Konbaung Dynasty

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The Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885) was the last Burmese dynasty. Alaungpaya founded the dynasty after the demise of the Toungoo Dynasty. An expansionist dynasty, the Konbaung kings waged campaigns against Manipur, Arakan, Assam, the Mon and the Ayutthaya kingdom. In combination with later wars and treaties with the British, the modern state of Myanmar can trace its current borders to these events.

Defensively, the dynasty fought four wars against Qing Dynasty China; however, it faced a greater threat from western powers. Facing powerful western nations, the Konbaung Dynasty tried to modernize the kingdom. The dynasty tried to maintain its independence by balancing between the French and the British. However, it failed, fighting three losing wars against the British Empire, ending with the full annexation of Burma by the British. The dynasty ended in 1885 with the abdication and exile of its last king, Thibaw.

Although the dynasty conquered vast tracts of territory, its direct power was limited to its capital and the surrounding Irrawaddy valley. The Konbaung rulers enacted harsh levies and had a difficult time fighting internal rebellion. At various times, the Shan states paid tribute to the Konbaung Dynasty, but were not directly controlled by the kingdom.

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Society

During Konbaung rule, society was centered around the Konbaung king. The rulers of the Konbaung Dynasty took numerous wives. The wives were ranked, with half-sisters of the king holding the most powerful positions. The Konbaung kings fathered numerous children, creating a huge extended royal family. The extended royal family formed the power base of the dynasty and competed over influence at the royal court.

Burmese society was highly stratified during Konbaung rule. Under the royal family, the nobility administered the government, led the armies, and governed large population centers. The Konbaung Dynasty kept a detailed lineage of Burmese nobility written on palm-leaf manuscripts that were later destroyed by British soldiers. At the local level, the myothugyi, hereditary local elites, administered the localities controlled by the kingdom. People captured during military campaigns were brought back and served as hereditary servants; these captives added new knowledge and skills to Burmese society.

Outside of hereditary positions, there were two primary paths to influence: joining the military and joining the Buddhist monasteries. A small community of foreign scholars and merchants also lived in Burmese society.

Reforms

Realizing the need to modernize, the Konbaung rulers tried to enact various reforms with limited success. Mindon created state-owned factories to produce modern weaponry and goods; in the end, these factories were more costly than effective.

Mindon also tried to lower the tax burden. He lowered the heavy income tax and created a property tax, as well as duties on foreign exports. Ironically, these policies had the reverse effect of increasing the tax burden, as the local elites used the opportunity to enact new taxes without lowering the old taxes; they were able to do so because centralized control was weak. In addition, the duties on foreign exports stifled the fast-growing trade economy.

Capitals

Under the Konbaung Dynasty, the capital shifted many times. During a capital shift, the entire capital was taken down and moved with elephants to the chosen location.

  • Ava (1752-1783, 1823-41)
  • Amarapura (The Immortal City) (1783-1823, 1841-1860)
  • Mandalay (1860-1885)

Rulers

The rules of the Konbaung Dynasty styled themselves each as Min, or King.

References

See also

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