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Statue of Bayinnaung By Phyo WP

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Bayinnaung.

Bayinnaung was born on 16th January 1516 and died on 10^th October 1581 aged 65 years after a long illness. He was the son of Mingyi Swe and Shin Myo Myat. According to Maha Yazawin, he was born to a gentry family in Toungoo. He was descended from the Viceroys of Toungoo Tarabya.

 He is considered one of the three greatest kings of Burma along with Anawrahta and Alaungpaya. Some of the most prominent places in Modern Myanmar are named after him. In Thailand, he is known as the conqueror of the ten directions.

His best legacy was his integration of Shan states into the Irrawaddy Valley-based kingdoms. One of his other legacies was his introduction of orthodox Theravada Buddhism to Upper Burma and the Shan states.

During his reign, his economy was an agrarian state with a few wealthy maritime trading ports. As the king of the Toungoo dynasty, he unified his country and conquered the Shan states and Siam now known as Thailand making Myanmar the most powerful kingdom in mainland Southeast Asia.

1. He Was a Buddhist and Also Led to Its Growth During his Reign

Bayinnaung was a patron of Buddhism. One of his legacies was the introduction of more orthodox Theravada Buddhism to Upper Burma and the Shan states. He built Pagodas, gave generous donations to monasteries, and maintained extensive diplomatic relations with the Buddhist Kingdom of Ceylon.

He prohibited all human and animal sacrifices throughout the kingdom.  He also forbade the practice Shan carried out of killing the slaves and animals belonging to Saopha.

His main temple was the Mahazedi Pagoda at Pegu. When Pegu was burned in a Mon revolt in 1564, he rebuilt it on an even grander scale, making it one of the richest cities in Southeast Asia.

2. He Had Great Influence on the Economy

Statue of Bayinnaung By Phyo WP

During his reign as the king, his kingdom was an agrarian state with a few wealthy Maritime trading ports which led to its growth with the main ports being Syriam, Dala, and Martaban. The kingdom’s main export commodities were rice and jewels.

Overseas trade at Pegu was in the hands of eight appointed brokers by the king and their service fee was 2%. . Bayinnaung had the role of appointing officials who would supervise merchant shipping and send out ships to undertake commercial Voyages.

Europeans had so many ways of describing the Pegu economy such as 鈥渢he watch towers, the gorgeous palace, and the long moat full of crocodiles, the great processions with elephants, palanquins and grandees in shining robes.

3. Bayinnaung Had a Vast Military and Won Any Battle.

It is recorded that Bayinnaung had built the largest empire in Southeast Asia on the back of 鈥渂reathtaking鈥� military conquests. His success in the military was attributed to a more martial Toungoo tradition, Portuguese firearms, foreign mercenaries, and larger forces.

 He developed a sense of military while he was still young. He was a product of Toungoo, a rebellion-prone formal vassal of Ava, he was a young man at the palace and he received a military-style education since childhood.

With the training, he united with Tabinshwehti and they launched their first campaign against a larger, wealthier Handthawaddy when they were just 18 years. His army consisted of 60,000 men, 2400 horses, 360 elephants, and an army from Lan Na.

4. Legacy He Left Behind.

Even after his death, he is still remembered for his empire-building. His greatest legacy, during his reign as the king of the Toungoo dynasty from 1551- 1581 in Myanmar (Burma) was that he unified his country and conquered the Shan states and Siam now known as Thailand, making Burma the most powerful kingdom in mainland Southeast Asia.

 He is also considered one of Burma鈥檚 three greatest kings. When you visit Burma you will find out that some of the most prominent places are named after him and in Thailand, he is known as 鈥渢he conqueror of the ten directions鈥�.

He is also remembered for his military conquests in Burma and Thailand. Another enduring legacy was his introduction of a more orthodox Theravada Buddhism to Upper Burma and the Shan states.

5. He Was a Polygamous Man

It is said that king Bayinnaung had three principal queen consort and over 50 junior queens. The three principal queens were Atula Thiri Maha who married her in April 1534, Sanda Dewi the second her in April 1553, and later Yaza Dewi as the third queen.

 After the death of his first chief queen Atula Thiri in 1568, Sanda Dewi became the chief and only queen for the remainder of his reign. He had 97 children upon his death.

6. Bayinnaung Service and Duties Under King Tabinshwehti

During the reign of Tabinshwehti, Bayinnaung was entrusted to administer the kingdom. In 1539 Tabinshwehti appointed him to be chief minister. Trusted local rulers were appointed by the king to assist Bayinnaung with central administration and he was so faithful in his duties.

 In 1549, king Tabinshwehti had developed a liking for wine and gave up all administrative duties to Bayinnaung and he spent most of his time on hunting trips. Ministers of the court urged Bayinnaung to take up the throne due to his good work after the king started showing erratic behaviour but he declined.

In 1550 king Tabinshehti was assassinated by his bodyguard and later proclaimed himself the king even though Tabinshwehti and chosen Bayinnaung as his heir. After the assassination, Bayinnaung started a restoration project which started at Toungoo. He collected a large army for war and in 1551 he was crowned king at the temporary palace.

7. Introduction of Legal and Commercial Standards During his Reign

The king introduced a measure of legal uniformity by calling for learned monks and officials all over his dominion to prescribe an official collection of law books.

He enhanced the new law throughout the empire and became compatible with the customs and practices of local society. He also standardized the weight and measurements such as the cubit, Tical, and basket through the realm.

8. Naming of Streets, Roads, and Buildings as a Way of Commemorating Him.

Bayinnaung is commemorated in Myanmar in many ways such as; Bayinnaung Bridge, Bayinnaung road, market, Bayinnaung statue, Team Bayinnaung, Cape Bayinnaung and UMS Bayinnaung which are still there today

9. His Burial was Attended by Many People.

He died on 10th October 1581 after a long illness. His burial was attended by people from different regions to come and mourn the well-served king. Long speeches were made that day, remembering the good things he had done and the battles he had fought and won for the sake of his people.

 After his death, his eldest son, who was also to be his heir, took the throne without incident. However, the empire that he had built on military conquests and maintained military power and personal relationship was soon to crumble after his death.

10. He Had the Most Powerful Dynasty.

Statue of Bayinnaung By Phyo WP

During his reign, he introduced Matchlock firearms into the warfare of Southeast Asia nations. The weapons were not much effective as later flintlock guns but had massive effects on the morale of traditional armies. This was because he was an experienced and seasoned general under his brother-in-law Tabin Shwe Hti.

The campaigns he made in the Shan States gave him the necessary manpower to wage great campaigns in a measure that was ever seen in Southeast Asian history. Bayinnaung was a conqueror of Burma who helped to expand to Laos and maintained his powerful empire.