Burmese–Siamese War (1594–1605)
| Burmese–Siamese War (1594-1605) | |||||||
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| Part of Burmese–Siamese wars | |||||||
_map.jpg) Map showing Siam forces' advance towards Burma: Red: Siamese invasion in 1594 Brown: Siamese invasion and retreat in 1595-1596 Yellow: Siamese invasion in 1599-1602 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Toungoo Dynasty (Burma) |
.svg.png){kind=small} Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Nanda Bayin Minye Thihathu (Viceroy of Toungoo) † Viceroy of Prome Viceroy of Ava |
Naresuan Phraya Chakri Phraya Prakhlang Phraya Sri Saiyanarong Phraya Theparchun | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
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Royal Burmese Army including:
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| Strength | |||||||
| 300,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
The Burmese–Siamese War (1594–1605) (Burmese: ယိုးဒယား-မြန်မာစစ် (၁၅၄၈); Thai: สงครามพม่า-สยาม พ.ศ. 2091 or สงครามสยามรุกรานพม่า, lit. "Siam invasion of Burma") was the war fought between the Toungoo Dynasty of Burma and the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam. The cause of war was the vengeance of Siam towards the Burmese invasion of 1548. The war ended with a victory by Siam, which seized the cities of Dawei and Tenasserim, and laid siege to two major cities of the Toungoo Dynasty.[1]
Background
The plans of King Naresuan of Ayutthaya Kingdom required the conquering of Burma to avenge the Burmese invasion of Siam in 1548. Burma was weak after the death of Mingyi Swa. Nanda Bayin order penalize such generals don't coverage Minyi Swa. and the Burmese people were in a panic. This made an invasion by Siam an especially suitable opportunity.
Battle Dawei and Tenasserim city
In January 1594 King Naresuan divided the army into two units. The troops were to attack the cities of Dawei and Tenasserim. The first unit, under the command of Phraya Chakri had 50,000 troops to attack Tenasserim. The second unit, under the command of Phraya Prakhlang had 50,000 troops to capture Dawei. Dawei and Tenasserim were cities in Thailand during Sukhothai period, which the Burmese had taken. But in the reign of King Naresuan the chance to retake them came. When the Governor of Tenasserim knew that the Siamese army would attack, he immediately sent tidings to Pegu. Nanda Bayin was ordered to send 23,000 men and Royal navy units under General Samin Ou Ba kong and Samin Pha ta bha's control down to Pegu to protect Dawei and Tenasserim.
During the conscription in Pegu, Phraya Chakri moved troops to the siege of Tenasserim city. The Governor of Tenasserim city defended the city for 15 days. After that the city was captured by Phraya Chakri. The army units of Phraya Prakhlang which attacked Dawei met the Royal Burmese Army. The Burmese army retreated to the foot of the Tenasserim Hills. Phraya Prakhlang's army besieged Dawei for 20 days. The Governor of Dawei saw that there was no way to prevent the city's fall and decided to surrender to Siam.[2][3]
After Phraya Chakri captured Tenasserim city, he planned to capture Myeik. And the Burmese Army in Myeik was defeated because the supply of arms was cut off. Arms were supplied to the guerrillas funded by King Naresuan. That made Phraya Chakri successful in capturing Myeik. Phraya Chakri did not know the circumstances of Phraya Prakhlang's army in Dawei. And there were concerns that Dawei city would be the source from which Burmese army troops would come down. If Phraya Prakhlang could not capture the city, the Burmese army could be carried down to attack. Phraya Chakri gave the ships that trade in the town of Myeik and Myeik native vessels changed to 150 warships. He had Phraya Theparchun transferred from the Naval Sea to Dawei and appointed General Phraya Sri Saiyanarong to control the army units' garrison of the city of Tenasserim.
Phraya Theparchun's army went by sea and landed at Maungmagan; he had fought with the Burmese Navy under General Samin Ou Ba kong and Samin Pha ta bha's command. It was a single army that Nanda Bayin sent down to protect the city of Tenasserim. Royal Burmese Navy warships, with about 200 ships, carried a combined total of about 23,000 men. That was all the Burmese forces that helped maintain the city. A fight started at sea. After the high waves withdrew the Siamese and Burmese armies retreated to the beach. When Phraya Prakhlang captured Dawei, he also didn’t know the circumstances of Phraya Chakri's army in Tenasserim because he didn't know whether Phraya Chakri was successful in capturing Tenasserim or not. He prepared 100 ships carrying a combined total of about 5,000 men and appointed Phraya Phichai Songkhram and Phraya Ram to assist Phraya Chakri in Tenasserim by fighting against the Burmese army to the north. Phraya Theparchun knew that Phraya Phichai Songkhram and Phraya Ram would assist from the north, and he could fight against the Burmese army from the south. The Burmese army was heavily damaged. General Samin Ou Ba kong and Samin Pha ta bha were killed by Siamese soldiers on the battlefield. The Burmese ships escaped to the coast. Siam captured 500 men and completely captured Dawei and Tenasserim. All the remaining Burmese army had to retreat to Pegu.
Capture of Mon State
In April 1594 Bhaya Law Governor of Mottama controversy with Bhaya Bharaw Governor of Mawlamyine About the territory. Bhaya Bharaw fear that Bhaya Law could attack Mawlamyine Therefore Bhaya Bharaw send the diplomatic to pledge allegiance to King Naresuan. And asked Naresuan to send troops to help protect the city of Mawlamyine. King Naresuan immediately accept to help Bhaya Bharaw. And appointed General Phraya Sri Saiya to control 3,000 army units to protect Mawlamyine. Bhaya Law fear Siamese army Led him Did not attack Mawlamyine. subsequent the Siam army and Mawlamyine attacked Mottama completely. After that Naresuan appointed Bhaya Bharaw to become Governor of all of Mon State. This makes Bhaya Bharaw Support Siamese army.
First siege of Pegu
After King Naresuan has capture the Mon State This is a significant turning point of the Siamese-Burmese war. This make Siamese army used Mon state as a base. That will be raised to attack the city of Pegu easily. In December 1594 Nanda Bayin of Burma has thought to retake the cities of southern Burma from Siam. But the high Burmese nobles had suggested that this time Burma is weak. And suggested that must retention of military first. After a suggestion from the high nobility Burma did not attack the of cities in the southern. In 1595 King Naresuan led royal army to attack the city of Pegu with 120,000 mens and march troops to the city of Mawlamyine Naresuan gathered Mon army from Bhaya Bharaw support. Then he led royal army to siege the city of Pegu. Siamese army siege the city of Pegu in 3 months and has been stripped of the city. but was unable to enter. The huge forces of the Lords of Pyay, Toungoo, and Ava then arrived to free Pegu with the approaching rainy season. Naresuan decided to retreat on Songkran Day in 1596 Naresuan has forcibly numerous settled in the cities of Pegu back to Ayutthaya and the Burmese army was not carried out to attack retaliate Siam in any way.
Second siege of Pegu
After First siege of Pegu make Royal Burma amy in Pegu weaken further and Pegu citizens famine and hunger. And Siam has inspection of the terrain of Pegu This is useful to treat the military to seize the city of Pegu. In 1599, Naresuan decided to invade Pegu again. Naresuan allied himself with Rakhine to attacked Pegu. However, the (Viceroy of Toungoo) Minye Thihathu feared that if Naresuan had taken Pegu, the Siamese power would have been too large and might engulf Toungoo itself. So, the Lord of Toungoo has plan to help Pegu if Siam siege the city and provide coastal territory to Rakhine. Rakhine agreed to the offer and withdraw from the battle. King Naresuan saw that in Pegu are turbulent, so he went his troops to attacked Pegu. And Minye Thihathu has sent troops with 14,000 mens to help Nanda Bayin in Pegu. The Siamese army had captured the city of Pegu before Toungoo due to space exploration at Pegu in 1594. Finally, Naresuan captured Pegu easily but Minye Thihathu,Viceroy of Toungoo, took Nanda Bayin and left for Toungoo. When Naresuan reached Pegu, he could not find Nanda Bayin. Later he knows that the Minye Thihathu took Nanda Bayin and left for Toungoo, he requested Minye Thihathu to send Nanda Bayin back to him but Minye Thihathu refused.
Siege of Toungoo
After that, Naresuan laid the siege on Toungoo. Toungoo city is deep and long moat, King Naresuan ordered the changes miners dug a moat of water to flow down to the Sittaung River. And led army to capture the city. In 1602 he can capture the city. Minye Thihathu was killed. but Nanda Bayin was assassinated by Natshinnaung in November 1600.
Result
After Naresuan capture the two largest city in Burma As in 1603, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached the greatest extent, But Toungoo Empire was demolished. Burma would take three years, which can hold the city back.
References
- Our Wars with the Burmese: Thai-Burmese Conflict 1539–1767, ISBN 974-7534-58-4