Learn About the Konbaung Dynasty

Listen to the History of the Konbaung Dynasty

Konbaung Dynasty Rap

(Chorus) Ayo, it's the Konbaung Dynasty, headed straight to the top,
From Alaung Paya to Thibaw, they were never gonna stop.
They fought, they hustled, had their eyes on the crown,
But when the British rolled in, they had to put it down.

(Verse 1) Yo, Alaung Paya started back in seventeen fifty-two,
Came from Moksobo, had a dream, something brand new.
Brought Burma together, Mon couldn't keep him down,
Rolled into Yangon, no more beef in the town.

Then came Hsinbyushin, flexin' military clout,
China tried four times, but he kept knocking 'em out.
Burned Ayutthaya to ashes back in '67,
But with all these wins, there was no rest in heaven.

(Chorus) Konbaung Dynasty, headed straight to the top,
From Alaung Paya to Thibaw, they were never gonna stop.
They fought, they hustled, had their eyes on the crown,
But when the British rolled in, they had to put it down.

(Verse 2) Bodawpaya, the OG king, pulled up next,
Took Rakhine down, yeah, big moves, no stress.
Snatched up the Mahamuni, brought it back home,
Unified the whole land, sitting heavy on the throne.

But then came the Brits with their tricks and their schemes,
First Anglo-Burmese War, shattered all their dreams.
Maha Bandoola fought back, but rockets took a toll,
Signed Yandabo, gave the Brits a foothold.

(Chorus) Konbaung Dynasty, headed straight to the top,
From Alaung Paya to Thibaw, they were never gonna stop.
They fought, they hustled, had their eyes on the crown,
But when the British rolled in, they had to put it down.

(Verse 3) Mindon tried to upgrade, bring the kingdom up to speed,
Moved the palace to Mandalay, trying to plant a new seed.
Started a Royal mint, got the cash flowing right,
Standardized the measures, trade game tight.

Held the Fifth Buddhist Council, wrote scriptures in stone,
But Lower Burma was lost, the Brits made it known.
Mindon did his best, kept it cool, played it smart,
But the changes weren't enough to stop the kingdom falling apart.

(Chorus) Konbaung Dynasty, headed straight to the top,
From Alaung Paya to Thibaw, they were never gonna stop.
They fought, they hustled, had their eyes on the crown,
But when the British rolled in, they had to put it down.

(Verse 4) Thibaw was the last king, tried to keep it on track,
But he couldn’t fight the conflicts, too many knives in his back.
British wanted the goods—teak, oil, rubies, and gold,
Thibaw stood tall, but the pressure took hold.

1885, the final war went down,
British flotilla came through, rolling into town.
Thibaw got exiled, sent to India far,
The dynasty fell, but they never lost their star.

(Chorus) Konbaung Dynasty, headed straight to the top,
From Alaung Paya to Thibaw, they were never gonna stop.
They fought, they hustled, had their eyes on the crown,
But when the British rolled in, they had to put it down.

(Outro) From Alaung Paya’s rise, to Mindon's fresh start,
To Thibaw’s last stand, yeah, they played every part.
Konbaung Dynasty, they shined till the end,
But history moved on, turned the page once again.



Key Facts About the Konbaung Dynasty

  1. Alaung Paya founded the Konbaung Dynasty in 1752.
  2. Alaung Paya was originally named Aung Zeyya and was from Moksobo village.
  3. The Mon people ruled over Upper Burma before Alaung Paya started his rebellion.
  4. Alaung Paya unified Upper and Lower Burma after defeating the Mon people.
  5. Yangon, founded by Alaung Paya, means "end of strife."
  6. Alaung Paya conquered the Shan States and unified much of Myanmar.
  7. Alaung Paya died in 1760 during his campaign to capture Ayutthaya, Siam.
  8. Hsinbyushin, Alaung Paya’s son, defeated the Chinese four times.
  9. Hsinbyushin captured and destroyed Ayutthaya, Thailand in 1767.
  10. Hsinbyushin’s military victories gained Myanmar territories such as Taninthayi Division, Kachin State, and parts of Shan State.
  11. Bodawpaya was the first king to fully unify Myanmar by defeating the Rakhine kingdom.
  12. Bodawpaya brought the Mahamuni bronze image of the Buddha to Upper Burma, causing resentment in Rakhine.
  13. Bodawpaya’s borders extended to the British-controlled Bengal.
  14. Bodawpaya expanded the kingdom’s irrigation network to support agriculture.
  15. The First Anglo-Burmese War began in 1824 when Burmese troops entered British-held Cachar.
  16. Maha Bandoola led the Burmese troops during the First Anglo-Burmese War.
  17. The British defeated the Burmese using superior technology, such as rockets, at Yangon.
  18. The Treaty of Yandabo ended the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1826.
  19. As per the Treaty of Yandabo, Myanmar ceded Manipur, Assam, Rakhine, and Taninthayi to the British.
  20. The Treaty of Yandabo required Myanmar to pay one million pounds in indemnity.
  21. The First Anglo-Burmese War left Myanmar bankrupt and weakened.
  22. The Second Anglo-Burmese War began in 1852 due to British economic interests.
  23. King Pagan agreed to cede Lower Burma to the British after losing the Second Anglo-Burmese War.
  24. King Mindon was known for his reforms and his efforts to modernize Myanmar.
  25. King Mindon established a Royal mint to introduce a coin-based currency system.
  26. King Mindon standardized weights and measures to facilitate trade.
  27. Mindon built a telegraph system to communicate with the outside world.
  28. King Mindon was a patron of Buddhism and convened the Fifth Great Buddhist Council.
  29. The Fifth Great Buddhist Council produced an authoritative text of the Buddhist scriptures.
  30. Mindon initiated administrative reforms, giving fixed salaries to officials to reduce corruption.
  31. Mindon introduced a regular standing army instead of relying on hereditary soldiers.
  32. King Mindon moved the capital from Amarapura to Mandalay for a fresh start.
  33. The Konbaung Era had six capital moves for political, strategic, or religious reasons.
  34. King Thibaw was the last king of the Konbaung Dynasty.
  35. King Thibaw was controlled by his wife and lacked authority over the kingdom.
  36. The British wanted control over Upper Burma for its natural resources, including teak, oil, and rubies.
  37. The French signed a treaty with Myanmar in 1884, alarming the British.
  38. King Thibaw imposed a fine on the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation for cutting teak illegally.
  39. The British used the fine as a reason to invade Upper Burma in 1885.
  40. The Third Anglo-Burmese War took place from November 7 to 29, 1885.
  41. King Thibaw decided not to flee and surrendered to the British on November 28, 1885.
  42. King Thibaw was exiled to India after the British took control.
  43. The fall of King Thibaw marked the end of the Konbaung Dynasty.
  44. The British annexed all of Myanmar after defeating King Thibaw in 1885.
  45. Alaung Paya’s military campaigns significantly expanded Myanmar's territory during his reign.
  46. Hsinbyushin’s capture of Ayutthaya in 1767 was one of the most significant military achievements of the Konbaung Dynasty.
  47. Bodawpaya’s conquest of Rakhine extended Myanmar’s influence westward.
  48. The Treaty of Yandabo was highly unfavorable for Myanmar and contributed to its decline.
  49. King Mindon’s reforms attempted to modernize Myanmar’s economy, administration, and education.
  50. The British conquest of Myanmar was largely facilitated by internal conflicts, weak rulers, and better British technology.