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Thibaw Min, also Thebaw (, ; 1 January 1859 – 16 December 1916), was the last king of the
Konbaung dynasty The Konbaung dynasty (), also known as the Third Burmese Empire (တတိယမြန်မာနိုင်ငံတော်), was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. It created the second-largest empire in history of Mya ...
of
Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
(Myanmar) and also the last Burmese monarch in the country's history. His reign ended when the
Royal Burmese armed forces The Royal Armed Forces (,See (Maha Yazawin 2006: 26), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 236), (Hmannan Vol. 2 2012: 2) for example. ) were the armed forces of the History of Myanmar, Burmese monarchy from the 9th to 19th centuries. It refers to the ...
were defeated by the forces of the
British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...
in the
Third Anglo-Burmese War The Third Anglo-Burmese War (), also known as the Third Burma War, took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the Br ...
, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886.


Early life

Prince Thibaw was born ''Maung'' Yay Set (), the son of
King Mindon Mindon Min (, ; 1808 – 1878), born Maung Lwin, was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma because of his role in the Fifth Buddhist Council. Under his half brother ...
() and one of his consorts,
Laungshe Mibaya Thiri Mahamingala Thupabadewi (; ; 1825 – after 1890), commonly known as the Laungshe Mibaya or Queen of Laungshe (), was a royal princess and senior queen consort of Mindon Min, King Mindon during the Konbaung dynasty. She was the queen mother ...
. Thibaw's mother had been banished from the palace court by Mindon and spent her final years as a , a kind of female Burmese Buddhist renunciant. During the early years of his life, Thibaw studied
Buddhist texts Buddhist texts are religious texts that belong to, or are associated with, Buddhism and Schools of Buddhism, its traditions. There is no single textual collection for all of Buddhism. Instead, there are three main Buddhist Canons: the Pāli C ...
at a to win his father's favor. He passed the '' '' religious examinations and gained respect and recognition from his father and from the chief queen. He was also educated at
Aitchison College Aitchison College is an elite private, boarding school, boarding Junior School, Secondary School for boys in Lahore, Pakistan. It has educated Prime Minister of Pakistan, prime ministers, including Imran Khan, Feroz Khan Noon, president of Pakist ...
in
Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...
(in present-day
Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
). One of Mindon's chief consorts, the Queen of the Middle Palace,
Hsinbyumashin Hsinbyumashin (; 22 November 1821 – 26 February 1900) was a List of Burmese consorts, senior queen of King Mindon Min of Burma during the Konbaung dynasty. She was known for the Bronze Hall Massacre. She was the daughter of King Bagyidaw and his ...
, helped to broker a marriage between her eldest daughter,
Supayagyi , image = Queen Supayagyi.jpg , caption = , succession = Chief queen consort of Burma , reign = 30 October 1878 – 12 April 1879 , predecessor = Thiri Pawara Maha Yazeinda Yadana Dewi , successor = Sup ...
and Thibaw, who were half-siblings by blood.


Accession

In 1878, Thibaw succeeded his father in a bloody succession massacre. Hsinbyumashin, one of Mindon's queens, had grown dominant at the Mandalay court during Mindon's final days. Under the guise that Mindon wanted to bid his children (other princes and princesses) farewell, Hsinbyumashin had all royals of close age (who could potentially be heirs to the throne) mercilessly slaughtered by edict, to ensure that Thibaw and her daughter Supayagyi would assume the throne. During the royal Aggamahesi coronation, Supayalat pushed in next to her sister to be anointed queen at the same time, breaking an ancient royal custom. This resulted in two queens being anointed in parallel, a situation that had never occurred before in the history of Burma. At the time of his accession,
Lower Burma Lower Myanmar (, also called Lower Burma) is a geographic region of Myanmar and includes the low-lying Irrawaddy Delta ( Ayeyarwady, Bago and Yangon Regions), as well as coastal regions of the country ( Rakhine and Mon States and Tanintharyi ...
, half of the kingdom's former territory, had been under British occupation for thirty years and it was no secret that the King intended to regain this territory. Relations had soured during the early 1880s when the King was perceived as having made moves to more closely align his country with the
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
. Relations deteriorated further in an incident later called "The Great Shoe Question", where visiting British dignitaries refused to remove their shoes before entering the royal palace and were subsequently banished. At the time, the kingdom's treasury reserves had diminished, forcing the government to increase taxation on the peasants. In 1878, the
national lottery National Lottery may refer to: *National Lottery (Ireland), the state lottery of Ireland *National Lottery (United Kingdom), the lottery franchise in the United Kingdom *South African National Lottery, established in 2000 *A number of countries con ...
was also introduced on a trial basis, which became popular but soon went awry, with many families losing their livelihoods. The lottery experiment was ended in 1880. In October to November 1878, a meeting at Mandalay Palace's North Garden significantly expanded the size of the
Hluttaw The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw ( , ) is the ''de jure'' national-level bicameral legislature of Myanmar established by the 2008 National Constitution. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is made up of two houses, the 224-seat Amyotha Hluttaw, or "House of Nation ...
or the royal cabinet from four departments to 14: #Agriculture #Public works #Land warfare #Taxation #Religious knowledge #Royal estate management #Sassamedha (Personal taxes) #Criminal justice #Civil justice #Water-borne warfare #Foreign affairs #Partnerships #Town and village affairs #Mechanised industries During King Thibaw's reign, a new administrative unit, the district (, ''khayaing''), based on the administrative units of
British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
, was created, in order to centralize administration from the court. Altogether, the kingdom was divided into 10 districts and administrated by district ministers (), who had authority over smaller administrative units, the villages and towns. Thibaw also rolled back the conversion of local administrators from ''myo-thugyi'' () to ''myo-ok'' (), which had been part of administrative reforms carried out by Mindon, based on the prevailing administrative system in Lower Burma. A proclamation issued by the court of King Thibaw in 1885 which called on his countrymen to conquer Lower Burma was used by the British as pretext that he was a tyrant who reneged on his treaties and they decided to complete the conquest they had started in 1824. The invasion force which consisted of 11,000 men, a fleet of flat-bottomed boats and elephant batteries, was led by General
Harry Prendergast General (United Kingdom), General Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast, (15 October 1834 – 24 July 1913) was a British military officer who served with the Madras Army and the British Indian Army, Indian Army. He was a recipient of the Victor ...
.


Abdication

British troops quickly reached the royal capital of
Mandalay Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. It is located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631 km (392 mi) north of Yangon. In 2014, the city had a population of 1,225,553. Mandalay was founded in 1857 by Ki ...
with little opposition. Within twenty-four hours, the troops had marched to the
Mandalay Palace The Mandalay Palace (, ), located in Mandalay, Myanmar, is the last royal palace of the Konbaung dynasty, last Burmese monarchy. The palace was constructed between 1857 and 1859 as part of King of Burma, King Mindon Min, Mindon's founding of the ...
to demand the unconditional surrender of Thibaw and his kingdom within twenty-four hours. At the time, the king and queen had retired to a summer house in the palace gardens. The following morning, King Thibaw was forced on a bullock cart, along with his family, and proceeded to a steamer on the
Irrawaddy River The Irrawaddy River (, , Ayeyarwady) is the principal river of Myanmar, running through the centre of the country. Myanmar’s most important commercial waterway, it is about 1,350 miles (2,170 km) long. Originating from the confluence of the ...
, in the presence of a huge crowd of subjects.


Life in exile

After abdicating the throne, Thibaw, his wife
Supayalat Supayalat (, ; 13 December 1859 – 24 November 1925), also spelt Suphayalat, was the last queen of Burma who reigned in Mandalay (1878–1885), born to King Mindon Min and Queen of Alenandaw (; also known as Hsinbyumashin or Lady of the White Elep ...
and two infant daughters were coerced by British authority to move to
Ratnagiri Ratnagiri (IAST:Ratnāgirī ; ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in southwestern Maharashtra, India. The district is part of Konkan division of Maharashtra. The city is known for the Hapus or ...
,
British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
, a port city off the
Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...
. During their first 24 years in India, Thibaw's family lived at Outram Hall, in Dharangaon, inland from Ratanagiri, but in 1906 the Government agreed to spend over 125,000
rupee Rupee (, ) is the common name for the currency, currencies of Indian rupee, India, Mauritian rupee, Mauritius, Nepalese rupee, Nepal, Pakistani rupee, Pakistan, Seychellois rupee, Seychelles, and Sri Lankan rupee, Sri Lanka, and of former cu ...
s (c. £9000) to construct a new official residence for them. The family then moved into a grand two-story brick building, colloquially "Thibaw's Palace," built of
laterite Laterite is a soil type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by intensive and prolo ...
and lava rock, set in of gardens. The Government of India initially gave Thibaw an annual allowance varying between 35,000 and 42,000 rupees. This was increased in 1906 to 100,000 rupees (c. £7000). Thibaw was reported to be reclusive and did not leave the property during his time in Ratanagiri, but he sponsored local festivals, particularly during
Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...
. He died at age 57 on 15 December 1916 and was buried in a small walled plot adjacent to a Christian cemetery, along with one of his consorts, Hteiksu Phaya Galay.


Return of royal family to Burma

The surviving exiled royal family was relocated to Burma in 1919, after the king's death. In exile, the king's first born daughter, Myat Phaya Gyi, had had a romance with a married Indian gatekeeper, Gopal Sawant, which resulted in a daughter, Tutu. Despite the royal family's opposition, the three returned to Ratnagiri and spent the rest of their lives there. Gyi and Tutu lived in poverty and survived by making paper flowers to sell on the markets, as Sawant took all of her pension from the British government; he did however buy them a house. Tutu also lived her life in poverty and had eleven children who knew little about their royal ancestry until 21st century interest in the royal family. The second daughter, Myat Phaya Lat, became the pretender to the throne and married her father's private secretary,
Khin Maung Lat Khin Maung Lat (; ? — 1955), also known as Lat Thakin (), was a Burmese nobleman and courtier. He had served as Royal Secretary to King Thibaw Min, Thibaw from 1914 to 1916. He married Princess Myat Phaya Lat, the second daughter of King Thibaw ...
, who was also his nephew. They did not have any children, but Lat adopted her Nepalese maidservant's son. The third daughter, Myat Phaya, went on to marry twice. Her first marriage was to a Burmese prince, Hteik Tin Kodawgyi, with whom she had a daughter, Phaya Rita. After a divorce, she married secondly a Burmese lawyer, Mya U. Phaya Rita married her cousin,
Taw Phaya Prince Edward Taw Phaya (; also known as Tun Aung, 22 March 1924 – 12 January 2019) was the Pretender to the Throne of Burma (abolished in 1885). He was the second son of Princess Myat Phaya Galay, the fourth daughter of King Thibaw and Queen Sup ...
, a younger son of Myat Phaya Galay. The fourth daughter,
Myat Phaya Galay Princess Myat Phaya Galay (; 25 April 1887 – 3 March 1936) was a Burmese royal princess and senior member of the Royal House of Konbaung. She was the fourth daughter of the last ruling king of Burma, King Thibaw, and his queen Supayalat. Biog ...
(1887–1936), married a former Burmese monk, Ko Ko Naing, and had six children, the eldest of whom,
Taw Phaya Gyi Prince George Taw Phaya Gyi (; 6 May 1922 – 9 April 1948) was a Burmese prince and heir to the defunct throne of Burma (abolished in 1885). He was the eldest son of Princess Myat Phaya Galay and the grandson of King Thibaw and Queen Supa ...
(1922–1948), became pretender to the throne. His son
Soe Win Soe Win is the name of: * Soe Win (prime minister) (1947–2007), Prime Minister of Burma * Soe Win (general), deputy commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) * Soe Win (minister) (born 1938), Minister for Planning and Finance of ...
is the present pretender. Another son,
Taw Phaya Prince Edward Taw Phaya (; also known as Tun Aung, 22 March 1924 – 12 January 2019) was the Pretender to the Throne of Burma (abolished in 1885). He was the second son of Princess Myat Phaya Galay, the fourth daughter of King Thibaw and Queen Sup ...
, married his cousin, Phaya Rita, daughter of Myat Phaya. Both the third and fourth daughters were born in India but died in Burma and two of their children married each other, pretender to the throne Taw Phaya and princess Phaya Rita. They had seven children, thus securing the royal family line.


Affair with Daing Khin Khin

King Thibaw had a secret love affair with the noblewoman
Daing Khin Khin Daing Khin Khin (; also spelt Dine Khin Khin, born Khin Khin Gyi, circa 1863 – April 1882), also known as Mi Khingyi (), was a Burmese noblewoman and royal concubine of Thibaw Min, the last monarch of the Konbaung dynasty. She became the centra ...
, in the absence of his queen, Supayalat, orchestrated by his close companion, Maung Maung Toke. To marry her, King Thibaw made a solemn promise to ensure her safety within the palace and grant her the royal title of the Queen of the Northern Palace. He swore that if he were to break this promise, he would forfeit his throne, potentially leading to the downfall of the dynasty. Unfortunately, the king never fulfilled his promise, and Daing Khin Khin was executed by Supayalat while she was pregnant.


Renewed interest

In December 2012, the president of Burma
Thein Sein Thein Sein (; IPA: ; born 20 April 1944) is a Burmese politician and retired military general who served as the 9th President of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010, and was considered by many ...
paid homage at the tomb of the king in Ratnagiri and met the late monarch's descendants. He was the first head of Burmese government to visit the grave. He also visited the former royal palace at Ratnagiri.


Family

* Parents: **
Mindon Min Mindon Min (, ; 1808 – 1878), born Maung Lwin, was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma because of his role in the Fifth Buddhist Council. Under his half brothe ...
**
Laungshe Mibaya Thiri Mahamingala Thupabadewi (; ; 1825 – after 1890), commonly known as the Laungshe Mibaya or Queen of Laungshe (), was a royal princess and senior queen consort of Mindon Min, King Mindon during the Konbaung dynasty. She was the queen mother ...
* Consorts and children: #
Supayalat Supayalat (, ; 13 December 1859 – 24 November 1925), also spelt Suphayalat, was the last queen of Burma who reigned in Mandalay (1878–1885), born to King Mindon Min and Queen of Alenandaw (; also known as Hsinbyumashin or Lady of the White Elep ...
## Myat Phaya Gyi ##
Myat Phaya Lat Princess Myat Phaya Lat (, ; 4 October 1883 – 4 April 1956) was a Burmese royal princess and most senior member of the Royal House of Konbaung. She was the Royal Householder after the death of her father, King Thibaw while in exile in 1916 ...
##
Myat Phaya Princess Myat Phaya (; born in Madras at 7 March 1886 – 21 July 1962), was a Burmese royal princess and Head of the Royal House of Konbaung. She was the third daughter of the last ruling king of Burma, King Thibaw and his queen Supayalat. Biog ...
##
Myat Phaya Galay Princess Myat Phaya Galay (; 25 April 1887 – 3 March 1936) was a Burmese royal princess and senior member of the Royal House of Konbaung. She was the fourth daughter of the last ruling king of Burma, King Thibaw, and his queen Supayalat. Biog ...
## 2 sons (unnamed) #
Supayagyi , image = Queen Supayagyi.jpg , caption = , succession = Chief queen consort of Burma , reign = 30 October 1878 – 12 April 1879 , predecessor = Thiri Pawara Maha Yazeinda Yadana Dewi , successor = Sup ...
#
Supayalay Supayalay (; 1863 – 25 June 1912) was a junior queen consort of the Konbaung dynasty, and was married to her half-brother Thibaw Min, the last monarch in the dynasty, in 1878. She was one of the three only queens of King Thibaw. Early life Su ...
(junior queen)


References


The Baldwin Project: Growth of the British Empire by M. B. Synge
at www.mainlesson.com

at www.bearpit.net


Bibliography

* Candier, Aurore (December 2011).
Conjuncture and Reform in the Late Konbaung Period
. Journal of Burma Studies 15 (2). * * Desai, W. S. ''Deposed King Thibaw of Burma in India 1885-1916'' (1967 * * * * * Myint-U, Thant (2001). The Making of Modern Burma. Cambridge University Press. pp. 9780521799140. * Scott, J. George, ed. (1901). Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. 1. Rangoon: Government of Burma. * Shah, Sudha. ''The King in Exile: The Fall of the Royal Family of Burma'' (2012) *


Links

{{Authority control 1859 births 1916 deaths Aitchison College alumni Konbaung dynasty Monarchs who abdicated People of the Third Anglo-Burmese War People from Mandalay Burmese Buddhist monarchs 19th-century Burmese monarchs