Forty Years' War
Encyclopedia
The Forty Years' War was a military conflict fought between the Burmese
-speaking Kingdom of Ava and the Mon
-speaking Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu. The war was fought during two separate periods: 1385 to 1391 and 1404 to 1424, interrupted by two truces of 1391–1404 and 1406–1407. It was fought primarily in today's Lower Burma
and also in Upper Burma
, Shan State
and Rakhine State
. It ended in a stalemate, preserving the independence of Hanthawaddy, and effectively ending Ava's efforts to rebuild the erstwhile Pagan Empire.
of Ava began the hostilities by invading Pegu during the latter kingdom's dynastic succession struggles. Pegu's new young king Razadarit aided by able generals Lagun Ein and Emuntaya defeated Ava's multiple invasions. In 1391, Ava had to agree to a truce, which lasted until 1404.
of Ava agreed to another truce in 1406. The second truce lasted less than a year as Ava quickly went on an expansion spree, swallowing up Shan states of Kale and Mohnyin
in the north, and Arakan in the west, all in 1406. Pegu could not allow Ava to get too strong, and renewed the war. In 1407, Peguan forces dislodged Avan troops from Arakan. Pegu also found an ally in the Shan state of Theinni
(Hsenwi), which too wanted to check Ava's ambitions.
Between 1407 and 1413, Ava was forced to fight on multiple fronts: Theinni in the north, and Pegu in the south and in the west (Arakan). Nonetheless, by 1413, Avan forces, led by Crown Prince Minyekyawswa
, had begun to gain an upper hand. Minyekyawswa defeated Theinni and its Chinese
allies in 1413. He invaded the Hanthawaddy country in full force in 1414, and conquered the Irrawaddy delta
in 1415, forcing Razadarit to flee Pegu for Martaban. But Minyekyawswa was killed in battle in March 1417.
made peace with Ava by giving his elder sister Shin Sawbu
to Thihathu. Ava forces withdrew in 1424, ending the four-decade-long war.
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
-speaking Kingdom of Ava and the Mon
Mon language
The Mon language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon, who live in Burma and Thailand. Mon, like the related language Cambodian—but unlike most languages in Mainland Southeast Asia—is not tonal. Mon is spoken by more than a million people today. In recent years, usage of Mon has...
-speaking Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Pegu. The war was fought during two separate periods: 1385 to 1391 and 1404 to 1424, interrupted by two truces of 1391–1404 and 1406–1407. It was fought primarily in today's Lower Burma
Lower Burma
Lower Burma is a geographic region of Burma and includes the low-lying Irrawaddy delta , as well as coastal regions of the country ....
and also in Upper Burma
Upper Burma
Upper Burma refers to a geographic region of Burma , traditionally encompassing Mandalay and its periphery , or more broadly speaking, Kachin and Shan States....
, Shan State
Shan State
Shan State is a state of Burma . Shan State borders China to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, and five administrative divisions of Burma in the west. Largest of the 14 administrative divisions by land area, Shan State covers 155,800 km², almost a quarter of the total...
and Rakhine State
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
. It ended in a stalemate, preserving the independence of Hanthawaddy, and effectively ending Ava's efforts to rebuild the erstwhile Pagan Empire.
First half
In the first phase, SwasawkeSwasawke
Swasawke was the second king of Ava, who reigned from 1368 to 1400. When he was elected by the ministers to succeed King Thadominbya who left no heir, Swasawke took over a kingdom that was less than four years old, and still faced external and internal threats...
of Ava began the hostilities by invading Pegu during the latter kingdom's dynastic succession struggles. Pegu's new young king Razadarit aided by able generals Lagun Ein and Emuntaya defeated Ava's multiple invasions. In 1391, Ava had to agree to a truce, which lasted until 1404.
Second half
The second half of the war was initiated by Pegu. To take advantage of Ava's dynastic succession crisis, Razadarit invaded Upper Burma in full force with a large flotilla in 1404. Ava's defenses held, and Razadarit and Minkhaung IMinkhaung I
Minkhaung I of Ava was the fourth king of Ava from 1401 to 1422. Minkhaung is best remembered in Burmese history for his epic struggles against King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu in the Forty Years' War , and for being the father of Crown Prince Minyekyawswa, who did most of the fighting.Minkhaung...
of Ava agreed to another truce in 1406. The second truce lasted less than a year as Ava quickly went on an expansion spree, swallowing up Shan states of Kale and Mohnyin
Mohnyin
Mohnyin is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is the administrative center for both Mohnyin Township and Mohnyin District.Shells of different sizes were found in mass on 19 September. Those were found in apple-pie order while rooting up a tree between MohnyinDistrict Court and the Township...
in the north, and Arakan in the west, all in 1406. Pegu could not allow Ava to get too strong, and renewed the war. In 1407, Peguan forces dislodged Avan troops from Arakan. Pegu also found an ally in the Shan state of Theinni
Theinni
Theinni or Hsenwi is a town in northern Shan State of Burma, situated near the north bank of the Nam Tu River and now the centre of Hsenwi Township in Lashio District. It is 28 miles north of Lashio. It is 2,100 feet above sea level...
(Hsenwi), which too wanted to check Ava's ambitions.
Between 1407 and 1413, Ava was forced to fight on multiple fronts: Theinni in the north, and Pegu in the south and in the west (Arakan). Nonetheless, by 1413, Avan forces, led by Crown Prince Minyekyawswa
Minyekyawswa
Minyekyawswa was crown prince of Ava from 1407 to 1417, and commander-in-chief of Ava's military from 1410 to 1417. He is best remembered in Burmese history as the courageous general who waged the most fierce battles of Forty Years' War against King Razadarit of Hanthawaddy Pegu.The prince, who...
, had begun to gain an upper hand. Minyekyawswa defeated Theinni and its Chinese
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
allies in 1413. He invaded the Hanthawaddy country in full force in 1414, and conquered the Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
in 1415, forcing Razadarit to flee Pegu for Martaban. But Minyekyawswa was killed in battle in March 1417.
The end
After the death of Minyekyawswa, the enthusiasm for war dissipated on both sides. Only two more campaigns (1417–1418 and 1423–1424) were fought half-heartedly. In 1422, two bitter rivals Minkhaung I and Razadarit died within months of each other. The last campaign of the war came in 1423 when Ava's new king Thihathu invaded the Hanthawaddy country during Hanthawaddy's succession struggles. Pegu's Crown Prince Binnya Ran IBinnya Ran I
Binnya Ran I was the eleventh king of Hanthawaddy Pegu who reigned from 1426 to 1446. As crown prince, he ended the Forty Years' War with the rival Ava Kingdom in 1423. He came to the throne after poisoning his brother King Binnya Dhammaraza in 1426...
made peace with Ava by giving his elder sister Shin Sawbu
Shin Sawbu
Shin Sawbu was the queen of Hanthawaddy from 1453 to 1472. Queen Shin Sawbu was also known as Binnya Thau or Old Queen in Mon. Queen Shin Sawbu and Queen Jamadevi of Haripunjaya are the two most famous queens among the small number of queens who ruled in mainland Southeast Asia...
to Thihathu. Ava forces withdrew in 1424, ending the four-decade-long war.