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Konbaung Kingdom - Expansion and Confrontation, 1784-1826

Ships of the British East India Company entered Burmese waters in the early seventeenth century. The British and French, based in the ports of Lower Burma and in competition with, each other, played a role in the war between Alaungpaya and the rebel king of Pegu, Binnya Dala, supplying them with arms in return for trade concessions. Yet Burma remained largely peripheral to the interests of the company until it and the British-ruled Indian province of Bengal (including both modern Bangledesh and the Indian state of West Bengal) shared a common border along the Naaf River after Bodawpaya's conquest of Arakan in 1784. Instability in the kingdoms south of the Brahmaputra River and east of Bengal (now in the Indian states of Assam and Manipur) provided an opportunity for Burmese expansion that also destabilized relations between the Burmese king and the company's governor general at Calcutta.

Bodawpaya's harsh policies in Arakan, including the drafting of thousands for forced labor in Upper Burma, drove large numbers of refugees across the Naaf River into British territory. Rebels used the Bengal side of this loosely defined border as a staging area for raids on Burmese garrisons in Arakan. The Burmese, claiming the right to cross the Naaf in "hot pursuit" of insurgents, caused increasing British apprehensions.

Burmese-British relations deteriorated, owing to the lack of established diplomatic communications after 1802. In 1811 an Arakanese insurgent leader, Chin Byan, assembled a large force from among the refugees in British territory, crossed the border, and seized Mrohaung, the old capital of Arakan. Although pushed out of Mrohaung and back across the Naaf River, Chin Byan continued his raids until his death in 1815. It infuriated the Burmese that the British, tied down at the time in a war in central India and having problems elsewhere, did no more to stop him.

Upon Bodawpaya's death in 1819, Bagyidaw, his grandson, became king. Although not a strong personality like his grandfather, Bagyidaw was apparently persuaded by his commander in chief, the general Maha Bandula, to pursue an aggressive policy both in the kingdoms of Assam and Manipur and on the Bengal border. Burmese forces marched into Assam, intervening in a succession struggle, which placed the British in a delicate position since both pretenders to the throne sought protection on British soil and organized resistance movements. Manipur was also invaded, because its raja was reluctant to become a vassal of the new Burmese king. Beset by refugees from Manipur, the raja of still another state, Cachar, fled to British Indian territory. In 1823 the British declared Cachar and a neighboring state, Jaintia, protectorates. On the India-Arkan border, Burmese troops seized East India Company personnel and an island in the Naaf River claimed by the British.

In January 1824 Burmese forces marched into Cachar and fought British troops, and fighting resumed on the Naaf River. Maha Bandula's strategy was apparently to invade Bengal with a double pincer movement, one force coming from the hill state and a second, commanded by him, from Arakan. There was some panic in Calcutta at this pmspect; the British jpvernor general, Lord Amherst, however, ordered his forces by sea to Lower Burma, and Rangoon was occupied on May 10. Maha Bandula was obliged to leave Arakan and return to Upper Burma.

In the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26) Burmese troops, led by Maha Bandula until his battle death in April 1825, put up a brave resistance. The British expeditionary force, however, was better armed and disciplined and able to push its way up the Irrawaddy River to within 72 kilometers of the Burmese royal capital. Peace was restored with the signing of the Treaty of Yandabo on February 24, 1826, providing for the cession of the territories of Arakan and Tenasserim to the British, an end to Burmese suzerainty over the Indian hill states of Assam and Manipur, an indemnity of £1 million to be paid to the British for the costs of the war, and the exchange of diplomatic representatives between Burma and British India. British troops left Rangoon in December 1826 after the full payment of the indemnity; however, the treaty was a shattering blow to Burmese pride. When representatives were exchanged, Bagyidaw tried to negotiate the return of Tenasserim, but in vain.