Mindon Min

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Mindon Min (Burmese: မင္‌းတုန္‌းမင္‌း; 1808–1878) was King of Burma from 1853 to his death and is one of the most popular and revered Kings of Burma. Under King Bagan (1848-1853) Second Anglo-Burmese War that ended in 1852 with the annexation of Lower Burma by the United Kingdom. Mindon and his younger brother Crown Prince Ka Naung overthrew their half brother King Pagan, so that they could sue for peace. He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper portion of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his Kingdom.

King Mindon founded the last royal capital of Burma, 'Mandalay in 1854. His young brother Crown Prince Ka Naung helped for administration and the modernization. During Mindon's reign, scholars were sent to France, Italy, The United States and Great Britain, to learn about the industrial revolution. Mindon introduced the first machine struck coins to Burma and also carried the fifth Buddhist Synod in Mandalay. The synod produced the world's largest book, the Ti-pedikut, which is 729 pages of the Buddhist Pali Canon inscribed in marble. It still stands in Mandalay. He also managed to regild the 343 foot tall Shwe Dagon Pagoda, which is located in then British held Rangoon. With the opening of the Suez Canal, Mindon assembled a flotilla of steamers to facilitate trade with the British.

Ka Naung is also remeberred by the Burmese as an avid modernizer, who would go to the factories early on Winter mornings with a blanket wrapped around, just to talk to the mechanics about how the machines ran. He was in charge of the Army, as most Burmese crown princes were, and he imported and made guns, cannons and shells. An unsuccessful rebellion on June 18, 1866 by Princes Myin Kun and Myin Khondaing (sons of King Mindon, jealous for not being named successor and backed by the British, who worried of Ka Naung's modernization of the Burmese Royal Armies), Prince Ka Naung was assassinated. The two princes ran away to southern Burma, and were granted amnesty by the British.

King Mindon got away in an unusual manner, which the Burmese regard as a sign of his hpon (similar to karma, but in a positive way). He ran into the person who was supposed to kill him. Seeing the King, the rebel dropped his sword and paid respect. The King is supposed to have made a piggy back-ride on his would be assailant and escaped towards the barracks of his loyal guards. After that, no crown prince was selected due to fears of civil war. One of his queen Sin Phyu Ma Shin dominated the last days of King Mindon. It was Sin Phyu Ma Shin who edicted the order to kill almost all people who were possibile heirs, so that her daughter and son in law would be Queen and King. Close royals of all ages and both genders were mercilessly killed, after being tricked that the dying King wanted to bid them farewell.

Mindon's son Thibaw Min succeeded him in 1878, King Thibaw was defeated by the British Empire in November 1885 with Third Anglo-Burmese War.