The Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786) , known as the Nine Armies' Wars ( Thai : สงครามเก้าทัพ ) in Siamese history because the Burmese came in nine armies, was the first war between the Konbaung dynasty of Burma and the Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom of the Chakri dynasty .
119-452: King Bodawpaya of Burma pursued an ambitious campaign to expand his dominions into Siam. In 1785, three years after the foundation of Bangkok as the new royal seat and the Chakri dynasty, King Bodawpaya of Burma marched massive armies with total number of 144,000 to invade Siam in nine armies through five directions including Kanchanaburi , Ratchaburi , Lanna , Tak , Thalang (Phuket), and
238-437: A subject–object–verb order. This anomaly is likely due to the influence of neighbouring Mon and Tai languages . The majority of Karen are Theravada Buddhists who also practice animism , while approximately 15–30 percent are Christian . Lowland Pwo-speaking Karens tend to be more orthodox Buddhists, whereas highland Sgaw-speaking Karens tend to be heterodox Buddhists who profess strong animist beliefs. Karen animism
357-623: A council of royal princes and ministers to discuss the situation. The Siamese then sent a Burmese man named Nga Gan, who was a former retainer of King Bodawpaya captured by the Siamese, to negotiate with King Bodawpaya at the Three Pagodas. King Bodawpaya, however, was not interested in peace-making and instead inquired Nga Gan about Siamese preparations. The Bangkok court then sent warnings to various cities in Northern and Southern Siam about
476-683: A federal system in Myanmar instead. Even so, the KNU has declined invitations to speak with the Burmese junta. Karen legends refer to a "river of running sand" which ancestors reputedly crossed. Many Karen believe this refers to the Gobi Desert , although they have lived in Myanmar for centuries. Most scholars dismiss the notion of a Gobi desert crossing, but rather translate the legend as describing "rivers of water flowing with sand". This could refer to
595-741: A new KNU headquarters in Mu Aye Pu , on the Burmese – Thai border. In 2004, the BBC , citing aid agencies , estimates that up to 200,000 Karen have been driven from their homes during decades of war, with 160,000 more refugees from Myanmar, mostly Karen, living in refugee camps on the Thai side of the border. The largest camp is the one in Mae La, Tak province, Thailand, where about 50,000 Karen refugees are hosted. Reports as recently as February 2010, state that
714-462: A palanquin, marched against the Burmese at Cha-uat . However, the Burmese retreated before the engagements begun because the Bangkokian army was attacking from the north. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat sailed his fleet of 20,000 men from Bangkok to the south, departing on March 4, 1786. The prince reached Chumphon and ordered his generals Phraya Kalahom Ratchasena and Phraya Chasaenyakorn to lead
833-531: A prophecy about a book which had been lost and would be returned by a "white brother". This is held to have been fulfilled when the first American Baptist missionaries brought the Bible to the Karen people, but this legend is probably of nineteenth-century origin. Alongside orthodox Christianity, some of those who identify themselves as Christian also have syncretised elements of animism with Christianity. The Karen of
952-563: A report by Guy Horton into depredations by the Myanmar Army against the Karen and other groups in eastern Myanmar stated: Using victims' statements, photographs, maps and film, and advised by legal counsel to the UN tribunal on the former Yugoslavia, he purports to have documented slave labour, systematic rape, the conscription of child soldiers, massacres and the deliberate destruction of villages, food sources and medical services. Throughout
1071-491: A result of the battle. Nemyo Nawratha divided his 10,000-men army into 3 groups. Nemyo Nawratha himself led an army of 4,000 men through the Bong Ti Pass (in modern Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province) and stationed at Chom Bueng . Nemyo Nawratha also sent his subordinate Dawei Wun to lead an army of 3,000 men to enter Ratchaburi through Suan Phueng . Dawei Wun and his army stayed at Khao Ngu, just five kilometers to
1190-629: A second language to communicate with non-Karen neighbours. The Karen languages , members of the Tibeto-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan language family, consist of three mutually unintelligible branches: Sgaw , Eastern Pwo , and Western Pwo . The Karen languages are almost unique among the Tibeto-Burman languages in having a subject–verb–object word order; other than Karen and Bai , Tibeto-Burman languages typically feature
1309-594: A single direction to invade Siam. The Siamese met the Burmese at Tha Dindaeng, hence the term " Tha Din Daeng campaign ". The Burmese were again defeated and Siam managed to defend its western border. These two failed invasions ultimately turned out to be the last full-scale invasion of Siam by Burma. Traditional rivalries and dispute over Mon rebels and the Tenasserim coast led to the Burmese-Siamese wars in
SECTION 10
#17327831699981428-482: Is a Karen refugee who lived in a camp where she went to school and helped her family because her parents sought to go out to work, but they earned little money. Wah suffered from malnutrition because her parents did not have money to buy food for her nine siblings. There is an established governance system in the camps, which are funded by the United Nations, and other donors. The Karen Refugee Committee governs
1547-513: Is a young Karen woman who has resettled in San Diego, CA . Aye said, "After growing up in a place like I did, I wanted to become a nurse. I wanted to help sick people [...] travel to refugee camps in Thailand and care for people who cannot afford medication." Additionally, Eh De Gray, who graduated from San Diego's Crawford High School , wants to go back to the camps and share his knowledge with
1666-528: Is an Anglicisation of the Burmese word Kayin ( ကရင် ), whose etymology is unclear. The word may have originally been a derogatory term referring to non-Buddhist ethnic groups, or it may derive from Kanyan , a possibly Mon name of a vanished civilisation. In pre-colonial times, the low-lying Burmese and Mon-speaking kingdoms recognised two general categories of Karen, the Talaing Kayin ( တလိုင်းကရင် ), generally lowlanders who were recognised as
1785-603: Is defined by a belief in ကလၤ k'lar (soul), thirty-seven spirits that embody every individual. Misfortune and sickness are believed to be caused by k'lar that wander away, and death occurs when all thirty-seven klar leave the body. Karen Buddhists are the most numerous of the Karens and account for around 65 percent of the total Karen population. The Buddhist influence came from the Mon who were dominant in Lower Burma until
1904-539: Is difficult to estimate. The last reliable census of Myanmar was conducted in 1931. A 2006 Voice of America article cites an estimate of seven million Karen in Myanmar. There are another 400,000 Karen in Thailand, where they are by far the largest of the hill tribes . Others live in refugee camps in Thailand. Some Karen have left the refugee camps in Thailand to resettle elsewhere, including in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia . In 2011,
2023-802: Is in Yangon with 20 member associations throughout Myanmar. The KBC operates the KBC Charity Hospital in Insein , Yangon. The KBC also operates the Karen Baptist Theological Seminary in Insein. The seminary runs a theology program as well as a secular degree program (Liberal Arts Programme) to fulfill young Karens' intellectual and vocational needs. The Pwo Karen Baptist Convention is in Ahlone , Yangon and also operates
2142-561: The 8888 Uprising , the KNLA had accepted those demonstrators in their bases along the border. The dictatorship expanded the army and launched a series of major offensives against the KNLA. By 2006, the KNLA's strength had shrunk to less than 4,000, opposing what is now a 400,000-man Burmese army. However, the political arm of the KNLA – the KNU – continued efforts to resolve the conflict through political means. The conflict continues as of 2006 , with
2261-622: The Ahom governor of Guwahati in Assam, Badan Chandra Borphukan visited the court of Bodawpaya to seek help in order to defeat his political rival Purnananda Burhagohain , the Prime Minister of Ahom Kingdom in Assam. A strong force of 16,000 under the command of Gen. Maha Minhla Minkhaung was sent with Badan Chandra Borphukan . The Burmese force entered Assam in January, 1817 and defeated
2380-684: The Burmese-Siamese War (1775-76) , Siam nearly succumbed to the Burmese forces led by General Maha Thiha Thura and Siam's manpower was depleted. In 1782, Chao Phraya Chakri was crowned as the King Rama I of Siam and founded the Chakri dynasty . In the same year, Prince Badon Min dethroned King Phaungkaza Maung Maung and crowned himself as King Bodawpaya. King Bodawpaya began his reign with glorious military conquests. In 1784, he sent his son Prince Thado Minsaw to successfully conquer
2499-612: The Karen Youth Organisation (KYO), at Vinton Memorial Hall in Yangon . The meeting called for a Karen state with a seaboard, an increased number of seats (25%) in the Constituent Assembly, a new ethnic census, and a continuance of Karen units in the armed forces. The deadline of 3 March passed without a reply from the British government, and Saw Ba U Gyi , the first president of the KNU, resigned from
SECTION 20
#17327831699982618-510: The Kayin , Kariang or Kawthoolese , are an ethnolinguistic group of Tibeto-Burman language -speaking people. The group as a whole is heterogeneous and disparate as many Karen ethnic groups do not associate or identify with each other culturally or linguistically. These Karen groups reside primarily in Kayin State , southern and southeastern Myanmar . The Karen account for around 6.69% of
2737-641: The Kingdom of Mrauk U or the Arakan Kingdom. After Arakan, King Bodawpaya turned his eyes on Siam as his next military expedition. King Bodawpaya began his Siamese expeditions in July 1785. The Burmese forces were drafted from its various tributary states , most notably the northern Shan states of Hsenwi , Mongnai , Kengtung , Banmaw , Mongkawng and Hsipaw . Bodawpaya first sent Mingyi Mingaung Kyaw to lead an army of 10,000 men to Martaban to arrange
2856-404: The Mon general Phraya Mahayotha or Binnya Sein to intercept the Burmese at Kram Chang (in modern Si Sawat District ). The vanguard Burmese armies of Minhla Kyawdin and Mingyi Maha Mingaung, numbered 15,000 combined, marched through Sai Yok and crossed from Khwae Noi River to Khwae Yai River , meeting Binnya Sein at Si Sawat. Binnya Sein was defeated and the Burmese continued to Latya at
2975-569: The neck rings worn by their women, but they are just one sub-group of Red Karens (Karenni), one of the tribes of Kayah in Kayah State , Myanmar. Karen insurgent groups, led primarily by the Karen National Union (KNU), have waged war against the Burmese government since early 1949. The original aim of the KNU was to create an independent Karen homeland called Kawthoolei , but since 1976 they have shifted towards calling for
3094-758: The "original settlers" and essential to Mon court life, and the Karen ( ဗမာကရင် ), highlanders who were subordinated or assimilated by the Bamar . The Karen constitute the third largest ethnic population in Myanmar, after the Bamars and Shans . The Karen people live mostly in the hills bordering the eastern mountainous region and Irrawaddy delta of Myanmar, primarily in Kayin State (formerly Karen State), with some in Kayah State , southern Shan State , Ayeyarwady Region , Tanintharyi Region , Bago Division and in northern and western Thailand. The total number of Karen
3213-612: The Assamese force in the battle of Ghiladhari. Meanwhile, Purnananda Burhagohain died, and Ruchinath Burhagohain , the son of Purnananda Burahgohain fled to Guwahati. The reigning Ahom king Chandrakanta Singha came in terms with Badan Chandra Borphukan and his Burmese allies. The King appointed Badan Chandra Borphukan as Mantri Phukan (Prime Minister) and an Ahom princess Hemo Aideo was given for marriage to Burmese King Bodawpaya along with many gifts. The Burmese force retired from Assam soon after. A year later, Badan Chandra Borphukan
3332-523: The Battle of Pakphing on 18 March 1786. The Burmese were defeated and Nemyo Sithu withdrew westward. The Burmese fled to the west crossing the Nan River where they were massacred by the pursuing Siamese and the bodies filled the river. After the Battle of Pakping, King Rama I ordered Chao Phraya Mahasena Pli, together with the king's half younger brother Prince Chakchetsada , to lead the Siamese army to
3451-694: The British. Despite its Christian leadership, the KNA sought to unite all Karens of different regional and religious backgrounds into one organisation. They argued at the 1917 Montagu–Chelmsford hearings in India that Myanmar was not "yet in a fit state for self-government ". Three years later, after submitting a criticism of the 1920 Craddock Reforms , they won 5 (and later 12) seats in the Legislative Council of 130 (expanded to 132) members. The majority Buddhist Karens were not organised until 1939 with
3570-420: The Burmese army continues to burn Karen villages, displacing thousands of people. Many Karen, including people such as former KNU secretary Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan and his daughter, Zoya Phan , have accused the military government of Myanmar of ethnic cleansing . The U.S. State Department has also cited the Burmese government for suppression of religious freedom . A 2005 New York Times article on
3689-485: The Burmese at Khao Ngu and defeated Dawei Wun and the Burmese army in the Battle of Khao Ngu . Dawei Wun retreated towards Suan Phueng and was followed by the Siamese. Nemyo Nawratha at Chom Bueng, upon seeing the defeat of Dawei Wun at Khao Ngu, also decided to retreat as soon as he had received orders from King Bodawpaya. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat was angry that the Siamese general Chao Phraya Thamma Boonrot had allowed
Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3808-504: The Burmese ethnic majority, including military recruitment and seats in the legislature. Some Christian Karens began asserting an identity apart from their non-Christian counterparts, and many became leaders of Karen ethno-nationalist organisations, including the Karen National Union . In 1881 the Karen National Associations (KNA) was founded by western-educated Christian Karens to represent Karen interests with
3927-653: The Burmese grain supplies in Kanchanaburi The campaign is commemorated by a park established by the Royal Thai Army 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the town of Kanchanaburi . Despite the continuation of heated conflict between Burma and Siam in the next decades, including several Siamese attempts to recapture the Tenasserim Coast and a failed 1809 Burmese invasion to seize Thalang (renamed Phuket ) Island and to contest Siamese control over
4046-577: The Burmese invaders. After about one month of continuous fighting, the Burmese finally retreated on March 13, 1786. Today, Lady Chan and Lady Mook are revered as national heroines. Maha Thiri Thihathu sailed his 7,000-men fleet to disembark at Ranong , continuing to Kraburi and crossing the Tenasserim Hills at Pakchan to attack Chumphon . Maha Thiri Thihathu sent his Sitke-gyi Nemyo Gonnarat with 2,500 men ahead as vanguard. The governors of Chumphon and Chaiya decided to abandon their towns in
4165-689: The Burmese population. Many Karen have migrated to Thailand , having settled mostly on the Myanmar–Thailand border . A few Karen have settled in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , India, and other Southeast Asian and East Asian countries. The Karen consist of two subgroups, the White Karen and the Red Karen . The Karen groups as a whole are often confused with the Padaung tribe, best known for
4284-651: The Burmese siege for four months. Mahasena Pli and Prince Chakchetsada reached Lampang in March 1786. The Siamese attacked the besieging Burmese at the rear and the Burmese Prince Thado Thiri Maha Uzana withdrew to Chiang Saen. Lampang was finally relieved from the Burmese siege. The Siamese was then able to repel the Burmese invasions in the Northern Theater. As the Siamese forces were concentrated on western and northern fronts,
4403-420: The Burmese supply lines were thin so he sent 500 men under the command of Phraya Siharatdecho, Phraya Tai Nam, and Phraya Phetchaburi to go ambush the Burmese supply lines at Phu Krai Sub-district. These men were too afraid to attack the Burmese army so they hid. They were later caught and beheaded. Maha Sura Singhanat then sent a force of 1,500 men under Khun Noen to ambush the Burmese supply lines. This devastated
4522-415: The Burmese supply lines. The battle reached stalemate and was dragged on to January 1786. Being afraid that his brother would lose the engagement, King Rama I decided to march his 20,000-men army from Bangkok in January 1786 to support Maha Sura Singhanat Lat Ya, but the prince then convinced the king to return to Bangkok because he was confident of winning the engagement. The Burmese side, upon observing
4641-521: The Burmese to penetrate so deep into Ratchaburi. The prince petitioned King Rama I for Thamma Boonrot to be executed. However, as Thamma Boonrot had been a supporter in his ascension, King Rama I ordered his life to be spared. Thamma Boonrot was then whipped and paraded through the camps in shame with his head shaved. He was also stripped of his title and position as the Minister of Palatial Affairs. Prince Thado Thiri Maha Uzana ventured to recruit men from
4760-563: The Governor's Executive Council the next day. After the war ended, Myanmar was granted independence in January 1948, and the Karen, led by the KNU, attempted to co-exist peacefully with the Burman ethnic majority. Karen people held leading positions in both the government and the army. In the fall of 1948, the Burmese government, led by U Nu , began raising and arming irregular political militias known as Sitwundan . These militias were under
4879-662: The Heir Apparent Thado Minsaw , across the Western Yoma range of mountains. The capital of Arakan Mrauk U was captured on the last of 1784. The Mahamuni Buddha image, among other treasures such as the Khmer bronze statues, were brought back to mainland Burma; these can still be seen in Mandalay . Also taken were 20,000 captives as slaves to pagodas and temples, and the nobility at Amarapura. Once Arakan
Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4998-652: The Irrawaddy delta are mostly Christians, whereas Buddhists tend to be found mainly in Kayin state and surrounding regions. An estimated 15 to 20 percent of Karen identify themselves as Christian today and about 90 percent of Karen people in the US are Christians. Though other estimates put the Karen Christian population as high as 30 percent. The Karen Baptist Convention (KBC) was established in 1913. Its headquarters
5117-578: The Japanese invade the country. Among the victims were a pre-war Cabinet minister, Saw Pe Tha, and his family. A government report later claimed the "excesses of the BIA" and "the loyalty of the Karens towards the British" as the reasons for these attacks. The intervention by Colonel Suzuki Keiji , the Japanese commander of the BIA, after meeting a Karen delegation led by Saw Tha Din, appears to have prevented further atrocities. The Karen people aspired to have
5236-588: The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the KNU's army. In late January 1949, the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Smith Dun, a Karen, was removed from office and imprisoned. He was replaced by the Burmese nationalist Ne Win . Simultaneously a commission was looking into the Karen problem and this commission was about to report their findings to the Burmese government. The findings of the report were overshadowed by this political shift at
5355-437: The Karen diaspora population was estimated to be approximately 67,000. Following British victories in the three Anglo-Burmese wars , Myanmar was annexed as a province of British India in 1886. Baptist missionaries introduced Christianity to Myanmar beginning in 1830, and they were successful in converting many Karen. Christian Karens were favoured by the British colonial authorities and were given opportunities not available to
5474-421: The Karen migrated into present-day Myanmar between 300 and 800 CE. Karen refers to a heterogeneous lot of ethnic groups that do not share a common language, culture, religion, or material characteristics. A pan-Karen ethnic identity is a relatively modern creation, established in the 19th century with the conversion of some Karen to Christianity and shaped by British colonial policies and practices. "Karen"
5593-539: The Ligorian army that Bangkok had already fallen to the Burmese. Chao Phraya Nakhon Phat was convinced that Bangkok had fallen because by then no reinforcements had arrived from Bangkok. Nakhon Phat decided to abandon the city of Ligor and, with his family, escaped to Khao Luang – a mountain to the west of Ligor. The inhabitants of Ligor also fled into the jungles as resistance against the Burmese collapsed. Maha Thiri Thihathu took Nakhon Si Thammarat with ease, plundering
5712-804: The Pwo Karen Theological Seminary. There are other schools for Karen people in Myanmar, such as Paku Divinity School in Taungoo, Kothabyu Bible School in Pathein, and Yangon Home Mission School. The Thailand Karen Baptist Convention is in Chiang Mai , Thailand . The Seventh-day Adventists have built several schools in the Karen refugee camps in Thailand. Eden Valley Academy in Tak and Karen Adventist Academy in Mae Hong Son are
5831-440: The Pwo Karen, who developed it as a way to reinforce community values. The sae klee dance or bamboo dance is a traditional Karen performance held during celebrations such as Christmas and New Year's. Performers are typically divided into two groups. One group creates a platform by holding bamboo sticks in a checkered pattern , while the other group dances on top of the platform. Dancers must be careful to avoid stepping into one of
5950-408: The River Irrawaddy from Mandalay on the west bank. It was however never finished after a prophecy went round saying Payagyi lè apyi that, moksoe thonnya kap – "Once the great pagoda has been wrought, the Moksoe dynasty will come to nought" ( ဘုရားကြီးလည်းအပြီးသတ် မုဆိုးသုညကပ်။ ). It was meant to have stood 150 metres (490 ft), tall enough to be seen from Shwebo in the west, the birthplace of
6069-433: The Shan States and marched the Burmese army of 30,000 men to Chiang Saen. The Burmese governor of Chiang Saen called Aprakamani also provided resources. As Chiang Mai had been abandoned since 1776, the main outpost of the Lanna Kingdom against the Burmese was Lampang . Prince Thado Thiri Maha Uzana and Aprakamani marched from Chiang Saen to attack Lampang in December 1785, leading to the siege of Lampang . Prince Kawila ,
SECTION 50
#17327831699986188-432: The Siamese staged the all-out attack against the Burmese lines. Minhla Kyawdin and Mingyi Maha Mingaung the Burmese generals, unable to withstand Siamese attacks anymore, retreat. King Bodawpaya decided to give up the campaigns and ordered the general retreat of the Burmese armies on February 21, 1786. After two months of battle, the Siamese were able to repel the Burmese invasion at Lat Ya. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat ordered
6307-414: The Siamese to follow the retreating Burmese as far as Sangkhlaburi where the armies of the two Burmese princes were stationed. Prince Thiri Damayaza and Prince Thado Minsaw reported to King Bodawpaya at Ranti River about the defeat. King Bodawpaya then ordered the general retreat. A large number of Burmese were captured as prisoners. Thai sources mentioned that the Burmese suffered around 6,000 casualties as
6426-464: The Tenasserim Coast waiting for the new campaigns. The traditional wars were usually conducted in dry season as in the rainy seasons the lands were swampy and ravaged with diseases, unsuitable for marching and encampment. King Bodawpaya ordered the Burmese forces at Tavoy to retreat to Martaban under the command of Minhla Kyawdin, while Maha Thiri Thihathu was ordered to retreat from Mergui to Tavoy. The king then marched back to Dagon where he worshipped
6545-432: The Thailand-Burma border. According to BMC, "79% of refugees living in these camps are Karen ethnicity." Their lives are restricted in the camps because they usually cannot go out, and the Thai police might arrest them if they do. Employment for the Karen refugees is scarce and risky. Former refugee Hla Wah said, "No jobs [...] So if adults wanted to work, they had to leave quietly without getting caught by Thai police." Wah
6664-430: The Three Padogas. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat marched to Sai Yok in Kanchaburi and encamped. He ordered his generals Phraya Kalahom Ratchasena and Phraya Chasaenyakorn to march ahead as vanguard to Sangkhlaburi. When King Rama I had reached Sai Yok, Prince Maha Sura Singhanat moved to Sangkhlaburi. The Siamese armies concealed their movements in the jungles to stage the surprise attack on the Burmese. After long marches,
6783-454: The White Elephants ' ), not to be confused with his older brother Hsinbyushin . However, he became known to posterity as Bodawpaya (Grandsire) in relation to his successor, his grandson Bagyidaw (Royal Elder Uncle), who in turn was given this name in relation to his nephew Mindon Min . He fathered 70 sons and 67 daughters by about 54 consorts. Also known as Bodaw U Waing , he invaded Arakan in 1784 sending his royal armies led by his son,
6902-456: The alms round in the controversy concerning the correct way of wearing the robes, and the Order of Monks was unified under the Thudhamma order . Burma became the custodian of Buddhism in the region, and the upasampada ordination was re-introduced to Sri Lanka where it established the Amarapura Nikaya. In 1790 Bodawpaya began the construction of a gigantic stupa called Mantalagyi (Great Royal Stupa) at Mingun , 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) up
7021-435: The case of the Karen after the war . While the situation of the Karen was discussed, nothing practical was done before the British left Myanmar. The 1947 Constitution, drawn without Karen participation due to their boycott of the elections to the Constituent Assembly , also failed to address the Karen question specifically and clearly, leaving it to be discussed only after independence. The Shan and Karenni states were given
7140-427: The central peninsula, Bodawpaya's two failed invasions ultimately turned out to be the last full-scale attempts by Burma to invade central Siam and to destroy Siam as a political entity. Chakri dynasty Kings Viceroys Deputy Viceroy Crown Prince Bodawpaya Bodawpaya ( Burmese : ဘိုးတော်ဘုရား , pronounced [bódɔ̀ pʰəjá] ; Thai : ปดุง ; 11 March 1745 – 5 June 1819)
7259-448: The city and enslaving the native Siamese. After taking three consecutive towns on the coast of Gulf of Siam, Maha Thiri Thihathu headed for Phatthalung next. The inhabitants of Phatthalung, upon seeing the fate of their compatriots to the north, also fled the town. A local monk named Chuai encouraged the inhabitants of Phatthalung to fight against the Burmese. Chuai the monk managed to raise an army of 1,000 men and, with himself riding on
SECTION 60
#17327831699987378-608: The command of Major Gen. Ne Win and outside the control of the regular army. In January 1949, some of these militias went on a rampage through Karen communities. The Karen National Union has maintained its structure and purpose from the 1950s onward. The KNU acts as a governmental presence for the Karen people, offering basic social services for those affected by the insurgency, such as Karen refugees or internally displaced Karen. These services include building school systems in Thailand and inside Burma, providing medical services, regulating trade and commerce, and providing security through
7497-450: The day-to-day administration of the camp under the authority of the Thai government which guards entrances and exits to the camp. Within the camp there is a robust school system for children up to high school. In some camps there are college courses organized by the Karen Refugee Committee – Education Entity. Beginning in 2000, the Karen started resettling in the United States and Canada . Many Karen have problems fitting in and adjusting to
7616-400: The demands. He ordered Mingyi Mingaung Kyaw arrested from Mergui to be brought to him in chains. After waiting for four days at Martaban, King Bodawpaya was furious that the transportation of men, horses and elephants across the Salween River was delayed and had not been completed. He struck a spear at one of his generals, wounding him. Only with the beseeching of the governor of Kawthanti that
7735-428: The dynasty, towering above the Minwun Hills. An earthquake in 1838 left huge fissures in the structure, and also caused the heads of the two gigantic chinthes to fall into the river. There was also a gigantic 90 ton bell dedicated to the stupa called the Mingun Bell , cast between 1808 and 1810. It was the largest ringing bell in the world, when the larger bell in Moscow Kremlin , called the Tsar bell , broke, until
7854-444: The eighteenth century. In 1767, the Burmese of the newly founded Konbaung dynasty invaded and destroyed the Ayutthaya Kingdom . King Taksin of Thonburi reunited Siam in the aftermath of the destruction of the Ayutthaya government and capital. In 1774, most of the Lanna Kingdom , which had been under the Burmese rule for about 250 years, came under Siamese domination with exception of Chiang Saen still under Burmese rule. During
7973-425: The essential dish of Karen cuisine. The Karen New Year (ကညီနံၣ်ထီၣ်သီ) is one of the major holidays that the Karen people celebrate. The date of the Karen New Year on the Gregorian calendar varies as the Karen people use the lunar calendar . The Karen New Year usually falls on a date in December or January on the Gregorian calendar. Karen Wrist Tying (ကညီလါခူးကံၢ်စု) is an important Karen holiday. This holiday
8092-421: The face of Burmese invasion due to manpower shortage. Maha Thiri Thihathu and Nemyo Gonnarat sacked both towns and continued southward to Nakhon Si Thammarat (Ligor). Chaophraya Nakhon Phat the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat managed to raise an army of 1,000 men to march against the Burmese at the Tapi River in modern Phunphin District . Maha Thiri Thihathu, however, had a Siamese man from Chaiya to yell at
8211-466: The famous Shwedagon Pagoda and returned to Ava. The Burmese armies stationed at Martanban and Tavoy, waiting for the rainy season to be over to conduct new invasions of Siam. In September 1786, King Bodawpaya resumed his Siamese campaigns. He sent his eldest son and heir, Prince Thado Minsaw or Prince Nanda Kyawdin (known in Thai sources as Einshe Maha Uparaja ) to Martaban to organize the new invasion of Siam. Prince Nanda Kyawdin or Einshe Uparaja took
8330-421: The first convert to Christianity in 1828, was baptised by Rev. George Boardman , an associate of Adoniram Judson , founder of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society . Today there are Christians belonging to the Catholic Church and various Protestant denominations. Some of the largest Protestant denominations are Baptists and Seventh-day Adventists . A popular legend among the Karen people concerns
8449-552: The foothills of Khao Chon Kai. They later set up camps. The Siamese army soon arrived and the Battle of Latya ensued. Maha Sura Singhanat sent a Siamese army to attack the Burmese, but the Burmese were able to repel the Siamese attack. Both sides started building towers to place cannons on top to bomb each other. Both sides suffered heavy losses. To dissuade the Siamese soldiers from retreating, Maha Sura Singhanat built 3 large mortars and announce that if anyone retreats, they will be crushed by them. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat noticed
8568-604: The formation of a Buddhist KNA. In 1938 the British colonial administration recognised Karen New Year as a public holiday . During World War II , when the Japanese occupied the region, long-term tensions between the Karen and Burma turned into open fighting. As a consequence, many villages were destroyed and massacres committed by both the Japanese and the Burma Independence Army (BIA) troops who helped
8687-588: The impending invasions. From Martaban, Bodawpaya marched his armies through the Three Pagodas Pass. He ordered fourth and fifth divisions to enter through the Three Pagodas first into Kanchanaburi, followed by sixth and seventh divisions of his two sons and then the king's own army settled in Ranti (Alante) River. The vanguard of Minhla Kyawdin and Mingyi Maha Mingaung headed for the old city of Kanchanaburi (known today as "Latya", about fifteen kilometers to
8806-452: The insurgency, hundreds of thousands of Karen fled to refugee camps while many others (numbers unknown) were internally displaced persons within the Karen state. The refugees were concentrated in camps along the Myanmar–Thailand border . According to refugee accounts, the camps suffered from overcrowding, disease, and periodic attacks by the Myanmar Army . Around 400,000 Karen people are without housing, and 128,000 are living in camps on
8925-715: The larger Bell of Good Luck was cast and first rung for the new year in 2000. During his reign Bodawpaya also proved to be a great patron of the performing arts; he appointed a minister called Thabin Wun ( သဘင်ဝန် ), and established strict regulations by royal decree ( အမိန့်တော် a meint daw ). He also ordered a major economic survey of the kingdom in 1784. Bodawpaya was succeeded after his death in 1819 by his grandson, Prince of Sagaing , who later became known as Bagyidaw . The Heir Apparent, father of Bagyidaw, had died in 1808. Karen people The Karen ( / k ə ˈ r ɛ n / kə- REN ), also known as
9044-542: The late governor of Thalang, was being imprisoned at Phang Nga for some charges. Siege of Thalang Wungyi the Burmese general quickly attacked and took the towns of Takua Pa and Takua Thung on the Andaman Coast. When the Burmese sacked Phang Nga, Lady Chan escaped and returned to Thalang. As Thalang was left with no governor, Chan and her sister Lady Muk , together with her son Thien and her cousin Thongpun
9163-402: The lead of the army of 50,000 men at Martaban, with Wundauk Nemyo Kyawzwa as his Sitke and Mingyi Nanda Kyawdin as Bogyok . King Bodawpaya made sure that the provision shortage would not hinder the campaign again. He ordered the grain rations of Arakan and the whole Lower Burma to be sent to the frontlines. The Burmese also established strong supply lines with supply outposts stationed all along
9282-456: The leading center of Karen language Buddhist literature. Many millennial sects were founded throughout the 1800s, led by Karen Buddhist minlaung rebels. Two sects, Telakhon (or Telaku) and Leke, were founded in the 1860s. The Telaku sect, founded in Kyaing and considered a Buddhist sect , is a mixture of spirit worship, Karen customs and worship of the future Buddha Metteyya . The Leke sect
9401-574: The middle of the 18th century. Buddhist Karen are found mainly in Kayin State, Mon State , Yangon , Bago and Tanintharyi Region . There are Buddhist monasteries in most Karen villages, and the monastery is the centre of community life. Merit-making activities, such as alms giving, are central to Karen Buddhist life. Buddhism was brought to Pwo-speaking Karens in the late-1700s, and the Yedagon Monastery atop Mount Zwegabin became
9520-748: The new country. "90% of the Karen refugees reported no knowledge of English or French on arrival." An estimated 8,500 Karen live in Minnesota, primarily Saint Paul . In 2014, Ler Htoo was sworn in after graduating from the St. Paul Police Academy in Minnesota as the first Karen police officer in the United States. More than 5,000 Karen live in Nebraska , and the Karen have also resettled in Southern California and central New York . Mu Aye
9639-514: The next messianic Buddha or Maitreya ( Arimittya ), but his claim was firmly rejected by the Sangha . During his reign, scholarship flourished due to the discipline and stability achieved by establishing a chapter of Sangharajas or senior monks charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the purity of the Sangha. He had successfully arbitrated in favour of orthodoxy to cover both shoulders on
9758-400: The north to relieve the siege of Lampang. When Prince Thepharirak sent Phraklang Hon had reached Kamphaeng Phet , however, Nawratha Kyawgaung at Tak retreated after the Burmese defeat at Pakping and the engagements did not occur. As both the Burmese of the north and west had retreated, the king and Prince Anurak Devesh returned to Bangkok. Prince Kawila of Lampang had held out the town against
9877-856: The northwest of modern city of Kanchanaburi ), while the two princes stationed at Tha Dindaeng and Samsop in modern Sangkhlaburi District . Due to a lack of supplies, Bodawpaya couldn't commit all his forces, numbering 88,000 men, present at the Kanchanaburi front. He was only able to send the 4th Division with 10,000 men under Minhla Kyawdin and the 5th Division with 5,000 men under Mingyi Maha Mingaung. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat with 30,000 men marched from Bangkok in December 1785 along with his generals and retinue, reaching Lat Ya ( Thai : ลาดหญ้า ) (called Kanpuri in Burmese) in Kanchanaburi . He sent
9996-707: The northwest of the town of Ratchaburi itself. They sustained themselves by harvesting coconuts and other fruits in the region. The remaining 3,000 troops were sent to join the 1st Division under Maha Thiri Thihathu at Myeik. Chao Phraya Thamma Boonrot, who led the Siamese army of 5,000 men in Ratchaburi town, was still unaware of these Burmese advances. After defeating the Burmese at Lat Ya in February 1786, Prince Maha Sura Singhanat then marched to Ratchaburi. He sent his two generals Phraya Kalahom Ratchasena and Phraya Chasaenyakorn ahead as vanguard. The two generals met
10115-489: The past century. Duwae , a type of pagoda worship, with animistic origins, is also practised. There are several prominent Karen Buddhist monks, including Thuzana (S'gaw) and Zagara, who was conferred the Agga Maha Saddammajotika title by the Burmese government in 2004. The Karen of Thailand have their own religion, but some have converted to Buddhism through the efforts of missionaries. Tha Byu ,
10234-435: The platform's many holes. Talabaw or bamboo soup is a traditional Karen dish typically prepared with bamboo shoots , snakehead fish and basil leaves . A small amount of rice and some shreds of meat or seafood may also be added. The soup was traditionally used as a supplement to rice, which was not readily or cheaply available to them. Talabaw is one of the most well known soups in Myanmar, and widely considered to be
10353-423: The prince at Chumphon. Burmese general Maha Thiri Thihathu at Ligor, upon seeing the defeat of his subordinate at Chaiya, decided to lead the Burmese to retreat westward through Krabi and back to Mergui. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat then marched to reclaim the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat ordered Chao Phraya Nakhon Phat to be brought to him for the crime of cowardice. However, Nakhon Phat
10472-420: The provisions and supplies for the massive royal army and for the fleets at Mergui . However, supply shortage and line communications were the main issue for the Burmese armies. The Burmese were unable to quickly move the large number of men and provisions in time. King Bodawpaya and his armies left Ava on November 11, 1785. When the king arrived at Martaban on December 20, he found that the supplies did not meet
10591-553: The regions where they formed the majority turned into a subdivision or "state" within Myanmar similar to what the Shan , Kachin and Chin peoples had been given. A goodwill mission led by Saw Tha Din and Saw Ba U Gyi to London in August 1946 failed to receive any encouragement from the British government for any separatist demands. In January 1947 a delegation of representatives of the Governor's Executive Council headed by Aung San
10710-528: The rest of the army eastward across the Malay Peninsula to ravage the coast of Gulf of Siam . The modern city of Phuket had not yet been founded (which was founded in 1827). The largest settlement on the Phuket Island back then was then the town of Thalang in the northern part of the island (in modern Thalang District ). The governor of Thalang had just died from illness. Lady Chan, wife of
10829-621: The right to secession after 10 years, the Kachin their own state, and the Chin a special division. The Mon and Arakanese of Ministerial Myanmar were not given any consideration. In early February 1947, the Karen National Union (KNU) was formed at a Karen Congress attended by 700 delegates from the Karen National Associations, both Baptist and Buddhist (KNA, founded 1881), the Karen Central Organisation (KCO) and its youth wing,
10948-453: The royal army arriving from Bangkok, believed that the Siamese was being reinforced. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat then had his army secretly march out of Lat Ya at night and march into Lat Ya again in the day, tricking the Burmese into believing that the Siamese was reinforced. With supply lines disrupted, the Burmese at Lat Ya were starved and deprived of morale. The Burmese killed horses for meat and dug for plant roots to eat. On 18 February 1786,
11067-524: The royal temper was cooled down. After staying in Martaban for a month, King Bodawpaya and his royal forces left Martaban on January 19, 1786, towards the Three Pagodas Pass. In November 1785, three Burmese men were captured by the Karens of Kyaukkaung. The captured Burmese revealed to Siamese authorities that King Bodawpaya was planning a massive invasion of Siam in multiple directions. King Rama I convened
11186-585: The ruler of Lampang, defended the city. Prince Thado Thiri Maha Uzana also sent his Sitke , Nemyo Sithu, to lead an army of 3,000 from Lampang down south towards the Upper Chao Phraya Plains. The governors of Sawankhalok , Sukhothai and Phitsanulok , due to manpower shortages, decided to abandon their cities and flee into the jungles as they were unable to raise armies against the Burmese. Nemyo Sithu marched through these cities unopposed and stationed his camps at Pakping, twenty kilometers to
11305-540: The school children. Gray said, "I want to share my knowledge and experiences with them." There is a population of 2,500 Karen in India, mostly restricted to Mayabunder Tehsil of the Northern Andaman Islands within the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands . Nearly all of them are Baptist Protestant Christians. They retain their language to intercommunicate within community, but use Hindi as
11424-707: The second-phase plan, in which King Rama I would lead armies to the north and Prince Maha Sura Singhanat to the south. King Rama I sent message to his nephew Prince Anurak Devesh at Nakhon Sawan, urging him to initiate the attacks against the Burmese. King Rama I marched the royal army of 30,000 men to Phichit to supervise campaigns in the northern theater, leaving Bangkok on March 10, 1786. As the king went to Phichit, Prince Anurak Devesh also moved to Phichit. King Rama I ordered another nephew Prince Thepharirak and Phraklang Hon at Chai Nat to march against Nawratha Kyawgaung at Tak. Prince Anurak Devesh and Mahasena Pli at Phichit eventually engaged with Nemyo Sithu at Pakphing, leading to
11543-513: The sediment-laden Yellow River of China, the upper reaches of which is considered to be the Urheimat of Sino-Tibetan languages . According to the legends, the Karen took a long time to cook shellfish at the river of flowing sand, until the Chinese taught the Karens to open the shells so as to acquire the meat. It is estimated by linguists Luce and Lehman that the Tibeto-Burman peoples such as
11662-544: The south of the city of Phitsanulok. The 9th Division of Nawratha Kyawgaung also entered the Chao Phraya Plains from the west through Rahaeng or modern Tak . The governor of Tak surrendered and was captured to Burma. Prince Anurak Devesh marched his army of 15,000 men from Bangkok to encamp at Nakhon Sawan. He sent Chao Phraya Mahasena Pli to Phichit just south of Pakphing to face Nemyo Sithu. The Siamese army of Prince Anurak Devesh in Upper Chao Phraya Plains
11781-498: The southern Malay Peninsula . However, the overstretched armies and provision shortages deemed the Burmese campaign failed. The Siamese under King Rama I and his younger brother Prince Maha Sura Singhanat successfully warded off Burmese invasions. By early 1786, the Burmese had largely retreated. After the truce during the rainy season , King Bodawpaya resumed his campaign in late 1786. King Bodawpaya sent his son Prince Thado Minsaw to concentrate his forces on Kanchanaburi in only
11900-534: The southern Siamese cities were defenseless due to the lack of manpower and their governors were left on their own against the Burmese invasion. The Burmese general Maha Thiri Thihathu ("Kinwun Mingyi" in Thai sources) sailed the massive fleet of 10,000 men from Mergui to the Siamese Andaman Coast in December 1785. Maha Thiri Thihathu divided his armies in two routes; he sent Wungyi to lead a fleet of 3,000 men southward to attack Phuket, while himself led
12019-547: The top of the Burmese government. The Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) , formed in July 1947, then rose up in an insurgency against the government. They were helped by the defections of the Karen Rifles and the Union Military Police (UMP) units which had been successfully deployed in suppressing the earlier Burmese Communist rebellions, and came close to capturing Yangon itself. The most notable
12138-450: The two largest Seventh-day Adventist Karen schools. Crop rotation agriculture has been a part of Karen culture for at least several hundred years. The don dance is a traditional Karen performance. "Don" roughly translates to "in agreement". The dance is a series of uniform movements accompanied by music played from traditional Karen instruments. During the performance, a "Don Koh" leads the troupe of dancers. The don dance originated from
12257-417: The two sides finally met at Tha Dindaeng and Samsop on 21 February 1787. The fighting lasted for two days until Minhla Kyawdin was quickly defeated, again for the second time, on February 23. This short war was called “ Tha Din Daeng campaign ”. Minhla Kyawdin retreated back to Payathonzu. Prince Nanda Kyawdin, upon seeing the defeat of Minhla Kyawdin, also retreated back to Martaban. The Siamese forces burnt all
12376-435: The vanguard to Chaiya. Maha Thiri Thihathu also sent Sitke-gyi Nemyo Gonnarat to Chaiya. Both sides engaged in the Battle of Chaiya. The Siamese was able to encircle the Burmese but the heavy rainfall neutralized most of the Siamese canons. Nemyo Gonnarat managed to break through the encirclement and fled westward and was closely pursued by the two Siamese generals. Many Burmese were captured as war prisoners and were brought to
12495-544: The vice-governor of Phatthalung. After the truce during the rainy season , King Bodawpaya resumed his campaign in late 1786. King Bodawpaya sent his son Prince Thado Minsaw to concentrate his forces on Kanchanaburi in only a single direction to invade Siam. The Siamese met the Burmese at Tha Dindaeng, hence the term "Tha Dindaeng Campaign". The Burmese were again defeated and Siam managed to defend its western border. After many defeats in early 1786, King Bodawpaya retreated to Martaban. However, he retained some of his forces on
12614-467: The vice-governor, organized the local defense against the Burmese invasion. They established themselves at Phra Nang Sang Temple and Thung Nang Dak and managed to be armed with two great canons. Francis Light , a British merchant also supported the Thalang defenders with arquebuses. The Burmese general Wungyi led the assault on Thalang in February 1786. The defenders relied on their heavy canons to ward off
12733-531: The war, King Rama I awarded and promoted those who made contributions. His nephew Prince Anurak Devesh was awarded with the title Krom Phra Ratchawang Lang or the Prince of the Rear Palace . Lady Chan and Lady Muk, the heroines of Thalang, were given titles Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon respectively. Chuai the monk who led the resistance against the Burmese at Phatthalung was made Phraya Tukkaraj
12852-515: The way from Martaban to Kanchanaburi. Unlike the previous invasion, the Burmese concentrate the forces in single direction at Kanchanaburi instead of dispersing the forces in many directions. Prince Nanda Kyawdin sent Minhla Kyawdin, the Burmese veteran who had been defeated by the Siamese at the Battle of Latya seven months earlier, to lead the vanguard of 30,000 ahead into Kanchanaburi. The two Burmese vanguard commanders left Ava for Martaban on September 7, 1786. Emboldened by their successes earlier in
12971-668: The year, the Siamese were much more confident in their responses to the Burmese invasion. Both King Rama I and his brother Prince Maha Sura Singhanat marched to meet the Burmese at Kanchanaburi. The Siamese royal forces left Bangkok on February 1, 1787, for Kanchanaburi to the west to face the invading Burmese. The Burmese armies entered Kanchaburi through the Three Padodas Pass or Payathonzu. Minha Sithu divided his forces to station at Tha Dindaeng and Samsop, both in Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi. Prince Nanda Kyawdin stayed at
13090-610: Was annexed as a province of Burma, her borders became contiguous with British India . The Arakanese revolted in 1794, and the British Governor of India Sir John Shore (later Lord Teignmouth) sent Captain Michael Symes on an embassy, fully equipped to gather as much information as possible about the country, to the Court of Ava as the kingdom was still known to the outside world. Bodawpaya invaded Siam in 1785 , and
13209-420: Was assassinated and the Ahom king Chandrakanta Singha was deposed by rival political faction led by Ruchinath Burhagohain, the son of Purnananda Burhagohain . Chandrakanta Singha and the friends of Badan Chandra Borphukan appeal for help to Bodawpaya. In February 1819, the Burmese forces invaded Assam for second time and reinstalled Chandrakanta Singha on the throne of Assam. Bodawpaya proclaimed himself
13328-518: Was at risk of being attacked from two directions; from Pakphing by Nemyo Sithu in the north and from Tak by Nawratha Kyawgaung from the west. Prince Anurak Devesh ordered Phraya Phraklang Hon to stay at Chai Nat to defend the rear lines against possible Burmese attacks from Tak. However, as both the Burmese and Siamese took their positions, neither sides engaged. Prince Maha Sura Singhanat and his generals returned from Ratchaburi to Bangkok in March 1786. King Rama I and Prince Maha Sura Singhanat devised
13447-541: Was defeated. The Governor of Tavoy revolted in 1791 with the aid of the Siamese , but a punitive expedition sent by Bodawpaya by sea laid siege ending in peace negotiations in 1793 and the ceding of the Tenasserim coast to the Burmese. He invaded Siam again in 1809 , but was fended off by Maha Senanurak . The Burmese loss of Lan Na during the failed invasion proved to be the end of their 200-year rule. In 1816,
13566-582: Was founded on the western banks of the Thanlwin River , and is no longer associated with Buddhism (as followers do not venerate Buddhist monks). Followers believe that the future Buddha will return to Earth if they maintain their moral practices (following the Dharma and precepts ), and they practice vegetarianism , hold Saturday services and construct distinct pagodas. Several Buddhist socioreligious movements, both orthodox and heterodox, have arisen in
13685-626: Was invited to London to negotiate for the Aung San – Attlee Treaty, but none of the ethnic minority groups was included by the British government. The following month at the Panglong Conference , when an agreement was signed between Aung San as head of the interim Burmese government and the Shan, Kachin and Chin leaders, the Karen were present only as observers; the Mon and Arakanese were also absent. The British promised to consider
13804-473: Was pardoned due to the inevitability of his situation and was assigned to restore the city. As the lasts of the Burmese were expelled from Southern Siam, the Nine Armies' War came to the end. King Bodawpaya of Burma attempted to inflict the pincer attack from many directions on Central Siam and Bangkok. However, his many armies were expected to conjoin but failed to cooperate. The lack of provision supplies
13923-617: Was the Battle of Insein , nine miles from Yangon, where they held out in a 111-day siege till late May 1949. Years later, the Karen had become the largest of 20 minority groups participating in an insurgency against the military dictatorship in Yangon. During the 1980s, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) fighting force numbered approximately 20,000. After an uprising of the people of Myanmar in 1988, known as
14042-424: Was the major disadvantage on the Burmese side, as the Burmese troops were starved at Kanchanaburi. The Siamese also adopted less defensive strategy than the previous wars. Siamese forces were sent to deal with the Burmese at the borders instead of locking themselves in fortifications and allowing the Burmese to penetrate. Despite being inferior in numbers, the Siamese were able to fend off the Burmese invasions. After
14161-570: Was the sixth king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min , he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya , founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung , son of his eldest brother Naungdawgyi , at Ava . Bodawpaya moved the royal capital back to Amarapura in 1782. He was titled Hsinbyumyashin ( lit. ' Lord of
#997002