Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Two Burmese kings later, Bagan Min started his reign in the same manner that many
did: with mass executions to rid the capital of his potential rivals. An 1852 incident in-
volving the possible kidnapping of two British sea captains (some argue it never
happened) gave the British a welcome excuse for igniting another conflict, and an oppor-
tunity for more land. The British quickly seized all of southern Burma, including Yangon
and Pathein (Bassein). They then marched north to Pyay (Prome), facing little opposi-
tion.
The 1885 conflict between Burma and Britain is sometimes called 'the war over wood',
as Britain's victory allowed it to secure rights to Burma's plentiful teak forests.
The Final Two Kings
The unpopular Bagan Min was ousted in favour of the more capable and revered Mindon
Min, who moved the capital to Mandalay. Palace intrigues, including the murder of Min-
don's powerful half-brother by Mindon's own sons, stayed the king's hand in naming his
successor. When Mindon suddenly died following an attack of dysentery in 1878, the
new (rather reluctant) king, Thibaw Min, was propelled to power by his ruthless wife and
scheming mother-in-law. The following massive 'massacre of kinsmen' (79 of Thibaw
Min's rivals) made many British papers. Alas, previous kings hadn't had to face the con-
sequences of world media attention, and this act did little to generate public backlash in
the UK against Britain's final, decisive war against the Burmese.
In 1885 it took Britain just two weeks to conquer Upper Burma, exile Thibaw and his
court to India and establish control over all the country. Direct colonial rule was imple-
mented only where the Bamar were the majority (ie in the central plains). The hill states
of the Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayin and Kayah were allowed to remain largely autonomous
- a decision that would have ramifications in the run-up to independence in 1948 and
beyond.
One of the biggest meteor showers in modern history filled Burma's sky in 1885. Locals
saw it as an omen of the end of their kingdom.
The Impact of British Rule
Burma was henceforth administered as part of 'British India'. Indian immigrants flooded
into the country, acting like second colonisers: building businesses and taking rare, low-
level government jobs from the hostile indigenous population. In 1927 the majority of
