Maha Sithu
Encyclopedia
Maha Sithu was a general of Konbaung Dynasty
of Burma (Myanmar) who commanded the Burmese armies
in the Sino–Burmese War (1765–1769). In the war, he was the commander-in-chief of the Burmese forces in the second invasion (1766–1767) but he gave up the command after he fell ill. He again was the overall commander in the third invasion (1767–1768). But he gave up the overall command to Maha Thiha Thura
after he was defeated at the Battle of Goteik Gorge
by a numerically superior Chinese army led by Gen. Mingrui
. Maha Sithu redeemed himself later at the Battle of Maymyo, the most decisive battle of the war. Maha Sithu's army drove back Mingrui's retreating army while Maha Thiha Thura's army encircled the enemy. The combined Burmese armies totally destroyed the once 30,000-strong invasion army.
Konbaung dynasty
The Konbaung Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. The dynasty created the second largest empire in Burmese history, and continued the administrative reforms begun by the Toungoo dynasty, laying the foundations of modern state of Burma...
of Burma (Myanmar) who commanded the Burmese armies
Royal Burmese Army
The Royal Burmese Army was the armed forces of the Burmese monarchy from the 9th to 19th centuries. It refers to the military forces of the Pagan Dynasty, the Ava Kingdom, the Toungoo Dynasty and the Konbaung Dynasty in chronological order...
in the Sino–Burmese War (1765–1769). In the war, he was the commander-in-chief of the Burmese forces in the second invasion (1766–1767) but he gave up the command after he fell ill. He again was the overall commander in the third invasion (1767–1768). But he gave up the overall command to Maha Thiha Thura
Maha Thiha Thura
Maha Thiha Thura was commander-in-chief of the Burmese military from 1768 to 1776. Regarded as a brilliant military strategist, the general is best known in Burmese history for defeating the Chinese invasions of Burma...
after he was defeated at the Battle of Goteik Gorge
Battle of Goteik Gorge
The Battle of Goteik Gorge was a battle in the Sino–Burmese War fought between the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma and the Qing Dynasty of China in late December 1767 or early January 1768. It was the first major battle in the third invasion by the Chinese who had previously unsuccessfully invaded...
by a numerically superior Chinese army led by Gen. Mingrui
Mingrui
Mingrui was governor-general of Yunnan and Guizhou from April 1767 to March 1768. A son-in-law of the Qianlong Emperor of China, Mingrui was appointed by the emperor to lead a 50,000-strong invasion force led by the elite Manchu Bannermen in the third campaign of the Qing invasions of Burma...
. Maha Sithu redeemed himself later at the Battle of Maymyo, the most decisive battle of the war. Maha Sithu's army drove back Mingrui's retreating army while Maha Thiha Thura's army encircled the enemy. The combined Burmese armies totally destroyed the once 30,000-strong invasion army.