Myanmar Polity (1819-1885)

MYANMAR POLITY (1819-1885) PhD DISSERTATION SOE AUNG DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF MANDALAY MYANMAR MAY 2011 MYANMAR POLITY (1819-1885) University of Mandalay MYANMAR POLITY (1819-1885) A Dissertation Submitted to the University of Mandalay In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in History Department of History Soe Aung 4 PhD-Hist-1 Mandalay, Myanmar May 2011 ABSTRACT This dissertation is an attempt to re-examine the situation of Myanmar during the second half of Konbaung Dynasty. Since the Sagaing Min (1819-1837) ascended the throne of Amarapura, the strength and the power of the kingdom of Myanmar seemed to have reached at its height of apex. The size of the kingdom, comprising the vassal states, was slightly larger than that of present day. The territorial expansion of the predecessors of Sagaing Min brought about serious frontier issues leading to the First Anglo-Myanmar War with the British- India in 1824. The War devastated the socio-economic life of the kingdom. Such chaotic conditions stirred up the court rebellions. Throughout the period up to 1885 the questions how the later Konbaung kings made efforts to secure their thrones in the midst of political and economic chaos and how the crown servicemen and common people staggered for their survival, are investigated and discussed in this dissertation. In a word, the attempt is made to access socio-economic life of the royalty, officials and people in a broader sense and in detail. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract iv List of Appendices vi List of Tables vii Abbreviations viii Glossary xv Introduction xviii Chapters 1. Political Setting 1 2. Royality at the Top of Social Echelon 32 3. The Nobility the Privileged 62 4. A-hmu-dan: Backbone of the Traditional Administration 89 5. A-thi at the Grass Root Level 117 6. Myanmar in Transitional Period 152 Conclusion 181 Appendices 185 Bibliography 191 vi List of Appendices Page 1. Presents given to a Princesses in ear-boring ceremony 185 2. The List of tax-exempted items. (26 September 1878) 187 3. List of the tax-imposed trades 189 vii List of Tables Page 1. Sons by Principal Queens (1752-1885) 35 2. List of Royal Children 36 3. List of the King Mindon’s Retainers 51 4. List of Officials and Nobilities in King Mindon’s reign 67 5. List of The Salary of Selected Nobilities and Officials 79 6. List of Lands Owned by Noblemen and Officials 81 7. List of Noblemen and Officials who were Executed or 87 Victimized in the Court Rebellions and Attempted Coups 8. List of Household Serviceman and Capital Garrison Troops in 96 the Reign of Mindon Min and Thibaw Min 9. List of Elephanteers and Salaries 102 10. Tha-tha-mei-da Tax collected in Some Areas of Lower 129 Chindwin District 11. Expense of Taungdwingyi between March and June 1882 130 12. Paddy Price 140 13. The Rate of Pension Allotted to the Royalties 157 14. Population of British Burma (Myanmar), 1861 164 15. Dates of Sanctioning and Opening of Different Railways 168 16. Average Number of students on the Roll and Attendance of 175 Government College of Baptist College 17. The list of the Registered Monastic schools and Lay schools 176 (1889-1919) viii ABBREVIATIONS Catalogue, 1901 Catalogue of the Hluttaw Records, Two Volumes, Yangon, Government Press, 1901 Charney, 2004 Southeast Asian Warfares (1300-1900), Leidan, Brill Academic Publishers, 2004 Colbeck, 1892 Letters from Mandalay, George H. 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