Taungoo dynasty
Myanmar, 1485–1752. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Toungoo dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Burma from the mid-16th century to 1752. At its peak, Toungoo exercised suzerainty from present-day Assam, Manipur to the Cambodian marches and from the borders of Arakan to Yunnan. The Restored Toungoo kings, now based in Ava, created a legal and political system whose basic features would continue under the Konbaung dynasty well into the 19th century. The Hanthawaddy armies captured Inwa in 1752 and ended the 266-year-old Toungoo dynasty.
Seat of power: Inwa
Rulers
Mingyinyo
King of Burma, 1510–1530
He was the founder of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma. In 1510, he declared Toungoo's independence from its nominal overlord Ava.
Portrait of Mingyinyo: Tawoo / Tawoo at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Tabinshwehti
King of Burma, 1530–1550
He was king of Burma from 1530 to 1550, and the founder of the First Toungoo Empire. His military campaigns created the largest kingdom in Burma since the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287.
Portrait of Tabinshwehti: R. C. Temple, Public domain, file
Bayinnaung
King of Burma, 1550–1581
His reign is considered one of the most momentous in Burmese history. During his rule, he assembled the largest empire in Southeast Asian history.
Portrait of Bayinnaung: Phyo WP, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Nanda Bayin
King of Burma, 1581–1599
He presided over the collapse of the First Toungoo Empire. Within the first three years of his reign, both Upper Burma and Siam revolted.
Nyaungyan Min
King of Burma, 1599–1606
He is also referred to as the founder of the restored Toungoo dynasty for starting the reunification process following the collapse of the First Toungoo Empire.
Anaukpetlun
King of Burma, 1606–1628
He was largely responsible for restoring the kingdom after it collapsed at the end of the 16th century. In his 22-year reign from 1606 to 1628, Anaukpetlun completed the reunification efforts begun by his father, King Nyaungyan.
Minyedeippa
King of Burma, 1628–1629
He came to throne in July 1628 after having assassinated his father King Anaukpetlun.
Thalun
King of Burma, 1629–1648
During his 19-year reign, Thalun successfully rebuilt the war-torn country which had been under constant warfare for nearly a century since the 1530s. Thalun instituted many administrative reforms and rebuilt the economy of the kingdom.
Portrait of Thalun: Kantabon, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Pindale Min
King of Burma, 1648–1661
Pindale's ineffectual reign was the beginning of the gradual decline of Toungoo dynasty over the next century.
Pye Min
King of Burma, 1661–1672
Pye Min was a son of King Thalun. Pye staged a coup in 1661, overthrowing Pindale and crowning himself King of Ava.
Narawara
King of Burma, 1672–1673
Narawara ascended to the Burmese throne after his father Pye died in 1672. But Narawara died young and was succeeded by his brother Minyekyawdin.
Minyekyawdin
King of Burma, 1673–1698
He was elected by the ministers of the court over several elder princes as king after his step-brother King Narawara's sudden death in 1673. The power of the kingdom gradually declined during his quarter-century rule. Burma was attacked by Siam during his reign.
Sanay Min
King of Burma, 1698–1714
He was the 13th king of Toungoo dynasty of Burma. Sanay was, like his father, ineffectual, and the power of Toungoo dynasty continued to decline.
Taninganway Min
King of Burma, 1714–1733
The long and slow descent of the dynasty finally came to the forefront during his reign in the form of internal and external instabilities. In the east, southern Lan Na, under Burmese rule since 1558, successfully revolted in 1727.
Mahadhammaraza Dipadi
King of Burma, 1733–1752
He was the last king of restored Toungoo dynasty of Burma. The young king inherited a kingdom already in severe decline, and his inexperience only made the decline faster, finally resulting in the end of House of Toungoo and the collapse of the kingdom over his 18-year reign.
Portrait of Mahadhammaraza Dipadi: Cepyita, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Culture
- The crown completely replaced the hereditary chieftainships with appointed governorships in the entire Irrawaddy valley and greatly reduced the hereditary rights of Shan chiefs.
- Its trade and secular administrative reforms built a prosperous economy for more than 80 years.
- With the coming of European traders, Burma was once again an important trading centre, and Tabinshwehti moved his capital to Bago due to its strategic position for commerce.
Picture
The original palace in Bago, built for King Bayinnaung in 1556, was burned down in 1599.
Image: Hans A. Rosbach, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.