Hla Shwe (M.A)

At the end of 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century the kingdom of Arakan”s revival was almost east as Mogul empire had been rising its military and political power in South Asia and so the building of defense system of Kings of Mrauk U was first priority to east of palace site such as Pong Dout and Launggrat plain.According to the Burmese chronicles, after passed away Bayinnaung, his successors were very weak in its military and administration in Nyaungyan dynasties and they hadn”t been colonized to its neighbor countries, and also during the reigned of Tananganwe and Sanay Kings their military power did not direct threaten to Arakan throne because of Mrauk U”s military and economic was almost ever strength than Burmese Kings. Although the Mogul getting strength in military and economic power she was also quite to invade territory to east Bengal which was ruled under the Kings of Arakan before the 1600 years.

In (1600) years, even Mogul empire was enough strong power had not been transferred Bengal into tributary state of their own. English was only interesting in trading in South Asia and Bengal so far way from territory colonized. At that time Mrauk U was out of territorial expansion from kingdoms of east and west such as Mogul and Burmese kingdoms and had a great chance to build its economic and military power.

At the beginning of the 17th century Mogul Empire had expanded its territory to east and built stockades to another invade. Under the ruling of Aurangzib (1658-1707) in Mogul dynasty”s policy was to invade neighbor”s countries. The relations between the Mogul and the palace of Mrauk U were excellent even though, The Portuguese who settled in Diaga confiscated and captured slaves were also mounted in Bengal, which situations made peoples to escape from the hands of Portuguese and changed the Mogul”s policy towards Arakan King. At the same time Bengalis were trying to join hands with Mogul King, because they were own cultural and same religious. Traditionally Arakan throne ruled Bengal for so many years but his majesty of Arakan king did not trust and no great expectation this area by military as well as politically, and then had direct threaten to Arakan throne.

The kings of Mrauk U from (1638- 1784) were very weak its military and political ideology to maintain tributary states and did not adopt the flexible policy on its revival Mogul empire so on. During the reigning of the Kings of Thirithudhama, had always lookdown to King of Mogul and had been trying to destroy the Aurangzeb”s power in Bengal. According to the Hall”s account when the emperor fell so seriously ill that there were premature rum ours of his death, a struggle power began between his sons. It was won by Aurangzeb, who deposed his father in 1658 and became emperor himself. Shan Shuja refused to accept this arrangement but was defeated by Aurangzeb.After failing to hold Bengal fled to from Dacca to Chittagaung together with his family and a bodyguard of some 500 faithful followers. King of Sandhathudhama granted him permission to come to Mrohaung on condition that his followers surrendered their arms. But lately the problem come out between King and refugee prince as Arakan king had asked one of Shan Shuja daughters in marriage and request was indignantly rejected this made king very angry and relations was also getting worse. In later, the king of Arakan killed refugee prince and his family. These causes brought about conflict between Arakan and Mogul Empire and soon captured Chittagong by Mogul in 1666, which makes Arakan”s military power and access of treasure in weakness to support the throne.

At the time of middle age of Mrauk U period, Konbaung dynasties arose from the Beginning of the king of Alaungphaya and his successors had built as a powerful strong kingdom with military and economic power in Southeast Asia. But later kings of Mrauk U period had lack knowledge in international relations as well as regional political changes so the kingdom of Arakan was difficult situation among the rivalries of Mogul in the west, Burmese to the east and English as well who had been trying to set colony up in Southeast Asia. And then the king of Arakan didn”t use diplomacy as a weapon of relationship between colonial aggressors.

During that time the king of Thailand used diplomacy in international relations and tried to be an independence kingdom but Arakan had nothings diplomacy as well. During later decades of 17th century, internal conflicts broke out in Arakan to occupy the throne that general conditions made to deteriorate king”s power and also direct threaten to public business in the whole country of Arakan.

Although Kings of Arakan had ability sited the throne but did not received support by the people of Arakanese and ministers and traditional Arakanese people believed that the king must have direct descendent from Aryan race so the kingdom of Arakan had declined in administration and business as well as in social conditions which makes to come into an anarchy period at the middle of the 18th century in Arakan.In AD (1784) Arakan was annexed by king Bodawpaya of Konbaung dynasties. Defeated Mrauk U was the end of Mrauk U golden age, which was founded by the king of Min Saw Mon, father of dynasty.

The study of the falling of Mrauk U and the end of Laungkrat period is quite different. The last king of Laungkrat was Naramathla who recaptured the throne by the help of Bengal King and changed his name into Min Saw Mon.When Burmese king Min Kaung of Inwa invaded in AD (1407) the king and peoples were united under the leadership of Narameithla who fled to Bengal with his followers and he did political alliance with king of Bengal. But in AD (1784) Arakan was captured by King Bodawpaya of Konbaung dynasty, the unity between king and peoples were nothing and before he dethrones his right wining generals also fighting against him. When the king fled to, there was no anybody accompanied by him especially military generals and king”s councilors.

Narmeikhla who succeeded the throne of economic prosperity and national unity of Laungkrat, which was founded by the Kawliya (1118-1123) and Minhti (1279-1379). In the late Mrauk U period king Raza step to the throne in (1782) before his reign Arakan was chaos in additional conditions, Arakanese national consciousness declined and the condition was also anarchic period. According to the chronicles king Raza succeeded the throne by approved of peoples of Arakan but really support sources of subject was nothing. When the Burmese army surrounded by the city of Mrauk U king Raza was urged by his cabinet to present his beautiful daughter to the Burmese king in order to end the siege. But king Raza turndown the his minister advise, saying he did not want to go down the Arakan history in that light, so he commanded his followers to fight against Burmese troops.

According to the way of Buddha theory, the king who wins the enemies by presented daughters, by gifting property etc, but king Mhathamadha Raza declined to use the way of like this, had been used the way of military action made Mrauk U to disappear from the history of kingdom of Arakan.

References

  1. History of Southeast Asia, DHE Hall, 1981, The Macmillan Press LTD, London.
  2. Rakhaing Razawinthit Kyan, Ashin Sandamarlinkara, 1997, Rangoon, Burma.
  3. Rakhaing Mharazawindawgri, 1926, Rangoon, Burma.
  4. Recalling The Local Past Autonomous History of Southeast Asia, Edited by Sunaitchutintaranont and Chris Baker 2002, Silkworm Books, Bangkok, Thailand.
  5. Royal Orders of Burma, A.D 1598- 1885, Part Four, A.D 1782- 1787 Edited by Than Tun, 1992, Kyoto, The center for Southeast Asian Studies, 1986)
  6. Royal Orders of Burma, A.D 1598- 1885, Part Four, A.D 1788- 1806 Edited by Than Tun, 1992, Kyoto, The center for Southeast Asian Studies, 1986)
  7. The Land of Great Image, Maurice Collis, 1985, New York press, USA.
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    Source: The Voice of Arakan

 

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