembered for his empire building, Bayinnaung's greatest legacy was his integration of Shan States into the Irrawaddy-valley-based Burmese kingdoms, which eliminated the threat of Shan raids into Upper Burma, an overhanging concern to Upper Burma since the late 13th century. After the conquest of Shan States in 1557, the king put in an administrative system that reduced the power of hereditary Shan saophas (chiefs), and brought Shan customs in line with low-land norms. His Shan policy was followed by Burmese kings right up to the final fall of the kingdom to the British in 1885.

He could not replicate this administrative policy everywhere in his far flung empire, however. His empire was a loose collection of former sovereign kingdoms, whose kings were loyal to him as the Cakravartin (Universal Ruler), not the kingdom of Toungoo. Indeed, Siam revolted just after three years of his death in 1584. By 1599, all the sub-kings had revolted, and Bayinnaung's empire completely collapsed.

Siamese views

• As conqueror of predecessor of Thailand, he was well-known by the Thai people, and often with respect. Chote Praepan (pen name "Jacob"), an influential Thai journalist and author expanded his story into an epic historical fiction, "ผู้ชนะสิบทิศ" or "Puchana Sib Tid", literally winner (conqueror) of the ten directions.
• The Thai novel later spawned a television and a movie series. The song of the same name from the movie series, performed by Charintra Nanthanakorn, remains one of the most recognizable and popular songs in Thailand.

Commemorations

Bayinnaung is considered one of the three greatest Burmese kings, alongside Anawrahta and Alaungpaya, the founders of the First and Third Burmese Empires, respectively.

• Team Bayinnaung, one of five student teams in Burmese primary and secondary schools
• Statute of Bayinnaung is one of three statutes of kings that towers over the Naypyidaw square. The other two are the statutes of Anawrahta and Alaungpaya.
• UMS Bayinnaung, Myanmar Navy Corvette
• Bayinnaung Bridge, a suspension bridge in Yangon
• Bayinnaung Road, a road in Yangon
• Bayinnaung Market, a major commodities market in Yangon

Bibliography

• "King Bayinnaung" (in Burmese). Hmannan Yazawin. 2 and 3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 1829. 
• Eade, J.C. (1989). Southeast Asian Ephemeris: Solar and Planetary Positions, A.D. 638–2000. Ithaca: Cornell University. ISBN 0-87727-704-4. 
• Hall, D.G.E. (1960). Burma (3rd ed.). Hutchinson University Library. ISBN 978-1406735031. 
• Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. 
• Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press. 
• Kyaw Thet (1962) (in Burmese). History of Union of Burma. Yangon: Yangon University Press. 
• Lieberman, Victor B. (2003). Strange Parallels: Southeast Asia in Global Context, c. 800-1830, volume 1, Integration on the Mainland. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-80496-7. 
• Myint-U, Thant (2006). The River of Lost Footsteps--Histories of Burma. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-16342-6, 0-374-16342-1. 
• Phayre, Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur P. (1883). History of Burma (1967 ed.). London: Susil Gupta. 
• Thaw Kaung (2010). Aspects of Myanmar History and Culture. Yangon: Gangaw Myaing. 
• Tun Aung Chain (2004). Selected Writings of Tun Aung Chain. Myanmar Historical Commission. 

External links

• The Changing Nature of Conflict between Burma and Siam as seen from the Growth and Development of Burmese States from the 16th to the 19th Centuries, by Pamaree Surakiat,Mar 2006, Asia Research Institute, Singapore.
• Account of Pegu (1586–1587), by Cesar Fedrici.
• Voyage to Pegu, and Observations There, Circa 1583, Gaspero Balbi
• A king of Burma and the Sacred Tooth Relic
• The Flight of Lao War Captives from Burma back to Laos in 1596:A Comparison of Historical Sources Jon Fernquest, Mae Fa Luang University, SOAS bulletin, Spring 2005
• The Kinder Side of a Burmese King The Back Page, The Irrawaddy, February 2007
• Thai-Burmese Historical Film Breaks Box Office Records Khun Sam, The Irrawaddy, January 25, 2007
• Thai Tourists in Burma Sai Silp, The Irrawaddy, February 2007

Bayinnaung Toungoo Dynasty Born: 16 January 1516 Died: 9 November 1581
Regnal titles
Preceded by Tabinshwehti	King of Burma 11 January 1551 – 9 November 1581	Succeeded by Nanda
Royal titles
Preceded by Tabinshwehti	Heir to the Burmese Throne May 1542 – 30 April 1550	Succeeded by Nanda