Burmese–Siamese War (1797–1798)

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Burmese–Siamese War (1797–1798)
Part of the Burmese–Siamese wars
Burmese-Siamese War (1797-1798).png
Date1797–1798
Location
Lanna Kingdom, Northern Thailand
Result Siamese victory
Belligerents
Flag of the Alaungpaya Dynasty of Myanmar.svg Konbaung Dynasty (Burma) Flag of Thailand (1782).svg Rattanakosin Kingdom (Siam)
- Lanna Kingdom
Flag of the Kingdom of Vientiane (1707–1828).svg Kingdom of Vientiane
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Alaungpaya Dynasty of Myanmar.svg Bodawpaya
Flag of the Alaungpaya Dynasty of Myanmar.svg
Flag of the Alaungpaya Dynasty of Myanmar.svg  (POW)		 Flag of Thailand (1782).svg Rama I
Flag of Thailand (1782).svg Maha Sura Singhanat
Flag of Thailand (1782).svg Prince
Flag of Thailand (1782).svg Prince
Flag of Thailand (1782).svg Prince Anurak Devesh
Flag of the Kingdom of Vientiane (1707–1828).svg Prince Anouvong
Kawila
Strength
55,000 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Burmese-Siamese War (1797–1798) was the military conflict between the Kingdom of Burma under the Konbaung dynasty and Kingdom of Siam under the Chakri dynasty over the Lan Na city-states (modern Northern Thailand).

Background[]

After the capture of Chiang Mai by King Bayinnaung of the Burmese Toungoo dynasty in 1558,[1] the whole Lan Na Kingdom (modern Northern Thailand) came under the Burmese rule, for about 200 years.[2] In 1774, the native Tai Yuan chiefs Phraya Chaban and Phraya Kawila conflicted with Thado Mindin the Burmese governor of Chiang Mai and decided to join Siam,[1][3] leading to the successful Siamese capture of Chiang Mai by Chao Phraya Chakri (King Rama I). Then, most of the Lan Na city-states including Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Nan came under Siamese rule. The northern towns of Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai, however, remained under Burmese rule.[1] King Taksin of Thonburi appointed Phraya Chaban as Phraya Wichenprakarn the ruler of Chiang Mai and Phraya Kawila as the ruler of Lampang. Chiang Saen as the center of Burmese interests in Lan Na territories. King Singu Min sent Burmese forces to invade Chiang Mai in 1776.[4] Phraya Wichenprakarn of Chiang Mai, with inferior manpower, decided to abandon[4] the city in the face of Burmese invasion and, together with the whole inhabitants of the city, retreated and took refuge down south in Sawankhalok. Chiang Mai ceased to exist as a city. The town of Lampang, ruled by Prince Kawila, became the first-line defense against the Burmese incursions.

Chiang Saen became the base for Burmese operations to reclaim the lost dominions in Lan Na. During the Nine Armies' War in 1785, Prince Thado Thiri Maha Uzana and Abaya-Kamani the governor of Chiang Saen led the massive army of 30,000 men[5] to lay siege on Lampang. Prince Kawila held the town for four months until the Siamese relief forces arrived from the south and expelled the Burmese in 1786. Thado Mindin invaded Lampang again in 1787.[5] Prince Maha Sura Singhanat, younger brother of King Rama I, personally led the Siamese army to help Prince Kawila successfully repel the Burmese. Abaya-Kamani was captured and sent to Bangkok.[6] King Rama I restored the city of Chiang Mai as the forefront citadel against the Burmese invasion and made Prince Kawila the ruler of Chiang Mai in 1787. Thado Mindin moved to become the governor of Chiang Saen.

Burmese Invasion of Chiang Mai (1797–98)[]

Prince Kawila of Chiang Mai had defended Northern Siam from Burmese incursions on many occasions. He was crowned as King of Chiang Mai by King Rama I in 1803.

King Bodawpaya of Burma was eager to retake the Burmese lost territories in Lan Na, east of Salween River.[7] In November 1797, Bodawpaya dispatched the armies with the total number of 55,000 men under the command of Einshe Wun Nemyo Kyawdin Thihathu,[7] who had earlier utterly defeated the Siamese at the Battle of Tavoy in 1794, as the Bogyok. Nemyo Kyawdin Thihathu marched his Shan army through Mong Nai and divided his forces into two routes, each passing through Mong Pan and Mong Hin.[7] The two Shan armies intercepted at Chiang Mai and laid siege on the city on all four directions in January 1798. The Burmese also occupied Lamphun to the south of Chiang Mai.

King Rama I assigned his younger brother Prince Maha Sura Singhanat of the Front Palace to lead Siamese armies to relieve the siege of Chiang Mai in the north.[8] The prince marched the Siamese armies northwards, reaching Thoen. From Thoen, the Prince Maha Sura Singanat sent his close friend Prince Sunthonbhubet and his nephew Prince Thepharirak to Lampang. The two princes marched from Lampang to attack the Burmese-occupied Lamphun, leading to the Battle of Lamphun in April 1798. The Burmese were defeated at Lamphun and retreated to Chiang Mai.

Prince Anurak Devesh of the Rear Palace and Prince Anouvong of Vientiane and their armies reinforced the Siamese at Chiang Mai. Prince Thepharirak, Prince Sunthonbhubet and Prince Anouvong of Vientiane assaulted the besieging Burmese at Chiang Mai. The Burmese were defeated in the Battle of Chiang Mai in April 1798[7] and suffered heavy losses. Upagaung, a Burmese general was captured.[7]

Aftermath[]

Nine months later after their defeats, the Burmese again raised an army to invade Chiang Mai in January 1799.[9] The Burmese troops stationed at Chiang Saen but did not proceed and the campaign was suspended.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Wyatt, David K. (2003). Thailand: A Short History. Silkworm Books.
  2. ^ Ricklefs, M.C. (2010). A New History of Southeast Asia. Macmillan International Higher Education.
  3. ^ Chiu, Angela S. (31 March 2017). The Buddha in Lanna: Art, Lineage, Power, and Place in Northern Thailand. University of Hawaii Press.
  4. ^ a b Baker, Chris (20 Apr 2005). A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press.
  5. ^ a b Thipakornwongse, Chao Phraya (1990). Dynastic Chronicles, Bangkok Era, the First Reign. Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies.
  6. ^ ชุตินธรานนท์, สุเนตร. พม่ารบไทย: ว่าด้วยการสงครามระหว่างไทบกับพม่า. พิมพ์ครั้งที่ ๑๕. กรุงเทพฯ:มติชน,๒๕๖๒.
  7. ^ a b c d e Phraison Salarak (Thien Subindu), Luang (25 July 1919). Intercourse between Burma and Siam as recorded in Hmannan Yazawindawgyi. Bangkok.
  8. ^ Thipakornwongse, Chao Phraya (1990). Dynastic Chronicles, Bangkok Era, the First Reign. Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies.
  9. ^ Thipakornwongse, Chao Phraya (1990). Dynastic Chronicles, Bangkok Era, the First Reign. Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies.
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