Timeline of Burmese history
Encyclopedia
This is a timeline of Burmese history. It is by no means comprehensive. Please help contribute.
Ancient
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1500 BCE | Earliest evidence of copper and bronze works, rice growing, domesticating chickens and pigs in Irrawaddy valley |
| 500 BCE | Iron-working settlements south of present day Mandalay Mandalay Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region .... |
| 1st century BCE | Pyu people enter the Irrawaddy valley from north |
First millennium
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2nd-4th centuries | The Pyu convert to Buddhism |
| 6th?-9th centuries | Mon Mon people The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand... migrations to Lower Burma from Haribhunjaya and Dvaravati Dvaravati The Dvaravati period lasted from the 6th to the 13th centuries. Dvaravati refers to both a culture and a disparate conglomerate of principalities.- History :... (present-day Thailand) |
| 638 | The Pyu at Prome launch Burmese calendar |
| 825 | The Mon found city of Pegu |
| 832–835 | Pyu city-states destroyed by Nanzhao raids Burman migrations to Upper Burma begin en masse |
| 849 | The Burmans found city of Pagan Bagan Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma... , and Pagan Kingdom Pagan Kingdom The Pagan Kingdom or Pagan Dynasty was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute the modern-day Burma... |
11th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1044 | Anawrahta Anawrahta Anawrahta Minsaw was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that formed the basis of modern-day Burma... ascends to Pagan throne |
| 1056 | Anawrahta converted to Theravada Buddhism by Shin Arahan Shin Arahan The Venerable Shin Arahan was primate of Pagan Kingdom from 1056 to 1115. The monk, a native of Thaton Kingdom, was the religious adviser to four Pagan kings from Anawrahta to Alaungsithu. He is credited with converting Anawrahta to Theravada Buddhism, and overseeing the subsequent reformation of... |
| 1057 | Pagan conquers Thaton Kingdom Thaton Kingdom The Thaton Kingdom or Thuwunnabumi was a Mon kingdom, believed to have existed in Lower Burma from at least the 9th century to the middle of the 11th century. One of many Mon kingdoms that existed in modern-day Lower Burma and Thailand, the kingdom was essentially a city-state centered around the... , starts Theravada tradition in Pagan |
| 1050s–1060s | Anawrahta founds Pagan Empire including, Thaton, near Shan States Shan States The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century... , North Arakan 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... , Tenasserim |
| 1058 | Earliest (experimental) inscription in Burmese 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... |
| 1071 | Anawrahta helps restart Theravada Buddhism in Ceylon |
| 1084 | Mon rebellion |
| 1090 | Kyansittha Kyansittha Kyansittha was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1084 to 1113, and is considered one of the greatest Burmese monarchs. He continued the social, economic and cultural reforms begun by his father, King Anawrahta. Pagan became an internationally recognized power during his 28-year reign... builds Ananda Temple Ananda Temple The Ananda Temple , located in Bagan, Myanmar is a Buddhist temple built in 1105 AD during the reign of King Kyanzittha of the Pagan Dynasty. It is one of four surviving temples in Bagan... |
12th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1102 | Earliest inscription of the word Mranma (Myanmar) (in Mon script) |
| 1106 | Burmese embassy to Song China Song Dynasty The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a... |
| 1113 | Myazedi inscription Myazedi inscription Myazedi inscription , inscribed in 1113, is the oldest surviving stone inscription of the Burmese. "Myazedi" means "jade stupa" , and the name of the inscription comes from a pagoda located nearby... , earliest evidence of a more settled Burmese script |
| 1118 | Pagan restores Letyaminnan to north Arakanese throne |
| 1144 | Alaungsithu Alaungsithu Alaungsithu or Sithu I was king of Pagan Dynasty of Burma from 1113 to 1167. Sithu's reign was a prosperous one in which Pagan was an integral part of in-land and maritime trading networks... builds Thatbyinnyu Temple Thatbyinnyu Temple Thatbyinnyu Temple is a famous temple located in Bagan , built in the mid-12th century during the reign of King Alaungsithu. It is adjacent to Ananda Temple. Thatbyinnyu Temple is shaped like a cross, but is not symmetrical. The temple has two primary storeys, with the seated Buddha image located... |
| 1173 | Narapatisithu Narapatisithu Narapatisithu was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1173 to 1210. He is considered the last important king of Pagan. His peaceful and prosperous reign gave rise to Burmese culture which finally emerged out of the shadows of Mon and Pyu cultures. The Burman leadership of the kingdom was now... founds the Royal Palace Guards Royal Burmese Army The Royal Burmese Army was the armed forces of the Burmese monarchy from the 9th to 19th centuries. It refers to the military forces of the Pagan Dynasty, the Ava Kingdom, the Toungoo Dynasty and the Konbaung Dynasty in chronological order... |
| 1170s | Affirmation of Burman leadership of Pagan: Burmese script becomes the primary script, replacing Mon and Pyu scripts |
| 1180 | Ceylonese raids to Bassein Pathein Pathein , also called Bassein, is a port city with a 2004 population estimated at 215,600, and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Region, Burma. It lies on the Pathein River , which is a western branch of the Irrawaddy River.... (Pathein) |
| 1180s | Schism Schism (religion) A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within... develops in Burmese Buddhism; majority of monks shift to Mahavihara Mahavihara The Mahavihara was for several centuries the center of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was founded by king Devanampiya Tissa in his capital Anuradhapura. The Mahavihara was the place where Theravadin orthodoxy was established by monks such as Buddhaghosa... school |
| 1190 | The word Mranma first appears in Burmese |
13th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1200 | Dhamaavisala Dhammathat code of law compiled |
| 1210 | Kyaukse weir built |
| 1218 | Htilominlo Htilominlo Htilominlo was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1210 to 1234. His 24-year reign marked the beginning of the gradual decline of Pagan dynasty. It was the first to see the impact of over a century of continuous growth of tax-free religious wealth, which had greatly reduced the potential tax base... builds Htilominlo Temple Htilominlo Temple Htilominlo Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Bagan , in Burma/Myanmar, built during the reign of King Htilominlo in 1211. The temple is three stories tall, with a height of 46 metres , and built with red brick. It is also known for its elaborate plaster moldings... , the last of the great temples |
| 1273 | Mien (for Mranma) first mentioned in Chinese |
| 1277–1287 | Mongol invasions Mongol invasion of Burma After the conquest of China, Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty and the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, invaded the Pagan Kingdom of Burma in 1277 and 1283. However, the Yuan armies later again invaded Burma several times in order to assert supremacy over the territory.- Initial... begin |
| 1280 | City of Toungoo (Taungoo) founded as a Pagan frontier outpost |
| 1281 | Wareru Wareru Wareru was the founder of the Ramanya Kingdom located in today's Lower Burma . The kingdom is more commonly known as Kingdom of Hanthawady Pegu , or simply Pegu although the kingdom's first capital was Martaban... seizes governorship of Martaban (Mottama) |
| 1287 | Pagan Kingdom falls; old kingdom broken into multiple regional power centers Hanthawaddy Kingdom Hanthawaddy Kingdom The Hanthawaddy Kingdom was the dominant kingdom that ruled lower Burma from 1287 to 1539. The Mon-speaking kingdom was founded as Ramannadesa by King Wareru following the collapse of the Pagan Empire in 1287 as a nominal vassal state of Sukhothai Kingdom, and of the Mongol Yuan dynasty... proclaimed in Lower Burma |
| 1294–1298 | Hanthawadddy receives recognition as a tributary of Sukhothai Kingdom Sukhothai kingdom The Sukhothai Kingdom ) was an early kingdom in the area around the city Sukhothai, in north central Thailand. The Kingdom existed from 1238 till 1438... and the Mongols Yuan Dynasty The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an... |
| 1298 | Myinsaing Kingdom Myinsaing Kingdom The Myinsaing Kingdom was a kingdom that ruled central Burma from 1298 to 1313. Founded by three brothers of Shan and Burman descent, it was one of many petty kingdoms that emerged following the collapse of Pagan Empire in 1287.... founded, replacing Pagan as power center in Upper Burma |
14th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1301 | Last Mongol invasion fails to topple Myinsaing |
| 1303 | Mongols evacuate Tagaung, retreat to Yunnan Yunnan Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with... |
| 1310 | Thihathu Thihathu Thihathu was a co-founder of Myinsaing Kingdom, and the founder of the Pinya Kingdom in today's central Burma . A former commander in Pagan Empire's military, Thihathu was the youngest and most ambitious of the Three Shan Brothers that founded Myinsaing Kingdom, which filled the void in central... kills his brother and co-regent Athinhkaya Athinhkaya Athinhkaya was a co-founder of Myinsaing Kingdom in today's central Burma . A former commander in Pagan Empire's military, Athinhkaya was the eldest of the Three Shan Brothers that founded Myinsaing Kingdom, which filled the void in central Burma following the collapse of Pagan's authority in 1287... and becomes sole ruler of Myinsaing |
| 1313 | 11 February: Thihathu moves capital to Pinya Pinya Pinya was the capital of the Kingdom of Pinya, located near Ava, Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It was the residence of a dynasty of six kings who ruled this part of central Myanmar from 1313 to 1364.-History:... |
| 1315 | Myinsaing Kingdom splits into Sagaing Kingdom Sagaing Kingdom The Sagaing Kingdom was a kingdom that ruled a part of central Burma from 1315 to 1364. The kingdom was the western half of the old Myinsaing Kingdom, which itself was one of many petty kingdoms that emerged after the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287... and Pinya Kingdom Pinya Kingdom The Pinya Kingdom was a kingdom that ruled part of central Burma from 1313 to 1364. It was the successor state to the Myinsaing Kingdom, one of many petty kingdoms that emerged after the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287... |
| 1331 | Hanthawaddy defeats Sukhothai; throws off nominal allegiance to Sukhothai |
| 1359 | Massive Shan raids into Upper Burma begin |
| 1362 | Binnya U Binnya U Binnya U was the eighth king of Hanthawaddy Pegu, who ruled from 1348 to 1383. Over his 35-year reign, the king faced several internal rebellions and external invasions... raises the height of the Shwedagon Pagoda to 66 feet |
| 1364 | Maw Shans of Mogaung Mogaung Mogaung is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway line.-External links:* Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.* Maplandia.com... topple Pinya and Sagaing kingdoms Thadominbya Thadominbya Thadominbya was the founder of the Kingdom of Ava who reunified central Burma in 1364 under a single kingdom. In his short reign of three plus years, the ethnically Shan king achieved accomplishments that would have a long lasting impact in Burmese history... founds Ava Kingdom Ava Kingdom The Ava Kingdom was the dominant kingdom that ruled upper Burma from 1364 to 1555. Founded in 1364, the kingdom was the successor state to the petty kingdoms that had ruled central Burma since the collapse of Pagan Empire in the late 13th century... circa August 1364 |
| 1365 | 26 February: Capital of Ava Ava Innwa is a city in the Mandalay Division of Burma , situated just to the south of Amarapura on the Ayeyarwady River. Its formal title is Ratanapura , which means City of Gems in Pali. The name Innwa means mouth of the lake, which comes from in , meaning lake, and wa , which means mouth... founded |
| 1369 | Capital of Hanthawaddy moved to Pegu (Bago) |
| 1371 | Shan State of Kale becomes tributary of Ava |
| 1374 | North Arakan asks for a Burmese regent |
| 1385 | Forty Years' War Forty Years' War 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... between Ava and Hanthawaddy Pegu begins |
| 1389 | Razadarit consolidates all three 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 regions in Lower Burma |
15th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1406–1430 | Arakan vassal to Ava or Hanthawaddy Pegu (To Ava: 1406–1407, 1412–1413; To Pegu 1407–1412; 1413–1422/(1430?) |
| 1406 | Ava conquers Shan States of 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... , Mogaung Mogaung Mogaung is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway line.-External links:* Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.* Maplandia.com... , Hsipaw Hsipaw Hsipaw , is a town in Shan State, Myanmar on the riverbank of Myitnge River. It is 200 km northeast of Mandalay.-Shan Saopha:Hsipaw is perhaps one of the most well known and powerful saopha states of Shan State... |
| 1417 | 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... killed in action; Forty Years' War peters out |
| 1430 | Narameikhla founds Mrauk U Kingdom |
| 1433 | City of Mrauk U Mrauk U Mrauk U is an archaeologically important town in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is also the capital of Mrauk-U Township, a sub region of the Sittwe District. It was the capital of Mrauk U Kingdom, the most important and powerful Rakhine kingdom from 1433 to 1784.-Geography:Mrauk U lies... founded |
| 1437 | Mrauk U conquers Thandwe Thandwe -Ngapali Beach:Ngapali Beach is a beach located 7 kilometres from the town of Thandwe , in Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is the most famous beach in Myanmar and is a popular tourist destination... , unifying the entire Arakan coast for the first time |
| 1459 | Mrauk U conquers Chittagong Chittagong Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading... |
| 1446 | 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... invade Upper Burma, demanding surrender of a runaway Shan chief. His dead body was given up. |
| 1450 | Binnya Kyan Binnya Kyan Binnya Kyan was the 13th king of Hanthawaddy Pegu, who reigned from 1450 to 1453. Binnya Kyan, son of King Binnya Dhammaraza, came to power after assassinating his cousin King Binnya Waru in 1450. One notable project of his reign was the raising of the height of Shwedagon Pagoda to 92 meters from... increases the height of the Shwedagon Pagoda to 302 feet |
| 1450s | Rise of early Burmese vernacular literature |
| 1481–1490s | Multiple rebellions by its vassals against Ava's rule Prome, Yamethin and Mohnyin break away |
| 1482 | Thado Minsaw Thado Minsaw of Prome Thado Minsaw of Prome was the founder of Prome Kingdom, who reigned the minor kingdom from 1482 to 1527. He was governor of Tharrawaddy during the reigns of his father King Narapati of Ava and his elder brother King Thihathura. After Thihathura died in 1481, the new king Minkhaung II was greeted... successfully breaks away from Ava, founds Prome Kingdom Prome Kingdom The Prome Kingdom was a kingdom that existed for six decades between 1482 and 1542 in the present-day central Burma . Based out of the city of Prome , the minor kingdom was one of the several statelets that broke away from the dominant Ava Kingdom in the late 15th century... |
| 1486 | Mingyinyo Mingyinyo Mingyinyo was the founder of Toungoo dynasty of Burma . Under his 44-year leadership , Toungoo , grew from a remote backwater vassal state of Ava Kingdom to a small but stable independent kingdom. In 1510, he declared Toungoo's independence from its nominal overlord Ava. He skillfully kept his... becomes ruler of Toungoo; stays loyal to Ava |
16th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1503 | Ava cedes Kyaukse Kyaukse Kyaukse is a small town in Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It is famous for the Kyaukse Elephant Dance.-Education:Kyaukse is home to the Kyaukse Education College, Technological University, Kyaukse and Kyaukse University.-Economy:... to Toungoo to buy its loyalty, and cedes Shwebo District Shwebo District Shwebo District is a district in south-central Sagaing Division of Burma . Its administrative center is the city of Shwebo.The district consists of the townships of Kanbalu, Khin-U, Kyunhla, Shwebo, Taze, Wetlet, and Ye-U.... to Mohnyin |
| 1510 | Toungoo declares independence from Ava |
| 1527 | Confederation of Shan States conquer Ava, installs its nominee to Ava throne |
| 1539 | Tabinshwehti Tabinshwehti Tabinshwehti was a king who unified Burma in 1539 and known as the founder of the Second Burmese Empire.Tabinshwehti succeeded his father Mingyinyo as ruler of the Toungoo dynasty in 1530... captures Pegu; capital of Toungoo Kingdom moved to Pegu |
| 1541–1544 | Tabinshwehti consolidates Lower Burma and captures Upper Burma up to Pagan |
| 1547 | Min Bin repels Burmese invasion of Arakan |
| 1548 | Burmese invasion of Siam fails |
| 1555–1559 | Bayinnaung Bayinnaung Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta was the third king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma . During his 30-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma", Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern day... annexes Upper Burma (1555), the Shan States Shan States The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century... (1557), Lan Na (1558), Manipur Manipur Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of... (1559) |
| 1557 | Bayinnaung abolishes animal sacrifice at Popa Hill and human sacrifice at Shan Hills Shan Hills The Shan Hills , also known as Shan Highland, are part of the range of hills that extends through Yunnan to Burma and Thailand, linking to the Himalayas, of which they may be considered foothills.-Etymology:... |
| 1564 | Siam Ayutthaya kingdom Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the... becomes Burmese vassal following the Burmese-Siamese War (1563–1564) |
| 1569 | Burmese–Siamese War (1568–1569) restores Burmese rule in Siam after the Siamese revolted in 1568 |
| 1574 | Burma conquers Lan Xang Lan Xang The Lao kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Kao was established in 1354 by Fa Ngum.Exiled as an infant to Cambodia, Prince Fa Ngum of Xieng Dong Xieng Thong married a daughter of the Khmer king. In 1349 he set out from Angkor at the head of a 10,000-man army to establish his own country... |
| 1584–1593 | Siam declares independence; Repeated Burmese invasions fail to reconquer Siam |
| 1593–1594 | Lan Xang Lan Xang The Lao kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Kao was established in 1354 by Fa Ngum.Exiled as an infant to Cambodia, Prince Fa Ngum of Xieng Dong Xieng Thong married a daughter of the Khmer king. In 1349 he set out from Angkor at the head of a 10,000-man army to establish his own country... , Manipur Manipur Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of... and Lan Na throw off allegiance to Burmese throne Siam regains Tenasserim coast up to Tavoy |
| 1597 | All regions of the kingdom now in open revolt |
| 1599 | Fall of First Toungoo Empire after Pegu sacked by the Arakanese and Toungoo (city) forces Siam captures the entire Tenasserim coast to Martaban Arakanese capture delta ports; appoint Portuguese Portuguese people The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion.... mercenary Mercenary A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he... de Brito governor of Syriam |
| 1599–1605 | Siamese invasions take Martaban (1599) and Lan Na (1602) |
17th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1600–1606 | Nyaungyan Nyaungyan Min Nyaungyan Min was the fifth king of Toungoo Dynasty of Burma who reigned from 1599 to 1606. Nyaungyan is also often referred to as the founder of Restored Toungoo Dynasty or Nyaungyan Dynasty because his successful efforts to reunify main parts of his father Bayinnaung's empire which had famously... restores central rule to Upper Burma and Shan States |
| 1603–1605 | De Brito declares independence from Arakan, repels Arakanese attacks |
| 1609 | Portuguese mercenary Tibao captures Sandwip Sandwip Sandwip is an island along the south eastern coast of Bangladesh.It is also spelled "Sandvip" both are mostly used.It is a sub-division of Chittagong District. It is situated at the estuary of the Meghna River on the Bay of Bengal and separated from the Chittagong coast by the Sandwip channel. It... in East Bengal, northernmost Arakanese territory |
| 1613 | Anaukpetlun Anaukpetlun Anaukpetlun was the sixth king of Toungoo dynasty of Burma, and was largely responsible for restoring Burmese kingdom after it had famously collapsed at the end of 16th century. In his 22-year reign between 1606 and 1628, Anaukpetlun completed the reunification efforts of the Burmese kingdom begun... captures Syriam |
| 1615 | Anaukpetlun recaptures the Tenasserim coast down to Tavoy, and all of Lan Na |
| 1617 | Min Khamaung recovers Sandwip Beginning of Arakanese raids on Dakha |
| 1619 | English East India Company sends a representative to Pegu |
| 1625 | Arakanese sack Dakha |
| 1627 | English and Dutch East India Dutch East India Company The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia... companies open branches in Burma |
| 1635 | Capital moved to Ava from Pegu |
| 1638 | Thalun Thalun Thalun was the eighth king of Toungoo dynasty of Burma . 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.In... 's revenue inquest |
| 1660 | Arakanese use coined currency |
| 1662 | Surrender of the Yongli Emperor to the invading Qing Qing Dynasty The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.... forces |
| 1662–1665 | Siamese invasion of Lan Na and Tenasserim repelled |
| 1666 | Mogul Empire defeats Arakan and captures Chittagong Province |
| 1677 | English and Dutch East India companies close branches in Burma |
| 1683 | Dutch East India Company closes its branch in Arakan |
| 1688 | French East India Company French East India Company The French East India Company was a commercial enterprise, founded in 1664 to compete with the British and Dutch East India companies in colonial India.... opens a branch in Syriam |
18th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1709 | English open a branch in Syriam |
| 1724–1750 | The Manipuris raid Upper Burma |
| 1725 | Lan Na successfully revolts |
| 1730s | China annexes northern Shan States |
| 1740 | The Mon of Lower Burma break away, found Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom The Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom was the kingdom that ruled Lower Burma and parts of Upper Burma from 1740 to 1757. The kingdom grew out of a rebellion by the Mon people, who then formed the majority in Lower Burma, against the Burman Toungoo Dynasty of Ava in Upper Burma... |
| 1740–1752 | Restored Hanthawaddy gradually pushes upcountry and captures Ava, ending the Tougnoo Dynasty The Siamese move up their control up the Tenasserim coast, taking Tavoy and then Martaban by 1751 |
| 1752 | Alaungpaya Alaungpaya Alaungpaya was king of Burma from 1752 to 1760, and the founder of the Konbaung Dynasty. By his death in 1760, the former chief of a small village in Upper Burma had reunified all of Burma, subdued Manipur, recovered Lan Na, and driven out the French and the English who had given help to the... founds the Konbaung Dynasty Konbaung dynasty The Konbaung Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. The dynasty created the second largest empire in Burmese history, and continued the administrative reforms begun by the Toungoo dynasty, laying the foundations of modern state of Burma... ; start of Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War The Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War was the war fought between the Konbaung Dynasty and the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom of Burma from 1752 to 1757... |
| 1753 | English seize Negrais |
| 1755 | Alaungpaya captures 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... , founds Rangoon (Yangon) |
| 1756 | Alaungpaya defeats the French at Syriam Alaungpaya sends a punitive expedition to Manipur |
| 1757 | Pegu captured; end of Restored Hanthawaddy |
| 1758–1759 | Konbaung armies overrun Manipur, reassert Burmese authority in northern Shan States which had been annexed by the Chinese in the 1730s |
| 1759 | English driven out at Negrais |
| 1760 | Burmese invasion of Siam falls short; regains the Tenasserim coast to Tavoy |
| 1764 | Hsinbyushin Hsinbyushin Hsinbyushin was king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma from 1763 to 1776. The second son of the dynasty founder Alaungpaya is best known for his wars with China and Siam, and is considered the most militaristic king of the dynasty. His successful defense against four Chinese invasions preserved... puts down a rebellion in Manipur |
| 1765 | Burmese armies capture Laotian states Start of another Burmese invasion of Siam Start of Chinese invasions (1765–1769) |
| 1767 | Burmese armies sack Ayutthaya Ayutthaya (city) Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya... ; end of Ayutthaya Kingdom Ayutthaya kingdom Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the... |
| 1768–1769 | Burmese armies withdrawn from Siam and redeployed to the Chinese front Burmese defenses against the Chinese invasions held Siam recaptures all of its territories (except Tenasserim) |
| 1770 | A rebellion in Manipur put down |
| 1774 | Lan Na (Chiang Mai) revolts, seeks and receives Siamese help Hsinbyushin raises the Shwedagon Pagoda to its present height |
| 1775–1776 | Another Burmese invasion of Siam fails; Southern Lan Na becomes Siamese vassal |
| 1778 | Laotian states Luang Prabang Kingdom of Luang Phrabang The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang was formed in 1707 as a result of the split of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. The monarchy was so weak that it was forced to pay tribute at various times to the Burmese and the Siamese... and Vientiene stop paying tribute, switch sides to Siam |
| 1783 | Capital moved to Amarapura Amarapura Amarapura is a former capital of Myanmar, and now a township of Mandalay. Amarapura is bounded by the Ayeyarwady river in the west, Chanmyathazi township in the north, and the city of Innwa in the south... |
| 1784 | Thado Minsaw Thado Minsaw Thado Minsaw was crown prince of Burma from 13 July 1783 to 9 April 1808, during the reign of his father King Bodawpaya of Konbaung dynasty. Prince of Shwedaung and Dabayin was entrusted by the king to manage the day-to-day affairs of the kingdom, and when necessary, to lead the Royal Army against... conquers Arakan, ending five centuries of Arakanese independence Bodawpaya Bodawpaya Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother... 's revenue inquest |
| 1785–1786 | Bodawpaya's invasion of Siam fails; Lan Na now firmly in Siamese camp |
| 1787 | Defeats Siamese invasion of Tenasserim |
| 1790 | Resumes diplomatic relationship with China |
| 1792 | Defeats another Siamese invasion of Tenasserim |
| 1797 | Burmese invasion of Lan Na and Luang Prabang fails |
19th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1802 | Ceylonese monks seek ordination at Amarapura |
| 1803–1804 | Siamese invasion of Kengtung fails |
| 1809–1812 | Burmese invasion of Junkceylon (Phuket) fails |
| 1813 | Burma annexes Manipur Manipur Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of... |
| 1817 | Assam Assam Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country... becomes tributary to Burma |
| 1819 | Burmese put down rebellions in Assam and Manipur |
| 1821–1822 | Burmese put down another rebellion in Assam, and make it a Burmese province |
| 1824–1826 | First Anglo-Burmese War; Burma cedes Arakan, Assam, Manipur and Tenasserim per Treaty of Yandabo Treaty of Yandabo The Treaty of Yandabo was the peace treaty that ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. The treaty was signed on 24 February 1826, nearly two years after the war formally broke out on 5 March 1824, by General Sir Archibald Campbell on the British side, and by Governor of Legaing Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin... |
| 1849–1854 | Defeats Siamese invasion of Kengtung |
| 1852–1853 | Second Anglo-Burmese War Second Anglo-Burmese War The Second Anglo-Burmese War was the second of the three wars fought between the Burmese and the British Empire during the 19th century, with the outcome of the gradual extinction of Burmese sovereignty and independence.... ; British seize Lower Burma |
| 1853 | British expand Rangoon (modern-day downtown Yangon) |
| 1859 | Mindon Mindon Min Mindon Min was the penultimate king of Burma from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma. Under his half brother King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma by the British Empire. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung... moves capital to newly founded city of Mandalay Mandalay Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region .... |
| 1866 | Head of reform movement, Crown Prince Kanaung is assassinated. |
| 1871 | Fifth Buddhist council Fifth Buddhist council The Fifth Buddhist council took place in Mandalay, Burma in 1871 AD in the reign of King Mindon. The chief objective of this meeting was to recite all the teachings of the Buddha according to the Theravada Pali Canon and examine them in minute detail to see if any of them had been altered,... convenes |
| 1875 | Mindon cedes Karenni States to the British to avoid annexation |
| 1878 | Rangoon College founded |
| 1885 | Third Anglo-Burmese War Third Anglo-Burmese War The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British... ; end of Burmese monarchy |
| 1886 | 1 January: Burma is proclaimed a British colony February: Burma is proclaimed a province of British India |
| 1886–1890 | British "pacification" of Burma |
20th century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1920 | First Rangoon University strike |
| 1921 | The Dyarchy reforms begin |
| 1930 | Nationalist and leftist Dobama Asiayone founded |
| 1930–1932 | Peasants' rebellion |
| 1936 | Second Rangoon University strike |
| 1937 | Burma is separated from British India and becomes a separate colony |
| 1938 | Third Rangoon University strike and nationwide strikes |
| 1941 | Burma Independence Army formed with Japanese Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of... help |
| 1942–1945 | Japanese occupation of Burma Japanese occupation of Burma The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces... Thai occupation of Kengtung |
| 1945 | Return of British rule |
| 1947 | 12 February: Panglong Agreement Panglong Agreement The Panglong Agreement was reached between the Burmese government under Aung San and the Shan, Kachin, and Chin peoples on 12 February 1947. The agreement accepted "Full autonomy in internal administration for the Frontier Areas" in principle and envisioned the creation of a Kachin State by the... signed by Shan, Kachin Kachin people The Kachin people are a group of ethnic groups who largely inhabit the Kachin Hills in northern Burma's Kachin State and neighbouring areas of China and India. More than half of the Kachin people identify themselves as Christians - while a significant minority follow Buddhism and some also adhere... , Chin Chin people The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'... and Burman leaders to gain independence from the British 19 July: Aung San Aung San Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw.... and most of his cabinet assassinated. 24 September: 1947 Constitution guarantees the Federated Shan States (later Shan and Kayah states), Kachin State, and Karen State, the right to secede after a period of ten years after independence |
| 1948 | 4 January: Burma gains independence from the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
| 1949 | Insurgencies begin |
| 1950–1953 | Burmese Army repels Nationalist Chinese invasion of 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... |
| 1958–1960 | Gen. Ne Win Ne Win Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981... takes over as caretaker government |
| 1961 | U Thant U Thant U Thant was a Burmese diplomat and the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, from 1961 to 1971. He was chosen for the post when his predecessor, Dag Hammarskjöld, died in September 1961.... becomes 3rd Secretary-General of the United Nations Yangon hosts Second Southeast Asian Peninsular Games |
| 1962 | Ne Win overthrows democratically elected government of U Nu U Nu For other people with the Burmese name Nu, see Nu .U Nu was a leading Burmese nationalist and political figure of the 20th century... , begins military rule |
| 1969 | Yangon hosts Fifth Southeast Asian Peninsular Games |
| 1974 | Ne Win proclaims a new constitution Chin Special Division becomes Chin State Chin State Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the... ; Mon State Mon State Mon State is an administrative division of Myanmar. It is sandwiched between Kayin State on the east, the Andaman Sea on the west, Bago Region on the north and Tanintharyi Region on the south, and has a short border with Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province at its south-eastern tip. The land area is... is created out of Tenasserim Division Government guns down student protesters following U Thant's death |
| 1985–1987 | Repeated demonetization of higher denomination kyat notes; Intensification of economic hardship on general populace |
| 1988 | Nationwide uprising 8888 Uprising The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma... brings down Ne Win's government Military crushes protests, forms a ruling junta, promises elections |
| 1989 | Junta changes the English spellings of geographic names, including the country's name (to Myanmar) |
| 1990 | National League for Democracy National League for Democracy The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta... wins 82% of the seats in the general election Burmese general election, 1990 General elections were held in Burma on 27 May 1990, the first multi-party elections since 1960, after which the country had been ruled by a military dictatorship... Junta refuses to hand over power, jails NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained... |
| 1990s | Western nations and Japan begin economic sanctions Economic sanctions Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country on another for a variety of reasons. Economic sanctions include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas... against Myanmar |
| 1991 | Aung San Suu Kyi is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who... |
| 1997 | Myanmar is admitted to ASEAN |
21st century
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Junta moves the capital to Naypyidaw Naypyidaw Naypyidaw is the capital city of Burma, also known as Myanmar. It is administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory, as per the 2008 Constitution. On 6 November 2005, the administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield 3.2 km west of Pyinmana, and approximately... |
| 2007 | Junta suppresses anti-government protests 2007 Burmese anti-government protests The 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007... , killing scores of protesters, including Buddhist monks |
| 2008 | 2008 Constitution reserves 25% of the seats in a bicameral Hluttaw to the military Cyclone Nargis Cyclone Nargis Cyclone Nargis , was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma. The cyclone made landfall in Burma on Friday, May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 138,000 fatalities... kills nearly 140,000 people and devastates 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... |
| 2010 | The 2010 general election Burmese general election, 2010 A general election was held in Burma on 2010, in accordance with the new constitution which was approved in a referendum held in... gives the victory to military-backed USDP Union Solidarity and Development Party The Union Solidarity and Development Party , which was registered on 2 June 2010 by the Union Election Commission as a political party, is the successor to the Burmese government's mass organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association. It is headed by Burmese President Thein Sein and... |
| 2010 | 13 November 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest. |
| 2011 | 31 January: The first session of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Pyidaungsu Hluttaw The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is the national-level bicameral legislature of Myanmar established by the 2008 National Constitution... (parliament) convenes |