Bagyidaw

Bagyidaw (also known as Sagaing Min; July 23, 1784 –  October 15, 1846) is the seventh king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma from 1819 until his abdication in 1837.

Prince of Sagaing, as he is commonly known in his day, is selected as crown prince by his grandfather King Bodawpaya in 1808, and becomes king in 1819 after Bodawpaya's death.

Bagyidaw moves the capital from Amarapura back to Ava in 1823.

Bagyidaw's reign sees the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826), which marks the beginning of the decline of the Konbaung dynasty.

Bagyidaw inherits the largest Burmese empire, second only to King Bayinnaung's, but also one that shares ill-defined borders with British India.

In the years leading to the war, the king is forced to suppress British supported rebellions in his grandfather's western acquisitions (Arakan, Manipur and Assam), but unable to stem cross border raids from British territories and protectorates.

His ill-advised decision to allow the Burmese army to pursue the rebels along the vaguely defined borders leads to the war.

The longest and most expensive war in British Indian history ends decisively in British favor, and the Burmese have to accept British terms without discussion.

Bagyidaw is forced to cede all of his grandfather's western acquisitions, and Tenasserim to the British, and pay a large indemnity of one million pounds sterling, leaving the country crippled for years.

Devastated, Bagyidaw holds out hope for some years that Tenasserim will be returned to him, and pays the balance of the indemnity in 1832 at great sacrifice.

The British redraw the border with Manipur in 1830, but by 1833, it is clear the British will not return any of the former territories.

The king becomes a recluse, and power devolves to his queen Nanmadaw Me Nu (born in Pha Lan Gon) and her brother.

His brother Crown Prince Tharrawaddy raises a rebellion in February 1837, and Bagyidaw is forced to abdicate the throne in April 1837.

King Tharrawaddy executes Queen Me Nu and her brother but places his brother under house arrest.

Bagyidaw dies on 15, October 1846, at age sixty-two.

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