Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung was a significant historical figure in Southeast Asia, known for his role as the king of the Toungoo Dynasty in Burma (modern-day Myanmar) during the 16th century. He ascended to power after the assassination of his brother-in-law, Tabinshwehti, in 1551, and quickly sought to consolidate his rule by capturing key cities like Toungoo and Pegu with the assistance of Portuguese mercenaries. His reign was marked by efforts to control the lucrative trade routes between India and China, leading him to bring various river and coastal states under his influence.
Bayinnaung is also remembered for his promotion of Buddhism and for fostering strong ties with the Buddhist kingdom of Ceylon. His military campaigns extended Burmese control significantly, including the conquest of the Shan states and the Tai kingdom of Chiengmai. He also launched invasions into Siam (modern Thailand) and Laos, aiming to establish Burmese dominance in the region. Despite his military successes, the empire he built faced challenges after his death, with both Siam and Laos eventually reclaiming their independence. Bayinnaung's legacy is complex, reflecting both his ambition and the transient nature of his empire.
On this Page
Bayinnaung
- Born: 1515
- Birthplace: Unknown
- Died: 1581
- Place of death: Unknown
Also known as: Braginoco
Principal wars: Burmese Civil Wars of 1368–1599, Burmese-Laotian Wars, Siamese-Burmese Wars
Principal battle: Pegu (1551)
Military significance: Exerted permanent lowland control over the western Tai states, making Burma the most powerful state in southeast Asia.
Little is known of Bayinnaung’s early life. In 1551, his brother-in-law, Tabinshwehti, was assassinated at Pegu during a rebellion of the Mons in southern Burma. With the help of Portuguese mercenaries, Bayinnaung captured both Toungoo and Pegu, executing rebel leader Smim Htaw and proclaiming himself king. Seeking to control of the lucrative trade between India and China, he brought many of the river and coastal states of the region under his vassalage. During his reign, he promoted Buddhist worship and maintained close relations with the Buddhist kingdom of Ceylon.
On the mainland, Bayinnaung first turned his attention to the Shan chiefs of the north, capturing their capital of Ava in 1555, and eventually extending royal control to roughly the present boundaries of Myanmar. He then conquered the Tai kingdom of Chiengmai (1556), installing his son Tharrawaddy Min as ruler. When the southern Tais refused to acknowledge Burmese suzerainty in 1563, he conquered their capital of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (Siam) and took the royal family hostage. He put down a fierce Siamese revolt in 1568–1569, installing a puppet king and deporting thousands of rebels as slaves. Bayinnaung twice invaded but failed to hold the Tai state of Laos (1564–1565, 1572–1573), before finally conquering the country in 1575. Burmese dominance of the Tai states was short-lived after Bayinnaung’s death, with Siam (1587) and Laos (1592) successfully rebelling, and Chiengmai becoming a vassal of the revived Siamese kingdom.
Bibliography
Hall, D. G. E. A History of South-East Asia. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981.
Harvey, G. E. History of Burma from the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Cass, 1967.
Lieberman, Victor B. Burmese Administrative Cycles: Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580–1760. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1984.
Tarling, Nicholas, ed. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia. 2 vols. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1992.