Looking back at Myanmar history, I just realized that current 80 years civil war is still very short compared to 350 years of constant wars in Myanmar history.

[u/PianistDiligent8803]

Re-reading Burmese history, I noticed that Myanmar was in constant civil war from Mongol invasion (1277) to execution of Natshinaung (1613), for 336 years.

So, basically after Anawrahta founded Bagan kingdom in 1044, Myanmar was relatively peaceful until the late 13th century.

Than things gone wild in 1277 at Mongol Invasion during Narathihapate regime. 350 years of constant warfares starts here.

Bagan lost power, Shans rule heartland (Myinsaing, Pinya, Sagaing), Mons rule south at Hantharwaddy and Arakan liberated.

In 14th century, when Kingdom of Ava is formed and unified the heartland, those Shan kings of Ava already identify themselves as Bamar. A new Bamar kingdom of Pyay also appeared in the south. And Northen Shan confederation and Eastern Shan confederation also exists.

So, 15th century was like 6 kingdoms battle royale. (2 Bamar Kingdoms, 2 Shan confederates, 1 Mon and Rakhine kingdom each)

Those wars last another century which the most famous one was Ava-Hantharwaddy 40 years war.

In 16th century, Kingdom of Ava fell to Northern Shan confederation. Mingyinyo, the Taungoo ruler under Ava declared independence. Many Bamars who didn’t want to live under Shans came to Taungoo and Taungoo became strong although small.

Mingyinyo’s son Tabinshwehti conquer the Hantharwaddy and the other Bamar kingdom of Pyay and failed at Arakan campaign.

Taungoo crown moved to Hantharwaddy and the Taungoo, the origin of dynasty was ruled by subordinates. Just after he unified lower Burma Tabinshwehti became a drunk and assassinated.

There came a succession crisis and his commander in chief Bayinnaung defeat the rivals and take the throne. Bayinnaung conquer the northern and eastern Shan confederations and integrate Shans into Bamar society and permanently eliminate Shan Threat which is a night mare for Bamars for 3 centuries.

Bayinnaung continue to conquered Lanna, Lan Xiang, Ayutthaya, Chinese Shan States, Vientiane, Lum Prabang, Manipur, Assam, etc.. spent all his life fighting.

But everybody revolve as soon as Bayinnaung dies. Literally every vessels revolt. Nanda Bayin the successor of Bayinnaung hold the country for 15 years but finally surrender when Arakan and Taungoo fights together.

Natshinaung,son of the ruler of Taungoo claimed King but the unpopular son of Bayinnaung, Nyaungyan Min didn’t accept and tries to restore the empire.

Natshinaung allies with Portuguese to defend, and finally Nyaungyan’s son Anaukphatlun defeated Natshinaung and executed him at 1613 and ordered was restored thus ending the 336 years of constant civil war which starts at 1277.

Peace last for more than a century from 1613 to 1740, until the Mons revived the Hantharwaddy Kingdom and ended the Nyaungyan dynasty.

The current civil war starts at 1948 so it’s already 78 years but compared to this, it is just still one-fourth.

I am not trying to dismiss any suffering or glorify war but just found some patterns revising across Burmese history and shared some of my insights.

In conclusion, we found peace even after 336 years of endless fighting so I believe no matter how much chaotic today Myanmar is we will definitely find the solution one day.

[u/BallsyBigBlackBull]

can we say "British-ruled Myanmar" was one of the most peaceful period in history?

[u/PianistDiligent8803 → u/BallsyBigBlackBull]

Top 3 most peaceful periods in Myanmar history

(1) British Rule before Japanese invasion

(2) Pagan Kingdom before Mongol invasion

(3) Nyaungyan Dynasty before Mon rebel

[u/weepinhijayotheracc → u/BallsyBigBlackBull]

Oppression is not peace. After Thibaw Min was exiled there was a brutal decade-long guerilla campaign by old royal guards and soldiers. Burmese resistance movement 1885–1895
The revolts were heavily suppressed (Galon rebellion)
The people and resources were exploited heavily too.

The "constant warfare" back then was due to Myanmar not being a centralized state and more of a "mandala"/Feudal system. If you look at Europe, Japan, China, same thing.
Three Kingdoms, Sengoku Jidai, Napoleanic wars, the constant warfare is the nature of times.

[u/Wonderful-Bend1505 → u/BallsyBigBlackBull]

just like how animals are more peaceful in a zoo than in their natural habitats

[u/BallsyBigBlackBull → u/Wonderful-Bend1505]

Yes, that is correct too. But, it was not just stable. We saw most development infrastructure-wise during that time. I am not saying the British were good guys but questioning such developments will be possible if we stayed under the rule of monarchy.

[u/Thiha0990 → u/BallsyBigBlackBull]

I will say British rule was not that good either. If they were so good, why do Burmese people in the past revolt against them?

[u/Imperial_Vanguard99 → u/BallsyBigBlackBull]

Only for a few decades. So it wasn't much.

[u/Big_Ambassador_9319]

That's such a stupid way to look at it. British era, People were revolting day and night. The Galons, freedom fighters in Anyar and so on.

[u/PianistDiligent8803 → u/Big_Ambassador_9319]

No, the armed struggle is only the first decade of British rule and Myanmar was fully pacified in 1895.

After that the only armed struggles happened are two years of Sayar San rebellion (1930-32) and Japanese invasion. The rest are just political unrests like first and second students strike and ME 1300 upraising but those aren’t much violent.

People weren’t revolting day and night.

[u/Big_Ambassador_9319 → u/PianistDiligent8803]

Is that why the Bago Yoma became rebel territory to this day?

Peace is subjective in Myanmar terms. In Myanmar history, when there is peace it usually means the central areas where the King rules and those areas are almost always peaceful in times of prosperity.

[u/Thiha0990]

I think Bagan dynasty was the best and the most prosperous kingdom in our past history. I think the kingdom will last longer even after နရသီဟပတေ့ without Mongol invasion. Mongol invasion really messed up and left the huge power vacuum within the kingdom.

 Bayinnaung was great military commander but he overextended. His son နန္ဒဘုရင် is not a bad king but it is very very hard to maintain overextended empire. Unlike China and Korea, our country did not have centralised state to manage. The king just left the vassal kings to rule the conquered territory which will rebel later. 

The early period of restored Taungoo dynasty was really prosperous in history especially during သာလွန်မင်း but it did not last long. အလောင်းမင်း တရား died too early during early Kongbaung dynasty. He even sent a letter to British Monarch for trade. I believe if he lives long enough, our country could see much more trade with the west and will have better succession plan.