List of wars involving Myanmar
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This is a list of wars that involve Myanmar. Throughout Burmese and Myanmar history, many wars had been fought with the ethnic majority Bamar and its neighbors (other Myanmar people such as the Mon people, who are the founders of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom and the Rakhine people who are the founders of the Kingdom of Mrauk U) as well as other foreign states such as Thailand which has been the archnemesis of the Burmese people for centuries as well as ethnic groups such as the Shan people and other ethnic groups in Myanmar. This article also features wars and conflicts between ethnic groups in Myanmar and their enemies. As well as the modern civil war that is happening in Myanmar. this list will include all the wars of the Bamar people and their neighbor as well against either foreigners or domestic.
(Important Note: The term Myanmar is used to refer to ethnic bamar and other ethnic groups and Burma is used to refer to the Burmese states)
- Burmese victory
- Burmese defeat
- Other result
- Ongoing
Pagan Kingdom 849–1300
Summarize
Perspective
During Pagan Dynasty, The Bamar people (who would become the majority ethnic group of Myanmar) had just settled in the country after the Nanzhao Kingdom invasion of Myanmar which caused the conquest of Pyu city states and their eventual assimilation into Bamar culture. During this time, Anawrahta consolidated Myanmar and established the current modern borders of Myanmar by conquering various different Ethnic groups in Myanmar and coming into conflict with other Southeast Asian Empires like the Khmer Empire during the conquest of Thaton kingdom and creating the Burmese Golden age when the modern Burmese culture came to take form. The Pagan period is also known for the construction of various temples and pagoda and adoption of Theravada Buddhism from the Ari Buddhism which is a Mahayana sect of Buddhism combing practices such as Animism. The Pagan kingdom would continued even after Anawrahta's Death. Being continued under competent leaders like Kyansittha but would eventually decline with incompetent rule of later rulers and prioritization of donation to Buddhist temples and clergies and with the First Mongol invasion of Burma it leads to the end of the Pagan dynasty. Fracturing into multiple city states which resulted in the period known as Inwa period of Myanmar or warring states of Myanmar. This period also lead to the rising of Kingdom of Mrauk U who was founded by the Rakhein people after their migration to the Arakan Beginning in 900s and consolidating their power in the region in 1100s and were the vassal of the Pagan kingdom.
| Conflict | Combatants | Result | Notable battles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nanzhao invasion of Pyu city states | Nanzhao kingdom and Bamar people | Pyu city states | Victory | |
| Anawrahta conquest of Shan hills 1050s-1060s | Pagan Kingdom | Shan States | Victory | |
| Anawrahta conquest of Arakan | Pagan Kingdom | Arakan | Victory | |
| Anawrahta conquest of Thaton Kingdom 1057 | Pagan Kingdom | Thaton Kingdom |
Victory |
|
| Polonnaruwa–Pagan War (1165–1181) |
Pagan Kingdom | Polonnaruwa kingdom Angkorian Empire |
Defeat | |
| First Mongol invasion of Burma | Pagan Kingdom | Yuan Dynasty | Defeat |
|
Warring states Period 1297–1545
Summarize
Perspective
During this period of Burmese history, which in Burmese is known as the Inwa period is when Myanmar was fractured into various kingdoms shortly after the invasion of the Mongol Empire subsequently leading to the rise of the Shan princes who founded the Myinsaing Kingdom and drive the Mongols back out of the country and was succeed by Kingdom of Ava. During this period of Burmese history, the infamous Forty Years' War was fought between Kingdom of Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdom leading to rises of Burmese folk heroes like Minye Kyawswa, who was one of the commanders during the Forty Years' War. Kingdom of Mrauk U also participated in the Forty Years' War as a vassal of Hanthawaddy kingdom. During this period, Kingdom of Ava also invaded Arakan (Launggyet Dynasty) in 1404, leading to the exile of the royal Arakanese family and the eventual restoration of Min Saw Mon or Narameikhla restoration which leads Kingdom of Mrauk U to become a vassal of Bengal Sultanate for 9 years due to Bengali support during his restoration. But they would eventually liberate themselves from Bengal and occupy Chittagong in 1542 before losing it to the Mughal invasion in 1666 after the Mughal conquest of Chittagong. This period of turbulent ended with the rise of Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung and the Toungoo Empire who conquered the Hanthawaddy kingdom and Kingdom of Ava.
| Conflict | Combatants | Result | Notable battles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Mongol invasion of Burma | Myinsaing Kingdom | Yuan Dynasty | Victory | |
| Forty Years' War | Kingdom of Ava |  Hanthawaddy kingdom |
Military stalemate | |
| Ava-Ming War (1412-1415) | Kingdom of Ava |
Ming dynasty | Victory | |
| Bengal Sultanate–Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512–1516 | Kingdom of Mrauk U |  Bengal Sultanate |
Defeat | |
| Mrauk U invasion of Chittagong | Kingdom of Mrauk U | Bengal Sultanate |
Victory | |
| Burmese–Siamese War (1547–1549) |  Toungoo dynasty |
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Defeat | |
| Burmese–Siamese War (1563–1564) | Toungoo dynasty |
Ayutthaya Kingdom |
Victory | |
| Conquest of Chittagong | Kingdom of Mrauk U |  Mughal Empire
|
Defeat | |
| Toungoo–Hanthawaddy War 1495–1541 | Toungoo dynasty |
Hanthawaddy Kingdom |
Victory |
|
| Toungoo–Ava War 1525–45 | Toungoo dynasty |
Kingdom of Ava | Victory | |
| Toungoo–Ava War 1525–45 | Toungoo dynasty |
Kingdom of Ava | Victory | |
Toungoo dynasty and restored Toungoo dynasty
Summarize
Perspective
First Toungoo Empire marked one of the largest extend of the Burmese empire with the second being during the Konbaung dynasty. The Toungoo Empire started with Mingyi Nyo, who rebelled against the kingdom of Ava and established the Toungoo dynasty. He was then succeed by his son, Tabinshwehti who with his childhood bestfriend Bayinnaung waged wars against the other Burmese and Myanmar kingdoms and reintegrate them, also coming into contact with the Kingdom of Mrauk U and fighting a war with them in the Toungoo-Mrauk-U War. Tabinshwehti also waged a war against the Ayutthaya Kingdom but failed to take over Ayutthaya. But after Tabinshwehti assassniation he would be succeed by Bayinnaung who would continue to expand Myanmar to its greatest extent in history with the conquest of Ayutthaya Kingdom and Lan Xang as well as reintegrating the Shan states as well as fighting against the Portuguese to protect Myanmar from the Portuguese interest and sphere of influence but also during this time, many Portuguese would be recruited into Burmese army which leads to success in battles and the Burmese gunpowder age. Under his reign, Burmese influence would extend all the way from Yunnan to Ceylon. But shortly after Bayinnaung's death his accomplishments would be reversed by his son Nanda Bayin, who constantly fought with his vassals leading to the weakening of the First Toungoo empire. As well as, waging unwinnable wars against the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Naresuan and the First Toungoo empire declined under his reign shortly leading to the collapse of the First Toungoo empire into various kingdoms which Bayinnaung and Tabinshwehti conquered in the wake of the first Toungoo empire. After the end of the First Toungoo empire, Myanmar was fractured into various different kingdoms leading to rise of old kingdoms that were conquered by Toungoo empire such as Ava. During this turbulent period, Myanmar was constantly raided by Manipur raiders or Mitei raiders and during this time, Mrauk U was in it's golden age and they launch their invasion of southern Myanmar and Tripura as well as raids into India (Ganges). There was also a failed Portuguese attempt (who were brought along with Mrauk U invaders) to establish a colony in Myanmar which was lead by Filipe De Brito (Who was originally a vassal of Arakan kingdom that invaded Pegu and his actions would result in the lost of the great bell of Myanmar which was stolen and sunk in the bottom of the sea during his failed escape after looting the treasures).All of these chaos would end with the short restoration of the Toungoo dynasty which was for a time was a peaceful kingdom as it managed to restored order but it was still plague by weak rule and constant Manipuri raids as well as a short Ming rebellion lead by an exiled Ming Emperor, Zhu Youlang to establish his own kingdom in Myanmar but would be crushed. During this time, many wars would be fought with Siam which further weakened the Toungoo dynasty and this restored kingdom would end with the invasion of Hanthawaddy kingdom.
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Konbaung dynasty, British Burma and Pyidaungsu Regime
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Perspective
This humiliation of the Burmese nation didn't last long as the Konbaung dynasty lead by Alaungpaya would reconquer Burma and defend Northern Myanmar from felling into the Mon people control and chase them back to their stronghold in southern Myanmar which was protected by the forces of Hanthawaddy kingdom as well as their French and English mercenaries. But it would fell with the forces of Konbaung dynasty taking over Southern Myanmar. Soon after the fell of Hanthawaddy kingdom, Alaungpya ambitions are set his eyes on the Manipuri raiders who he would defeat and occupy Manipur as well as Shan states (includes modern day Yunnan province) which would fell to Burmese control. He also set his eyes on the now libertated Kingdom of Ayutthaya who would face the forces of Burmese army once again after years of fighting them to drive them out of Siam and now with the leadership of Alaungpaya the Burmese forces are now able to invade Thailand proper but would be only able to capture tanintharyi region and vassalize Kingdom of Lanna due to Alaungpaya dying on the campaign. He was then succeed by his son Naungdawgyi who would have the challenge of controlling and stabilizing Myanmar from the various rebels of the now conquered kingdom and ethnicities which he would be able to crush and during this time, the relation between Myanmar and the East india company would continues to worsen as both believe that they are better than each other as well as due to border conflicts and the earlier war against Hanthwaddy which caused British influence in Myanmar to be diminished. Then he would succeeded by his brother Hsinbyushin, who would finally reconquer Siam as well as Lan Xang but his reign is also marked by challenges such as the Manchu invasion of Myanmar but with the help of Maha Thiha Thura he was able to repelled the Manchu invasion but this also caused the Konbaung dynasty to lose control of Siam and Lan Xang as they took the invasion as an opportunity to rebel and establish the Thonburi kingdom.
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See also
References
Notes
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