Ne Myo Thihapate
Encyclopedia
Ne Myo Thihapate was a general
in the Royal Burmese Army
of Konbaung Dynasty
of Burma (Myanmar). The general is best known for conquering the Ayutthaya Kingdom
, along with Gen. Maha Nawrahta
, in April 1767.
in 1752. He became one of the "most distinguished soldiers" during Alaungpaya's reunification campaigns
(1752–1757).
decided to renew the war against Siam. The king selected Thihapate and Maha Nawrahta as joint commanders to lead another invasion. Thihapate was to lead the northern invasion route from Chiang Mai
while Maha Nawrahta was to lead the southern route from Martaban (Mottama). In early 1765, Thihapate with a 20,000-strong force began his operations by starting with the Lao states. The Kingdom of Vientiane
agreed to become Burmese vassal without a fight. Luang Prabang
resisted but Thihapate's forces easily captured the city in March 1765, giving the Burmese complete control of Siam's entire northern border.
Thihapate then invaded Siam via the Chao Phraya valley, down towards Ayutthaya
. His forces reached the outskirts of Ayutthaya on 20 January 1766, joining up with Maha Nawrahta's forces. The Burmese then began what turned out to be a 14-month siege. Around March 1767, Maha Nawrahta died of illness, and Ne Myo Thihapate became the commander-of-chief of the entire operations. His forces breached the city's defenses on 7 April 1767, and sacked the entire city.
The Burmese gains did not last long as Hsinbyushin ordered most of the Burmese troops in late 1767 to return in the face of the Chinese invasion that threatened Ava
. The Siamese resistance retook their lost territories in 1768 and 1769.
. In October 1775, Thihapate led his army based in Chiang Saen down to Chiang Mai. His army captured Chiang Mai but faced tough resistance by the Siamese forces. He evacuated Chiang Mai back to Chiang Saen when Maha Thiha Thura ordered a pullout of the invasion after Hsinbyushin's death in June 1776. The Burmese would lose control of Lan Na. However because of good performance in the war, he was honored with a new upgraded title Ne Myo Thenapati, and given the office of Wungyi (minister) by King Singu
.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in the Royal Burmese Army
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...
of Konbaung Dynasty
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). The general is best known for conquering the Ayutthaya Kingdom
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
, along with Gen. Maha Nawrahta
Maha Nawrahta
Gen. Maha Nawrahta was joint commander-in-chief of the Royal Burmese Army from 1765 to 1767. The general is best known for commanding the southern invasion force in the Burmese invasion of Siam . He and Ne Myo Thihapate jointly commanded the 14-month-long siege of Ayutthaya, the capital of Siam....
, in April 1767.
Career
The general began his military career as one of the sixty eight elite commanders, chosen by King AlaungpayaAlaungpaya
Alaungpaya was king of Burma from 1752 to 1760, and the founder of the Konbaung Dynasty. By his death in 1760, the former chief of a small village in Upper Burma had reunified all of Burma, subdued Manipur, recovered Lan Na, and driven out the French and the English who had given help to the...
in 1752. He became one of the "most distinguished soldiers" during Alaungpaya's reunification campaigns
Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War
The Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War was the war fought between the Konbaung Dynasty and the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom of Burma from 1752 to 1757...
(1752–1757).
Laos and Siam (1765–1767)
In 1764, King HsinbyushinHsinbyushin
Hsinbyushin was king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma from 1763 to 1776. The second son of the dynasty founder Alaungpaya is best known for his wars with China and Siam, and is considered the most militaristic king of the dynasty. His successful defense against four Chinese invasions preserved...
decided to renew the war against Siam. The king selected Thihapate and Maha Nawrahta as joint commanders to lead another invasion. Thihapate was to lead the northern invasion route from Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
while Maha Nawrahta was to lead the southern route from Martaban (Mottama). In early 1765, Thihapate with a 20,000-strong force began his operations by starting with the Lao states. The Kingdom of Vientiane
Kingdom of Vientiane
Kingdom of Vientiane was formed in 1707 as a result of the split of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. The kingdom was a Burmese vassal . It then became a Siamese vassal until 1828 when it was annexed by Siam.-Kings:*Setthathirath II...
agreed to become Burmese vassal without a fight. Luang Prabang
Kingdom of Luang Phrabang
The Kingdom of Luang Phrabang was formed in 1707 as a result of the split of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. The monarchy was so weak that it was forced to pay tribute at various times to the Burmese and the Siamese...
resisted but Thihapate's forces easily captured the city in March 1765, giving the Burmese complete control of Siam's entire northern border.
Thihapate then invaded Siam via the Chao Phraya valley, down towards Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya (city)
Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya...
. His forces reached the outskirts of Ayutthaya on 20 January 1766, joining up with Maha Nawrahta's forces. The Burmese then began what turned out to be a 14-month siege. Around March 1767, Maha Nawrahta died of illness, and Ne Myo Thihapate became the commander-of-chief of the entire operations. His forces breached the city's defenses on 7 April 1767, and sacked the entire city.
The Burmese gains did not last long as Hsinbyushin ordered most of the Burmese troops in late 1767 to return in the face of the Chinese invasion that threatened Ava
Ava
Innwa is a city in the Mandalay Division of Burma , situated just to the south of Amarapura on the Ayeyarwady River. Its formal title is Ratanapura , which means City of Gems in Pali. The name Innwa means mouth of the lake, which comes from in , meaning lake, and wa , which means mouth...
. The Siamese resistance retook their lost territories in 1768 and 1769.
Command at Chiang Mai (1773)
In early 1773, Ne Myo Thihapate was posted with a sizable army at Chiang Mai. King Hsinbyushin had wanted to renew the war with Siam but he was hamstrung by the Chinese threat up north. (The Sino-Burmese war had ended with an uneasy truce in December 1769. The Chinese kept a heavy military lineup at the border in an attempt to wage another war.) While at Chiang Mai, Thihapate became embroiled in the local politics. The new Burmese governor of Lan Na, Thado Mindin mistreated many local chiefs. Ne Myo Thihapate actually sided with the chiefs. Hsinbyushin ultimately decided against opening a major front. Ne Myo Thihapate was recalled.Siam (1775–1776)
Three of the chiefs defected to the Siamese, and came back with Siamese help to drive out the Burmese governor there in January 1775. In response, Hsinbyushin, who had been in a long illness that would eventually take his life, now ordered an invasion. Thihapate again was given the northern command, under the overall commander Gen. Maha Thiha ThuraMaha 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...
. In October 1775, Thihapate led his army based in Chiang Saen down to Chiang Mai. His army captured Chiang Mai but faced tough resistance by the Siamese forces. He evacuated Chiang Mai back to Chiang Saen when Maha Thiha Thura ordered a pullout of the invasion after Hsinbyushin's death in June 1776. The Burmese would lose control of Lan Na. However because of good performance in the war, he was honored with a new upgraded title Ne Myo Thenapati, and given the office of Wungyi (minister) by King Singu
Singu Min
Singu Min was the fourth king of the Konbaung dynasty of Myanmar. The king, who came to power amid controversy, largely put an end to his father Hsinbyushin's policy of territorial expansion, which had severely depleted the kingdom's manpower and resources. He stopped his father's latest war...
.