Manipuri–Burmese wars of 1717 to 1749
| Manipuri – Burmese Wars of 1717–1749 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Ningthouja dynasty |
 Toungoo Dynasty Manikya Dynasty[1][2]Kingdom of Pong[3] | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Charairongba Pamheiba |
Mahadhammaraza Dipadi Taninganway Min | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 20,000 + [5] | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| More[6] | Less | ||||||||
The Manipur – Burmese wars of 1717–1749 were a series of conflicts between Manipur under Gharib Niwaz and the Toungo kingdom of Burma.[7]
Background[edit]
The conflict between the Kingdom of Manipur and the Kingdom of Burma, also known as Awa, was sparked by a series of events rooted in familial ties and political grievances. Following the demotion of his sister, who was married to the Burmese King as Awa-Leima, Manipur King Charairongba harbored deep resentment. Before his demise, he tasked his son Pamheiba (Garibaniwaz) with avenging this slight against their family. The tensions escalated when a delegation from Burma, accompanied by Samsok emissaries, arrived in Manipur seeking a Meitei princess's hand in marriage. Despite King Garibaniwaz's courteous reception, the presence of the Samsok people further fueled his anger, setting the stage for further hostilities between the two kingdoms.[7]
First Invasion of Burma[edit]
Taninganwe (1714-33) the king of Burma desiring to make peace. Mahanta Bakridas, a disciple of the Vaishnava missionary Shantidas, was sent to the Burmese court as a plenipotentiary to the king of Manipur. Taninganwe, being defeated, expressed his wish to get into a marriage with the daughter of Gharib Niwaz.The Burmese king was informed that Satyamala would be with him after 3 days from the spring festival. [8][9][10]
Battle of the Ningthi River[edit]
The Burmese being unaware of Pamheiba 's intentions prepared for the marriage and instead of the bride party , the Manipur forces waged war against the burmese and caused a severe damage upon them. [11] Invasion of Myedu Pamheiba crossed the ningthi river and destroyed the town of Myedu on the bank of the river Moo , he took a huge number of captives from the town. [12][13][14]
Battle of Poinu[edit]
On December, 1724 at poinu , the burmese had arrived for an invasion of Manipur. A strong force was sent onto two directions to intercept the burmese . One to Mangsha under Haobam Pukhramba and another to ningthi under Haobam Sagolsenba. The Burmese forces were replused before they could reach Manipur . [15][16][17]
Conflicts with Tripura[edit]
Invasion of Tripura (1734)[edit]
In 1734 , Tripura was focused on fending off the mughal invasion upon them , seeing this as an opportunity , Pamheiba overran northern tripura. The Cheitharon Kumpapa writes
, "The year of Khuman Charakpam Lamphen 1656 Kum Sak... Monday, the 11th of Poinu (6th December 1734 CE), Ningthem went to attack Takhen. He captured Raskon Phampa Takhen Musuklai of Langlong in battle. He devastated Langlong. The Meetei soldiers threw a temporary bridge across the river Gwai. They ascended to the top of Mangaitang mountain range. They encamped at Sekchai near the confluence of Kuwai and Wakonok. Pamheipa was victorious over Takhen (Tripura). He devastated Chainu. He subjugated all the Takhens inhabited at Chainu including Satrajit Narayan. All the tributaries of Takhen bowed down to the King. The Meetei soldiers left for Tuwai Yirong to fell a tree to hollow out a war canoe. Ningthem made a pilgrimage to the temple of Ram Lokhon on the canoe by following the course of the Gwai river. During the course of return journey the canoe sank. Ningthem lost his spear called Koireng and a hookah. He erected a stone at Yirong... Monday, the 7th of Phairen
Second Invasion of Burma[edit]
In 1738 , Pamheiba once again crossed the ningthi river and deffeated a Burmese force of 15000. [19]
Sieges of Mutseng , Myedu and Deebayen[edit]
In the same year , Gharib Nawaz with an army of 20000 and 3 divisions , waged war against several cities along with the ancient capital Zakaing , Burmese historians mention that a type of religion extremism was in the minds of the Manipuris ,a Burmese chronicle mentions of a brahmin who gave the assurance that if they take a bath in the Irrawaddy river , their sins would be washed away. [20][21]
Third Invasion of Burma[edit]
Gharib Nawaz being aided by the cacharees, along with a army of 20,000 invaded Ava , but was deprived to capture a Burmese port at Myedu. Gharib Nawaz suffered setbacks and was deserted by his allies , the Bijoy Panchali says , seeing the opportunity, Manikya Dynasty invaded Manipur advancing as far as Moirang . Gharib Nawaz being hesitated to wage war on two fronts made peace with the burmese and offered the hands of her daughter to the Burmese. [22]
Fourth Invasion of Burma[edit]
In 1749 , Pamheiba with a force of 2000 , crossing the Ningthi river and camping near Kyendwen and Irrawaddy river , waiting for an opportunity to cross the Irrawaddy and to wage war on the capital Ava , the burmese put up all their defences but a bad omen changed the preferences of Pamheiba , one night his sword got broken , considering it as a bad omen , he decided to sought peace with the burmese . [23][24]
Aftermath[edit]
Upon his retreat , he came onto a conflict with the Koee tribe , reaching the mouth of the Maglung river , he met Ajit Shah who rebuked Pamheiba for his faliures in the recent campaign , this created a huge dissatisfaction among his troops and he was deserted with only 500 troops with him . He sought help from Burmese against his rebellious son , he resided at Tseengain and gave the hands of another daughter of him to the Burmese crown. Due to the rise of the peguers , not much help could be provided to Pamheiba . See the situation , Pamheiba set out to re-enter Manipur and was met by the men of Ajit singh who murdered him along with his elder son Sham shah and all the principles of court who followed Pamheiba. [25][26][27][28][29]
References[edit]
- ^ History of Manipur, the medevial period. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05.
- ^ Sana, Raj Kumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs. Waikhom Ananda Meetei. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
- ^ Somorjit, Wangam (March 2016). Manipur. Waba Publications & Advanced Research Consortium. ISBN 978-81-926687-2-7.
- ^ Gait, Edward; Gait, Sir Edward Albert (1906). A History of Assam.
- ^ Mill, James (March 25, 1848). "The History of British India". Madden – via Google Books.
- ^ "Garib Niwaz: Wars and Religious Policy in 18th Century Manipur". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
- ^ a b Sorokhaibam, Manglemjao S. (July 10, 2021). "GARIBANIWAZ (PAMHEIBA): The Master of Manipur and Upper Burma (West of Irrawaddy) (1709–1748) » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics". imphalreviews.in.
- ^ Singh, R. k Jhaljit. A Short History Of Manipur.
- ^ Calcutta Review. University of Calcutta. 1957.
- ^ Peeps Into Manipur. Rajkumar Publications. 1985.
- ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur.
- ^ Shimmi, Yanao Lungharnao Roland (1988). Comparative History of the Nagas, from Ancient Period Till 1826. Inter-India Publications. ISBN 978-81-210-0210-3.
- ^ Kanisetti, Anirudh (2023-06-08). "Manipur's imperial moment—When King Gharib Nawaz spread Hinduism, conquered Burma". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
- ^ Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: from the earliest times to March 1824.
- ^ Singh, R. k Jhaljit. A Short History Of Manipur.
- ^ Lieberman, Victor B. (2014-07-14). Burmese Administrative Cycles: Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580-1760. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-5585-8.
- ^ Sana, Raj Kumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs: From 1666 CE to 1850 CE. Waikhom Ananda Meetei. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
- ^ https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Chronology_of_Meetei_Monarchs.html?id=eybpM1KZjVoC#v=onepage&q=1734%20tripura&f=false
- ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur.
- ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
- ^ Htin Aung, U. (1967). A history of Burma. Internet Archive. New York, Columbia University Press.
- ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur.
- ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur.
- ^ Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: from the earliest times to March 1824.
- ^ Gait, Edward; Gait, Sir Edward Albert (1906). A History of Assam. Thacker, Spink & Company.
- ^ Sana, Raj Kumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs: From 1666 CE to 1850 CE. Waikhom Ananda Meetei. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
- ^ Sanajaoba, Naorem (2003). Manipur: State and country. Akansha Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-87606-30-7.
- ^ Department, India Foreign and Political (1931). A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Government of India Central Publication Branch.
- ^ Roy, Jyotirmoy (1958). History Of Manipur.