After two centuries, during which the realms of the Burmans,
the Shan and the Mon in the area of today's Myanmar
ceaselessly were at war with each other, King Minkyino ascends the
throne of the Burmese town of Taungu in 1486. His reign
initiates a resurgence of the Burmese realm.
After King Minkyino's death in 1530 his 16-year-old son
Tabengshweti becomes Taungu's new King. Tabengshweti follows
an aggressive policy aiming to resurrect the Burmese realm within
the borders of the former Bagan realm.
In 1535 Tabengshweti's troops conquer the Mon port town
Bassein and in 1539 the most important Mon town of that
time, Bago. Further conquest campaigns into the northern
Ayeyarwaddy valley ensure Tabengshweti's reign over an area, which
roughly represents today's Myanmar.
Tabengshweti dies in 1550. His conquests are of a less
permanent nature, because at that time the Burmans have trouble
with a number of powerful Shan fiefdoms to the North. Tabengshweti's son-in-law Bayinnaung ascends the throne of Taungu and has to reconquer anew many of the towns, which his father-in-law had already conquered before, among them Bago.
In 1564 Bayinnaung (according to Siamese sources: Bhueng
Noreng) lays siege to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, until
it surrenders to the conditions of the Burmese. The Siamese King
and his family are abducted to Myanmar, as well as a number of
highly valued white elephants.
As Siam is not content with the role of being a tributary to the
Burmese, in 1569 Bayinnaung is forced to invade Siam again,
leading an army of 200,000 men. After a siege of seven
months Ayutthaya is taken by force.
King Bayinnaung dies in 1581. His successor, his son Nandanaung,
however, cannot claim the same military talent as his father.
During his 18-year reign Nandanaung loses most of the regions
his father had conquered before.
15 years after the fall of Ayutthaya, in 1584, Siam once
again declares its independence. Several campaigns to Siam, the
last in 1592, remain unsuccessful. During the following decades
the realm of the Taungu Dynasty in Myanmar disintegrates.
In 1636 the Burmans transfer their capital from Taungu
to Ava in the North (close to today's Mandalay). The realm
of the Burmans continues to lose in influence. At the same time
the realm of the Mon, whose capital is still at Bago, grows
in strength.
The Mon conquer Ava in 1752 and make it temporarily their
own capital.
Other Historical eras:
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/myanmar/myanmar_history_taungu.htm
