Mahadhammaraza Dipadi
Encyclopedia
Mahadhammaraza Dipati , was the 15th and last king of Toungoo dynasty
of Burma (Myanmar) from 1733 to 1752. He was only 16 when a group of nobles selected him over more experienced princes after his father Taninganway
's death in November 1733. The young king inherited a kingdom already in severe decline, and his inexperience only made the decline faster, finally resulting in the end of House of Toungoo and the collapse of the kingdom over his 18-year reign.
In 1733, the armies of Manipur
invaded and plundered the Burmese territories and again in 1735. The invaders, however, were unable to cross the Irrawaddy. Since the move of capital from Pegu to Ava by King Thalun
in 1635, Pegu had become the rallying point for the Mon revival and insurgency. The Burmese governors were readily hatred due to heavy corrupted taxation. Taking the advantage of weak royal authority after the Manipur invasions, a Burmese governor rebelled and proclaimed himself the King of Pegu in 1740. The Mons, unwilling to have a Burmese king in Pegu, rioted and murdered the new king. Mahadhammaraza Dipati then installed his uncle as the new governor of Pegu.
Yet the Mons were still unsatisfied and went on to kill Burmese officials in Pegu. Mahadhammaraza Dipati was then enraged at the Mons and ordered a massacre of the Mons at Pegu. The Gwe Shans (the Shans who were taken as captives from their northern homelands to Pegu by King Bayinnaung in the 16th century) took this opportunity to stage their own rebellion. The Shan armies with supports from the Mons took Pegu in 1740. A popular monk of Shan origin was proclaimed Gwe Min
the King of Pegu.
As Ava was largely distracted by another Manipur invasion. The Peguan armies invaded Prome and Ava but failed yet were able to take Toungoo. Thado Minkhaung, the viceroy of Prome and Mahadhammaraza Dipati’s brother, hurried south and took Syriam but was soon repelled. Prome eventually fell to the Mons in 1745. The Mons tried to take Ava again without success.
In 1747, Binnya Dala
was proclaimed the King of Pegu. The two sides were unable to overcome each other until 1751 when the crown prince of Pegu (Binnya Tala’s brother) marched the Peguan armies into Upper Irawaddy and laid siege on Sagaing
and Ava. Ava fell to the Mons on 23 March 1752 (8th waxing of Tagu 1114 ME) and Mahadhammaraza Dipati was taken as captive down to Pegu. Mahadhammaraza Dipati had survived for another two years before being executed in 1754 due to a suspected rebellion.
Toungoo Dynasty
The Toungoo Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Burma from the mid-16th century to 1752. Its early kings Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung succeeded in reunifying the Pagan Empire for the first time since 1287, and in incorporating the Shan States for the first time...
of Burma (Myanmar) from 1733 to 1752. He was only 16 when a group of nobles selected him over more experienced princes after his father Taninganway
Taninganway
Taninganway was the 14th king of Toungoo dynasty of Burma from 1714 to 1733. The long decline of Toungoo dynasty accelerated under Taninganway's reign. In the east, the kingdom of Lanna , which had been under Burmese rule since 1558, successfully revolted in 1725. Taninganway sent an army to...
's death in November 1733. The young king inherited a kingdom already in severe decline, and his inexperience only made the decline faster, finally resulting in the end of House of Toungoo and the collapse of the kingdom over his 18-year reign.
In 1733, the armies of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
invaded and plundered the Burmese territories and again in 1735. The invaders, however, were unable to cross the Irrawaddy. Since the move of capital from Pegu to Ava by King Thalun
Thalun
Thalun was the eighth king of Toungoo dynasty of Burma . During his 19-year reign, Thalun successfully rebuilt the war-torn country which had been under constant warfare for nearly a century since the 1530s. Thalun instituted many administrative reforms and rebuilt the economy of the kingdom.In...
in 1635, Pegu had become the rallying point for the Mon revival and insurgency. The Burmese governors were readily hatred due to heavy corrupted taxation. Taking the advantage of weak royal authority after the Manipur invasions, a Burmese governor rebelled and proclaimed himself the King of Pegu in 1740. The Mons, unwilling to have a Burmese king in Pegu, rioted and murdered the new king. Mahadhammaraza Dipati then installed his uncle as the new governor of Pegu.
Yet the Mons were still unsatisfied and went on to kill Burmese officials in Pegu. Mahadhammaraza Dipati was then enraged at the Mons and ordered a massacre of the Mons at Pegu. The Gwe Shans (the Shans who were taken as captives from their northern homelands to Pegu by King Bayinnaung in the 16th century) took this opportunity to stage their own rebellion. The Shan armies with supports from the Mons took Pegu in 1740. A popular monk of Shan origin was proclaimed Gwe Min
Smim Htaw Buddhaketi
Smim Htaw Buddhaketi was the first king of the Restored Kingdom of Hanthawaddy which overthrew Toungoo Dynasty's rule in Lower Burma. From 1740 to 1747, the ethnic Burman king was a nominal figurehead of the ethnic Mon rebellion. He was selected to be king by the leaders of the Mon insurrection...
the King of Pegu.
As Ava was largely distracted by another Manipur invasion. The Peguan armies invaded Prome and Ava but failed yet were able to take Toungoo. Thado Minkhaung, the viceroy of Prome and Mahadhammaraza Dipati’s brother, hurried south and took Syriam but was soon repelled. Prome eventually fell to the Mons in 1745. The Mons tried to take Ava again without success.
In 1747, Binnya Dala
Binnya Dala
Binnya Dala was the last king of Restored Kingdom of Hanthawaddy, who reigned from 1747 to 1757. He was a key leader in the revival of the Mon-speaking kingdom in 1740, which successfully revolted against the rule of Toungoo dynasty. Though Smim Htaw Buddhaketi was the king, it was Binnya Dala who...
was proclaimed the King of Pegu. The two sides were unable to overcome each other until 1751 when the crown prince of Pegu (Binnya Tala’s brother) marched the Peguan armies into Upper Irawaddy and laid siege on Sagaing
Sagaing
Sagaing is the capital of Sagaing Region in Myanmar. Located on the Ayeyarwady River, 20 km to the southwest of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river, Sagaing with numerous Buddhist monasteries is an important religious and monastic center. The pagodas and monasteries crowd the numerous...
and Ava. Ava fell to the Mons on 23 March 1752 (8th waxing of Tagu 1114 ME) and Mahadhammaraza Dipati was taken as captive down to Pegu. Mahadhammaraza Dipati had survived for another two years before being executed in 1754 due to a suspected rebellion.