Taungu Dynasty
The Taungu dynasty ( Burmese တောင်ငူခေတ် ) ruled essential parts of today's Burma between 1531 and 1752. Your area of rule is also called the Second Burmese Empire , or after its respective capital as the Kingdom of Taungu (1486–1539), Pegu (1539–1599) or Ava (1599–1752).
However, it was not an empire in the true sense of the word, but a “network of loyalties” or “mandala” without fixed borders or state institutions, which was based solely on personal relationships of dependence on the respective king. The traditional principalities and kingdoms remained in it and had great autonomy in internal affairs, but had to pay tribute and military service. They were ruled by bayin (often relatives of the "Hochkönig") or by local kings who had to swear vassal loyalty to the respective Taungu king. In times of strength, the militarily successful Taungu kings were able to expand their domain to a vast area. In times of weakness it fell to a small core when the vassals broke their loyalty.
founding
King Mingyinyo (1486–1531) founded the first Taungu dynasty, which lasted until 1599. He was head of a small mountain principality with the capital Taungu on the upper reaches of the Sittang River , about halfway between the two centers of power at the time, Ava and Pegu . After Ava was defeated by Shan troops in 1527 , many Burmese fled to Taungu, which became a new center of Burmese rule.
Tabinshwehti (1531–1551)
The aim of Mingyinyo was to bring the various rulers in the area of today's Burma under his control, but this was only achieved by his son, who ruled as King Tabinshwehti between 1531 and 1551. He consolidated his power after uniting most of Burma and then went south to attack the Irrawaddy Delta and conquer the Mon capital , Pegu . In 1544 Tabinshwehti was crowned king of all Burma in the old capital of Bagan . The geopolitical situation in Southeast Asia had thus changed dramatically. The Shan formed a new kingdom in the north as the Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya grew in power. At the same time, the Portuguese conquered parts of the Malay Peninsula (Malacca) in the south . With the emergence of European traders, Burma again became an important trading center, which is why Tabinshwehti moved its capital to Pegu in 1539, whose location was more favorable for trade.
He then began to group larger troops for an attack on Arakan in the west. Although he was repelled, he was able to keep access to the lower Burma as far as Prome ( Pyay ). He then led his troops east to attack Ayutthaya, but was defeated again, this time by the Siamese. His fight against Ava was also unsuccessful. Then unrest and uprisings broke out, as a result of which Tabinshwehti was murdered in 1551. His successor was his brother-in-law Bayinnaung (1551–1581).
Bayinnaung (1551–1581)
Bayinnaung was a warlord who brought war over many empires in Southeast Asia, including a. he successfully attacked Manipur (1560) and Ayutthaya (1569). He is portrayed as an energetic and skilful general and made Taungu the most influential power in Southeast Asia. The borders of Taungu's sphere of influence now extended from Laos to Ayutthaya, near Bangkok . But his wars were extremely demanding on the forces of the people and the country's resources.
Manipur and Ayutthaya regained their independence after fifteen years of Burmese control. Bayinnaung had brought up Ayutthaya's future liberator, King Naresuan , as a prince at his court and taught him the craft of war. Bayinnaung was determined to take down Arakan in one final battle when he died in the process of preparation. His son Nandabayin succeeded him.
Late phase
Nandabayin and his successors had to deal with rebellions in different parts of the empire. The victory over Arakan was never achieved. The advance of the Portuguese into Malacca forced the rulers of Taungu to give up southern Burma. The "re-established Taungu Dynasty" (or Nyaungyan Dynasty) was founded in 1597 and ruled until 1752. In 1613 Bayinnaung's grandson, Anaukpetlun (1605–1628) was able to reunite Burma and repel the Portuguese attempts to conquer Burma. Around 1635, about two million inhabitants were counted in the census of King Thalun . From the middle of the 17th century, the empire gradually fell apart. The dynasty survived for a good century until the death of Mahadammayazas in 1752.
Overview of the rulers
| Surname | relationship | reg. | Remarks | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mingyinyo | 1510-1531 | Founder; 1527 war with Shan | Taungu | |
| Tabinshwehti | son | 1531-1551 | 1535–46 war with other Burmese princes; 1539 the capital moves to Pegu ; 1548 war with Siam | |
| Pegu | ||||
| Bayinnaung | brother in law | 1551-1581 | 1551–59 war with other Burmese princes; between 1558 and 1575 several wars with Lan Xang and Siam ( 1563–1569 ); around 1580 largest expansion of the domain | |
| Nandabayine | son | 1581-1599 | several wars with Lan Xang and Siam ( 1584–1592 ; 1593–1600 ); 1599 war with other Burmese princes; Loss of all dependent territories and finally Pegus | |
| Anaukpetlun | Grandson of Bayinnaung | 1605-1628 | Re-establishment of the dynasty in Ava ; 1607-18 wars with Siam ; 1613 war with Portuguese; united Burma again | Ava |
| Minredeippa | son | 1628 | ||
| Thalun | Brother of Alaukpetluns | 1629-1648 | Reconstruction; 1635: 2 million subjects | |
| Pindale | son | 1648-1661 | 1658–61 war with China; 1660–1662 war with Siam | |
| Pye | Half brother | 1661-1672 | ||
| Narawara | son | 1672 | ||
| Minrekyawdin | Grandson of Thalun | 1673-1698 | ||
| Sane | son | 1698-1714 | ||
| Taninganwe | son | 1714-1733 | 1714–49 war with Manipur | |
| Mahadammaya | son | 1733-1752 | From 1740 war with Pegu; captured and executed; Fall of the Empire |
annotation
- ↑ Also written Toungoo, Taungoo, Toungu, Taung-ngu, Taungngu or Toungngoo.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Than Tun: "Administration under King Thalun". Journal of Burma Research Society , Vol. 51,2 (1968), pp. 173-188.
literature
- Wil O. Dijk: Seventeenth-century Burma and the Dutch East India Company, 1634-1680. NIAS Press, Copenhagen 2006.
- Victor B. Lieberman: Provincial Reforms in Taung-ngu Burma. In: Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 43, 1980.
- Victor B. Lieberman: Burmese Administrative Cycles. Anarchy and conquest, c. 1580-1760 . Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton 1984.