Mindon Min, born Maung Lwin, was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma. Under his half brother King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma by the British Empire. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Pagan. He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper part of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his kingdom.
King Thibaw, also Thebaw or Theebaw, was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) and also the last Burmese monarch in the country's history. His reign ended when the Royal Burmese armed forces were defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886.
Panthays are Chinese Muslims in Myanmar. Panthays are one of the oldest groups of Muslims in Burma. The exact proportion of the Chinese Muslim group in the local Chinese population remains unknown due to a lack of data. However, they are concentrated particularly in the northern part of Myanmar, closer to Yunnan, China from where the Panthays historically originated. They particularly reside in the towns of Tangyan, Maymyo, Mogok, and Taunggyi in Mandalay and Shan State.
Kuthodaw Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa, located in Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar), that contains the world's largest book. It lies at the foot of Mandalay Hill and was built during the reign of King Mindon. The stupa itself, which is gilded above its terraces, is 188 feet (57 m) high, and is modelled after the Shwezigon Pagoda at Nyaung-U near Bagan. In the grounds of the pagoda are 729 kyauksa gu or stone-inscription caves, each containing a marble slab inscribed on both sides with a page of text from the Tipitaka, the entire Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism.
Islam is a minority religion in Myanmar, practised by about 2.1% of the population, according to the 2014 Myanmar official statistics.
Supayalat, also spelt Suphayalat, was the last queen of Burma who reigned in Mandalay (1878–1885), born to King Mindon Min and Queen of Alenandaw. The British corruption of her name was "Soup Plate". She was married to her half-brother, Thibaw, who became the last king of the Konbaung dynasty in 1878, upon Mindon Min's death. She is best known for engineering a massacre of 80 to 100 royal family members, to prevent potential rivals from usurping Thibaw's power, although she had always denied any knowledge of the plot, which may have been hatched by her mother together with some of the ministers, including the chancellor Kinwon Min Gyi U Kaung.
Stone tablets inscribed with the Tripiṭaka stand upright in the grounds of the Kuthodaw Pagoda at the foot of Mandalay Hill in Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma). The work was commissioned by King Mindon as part of his transformation of Mandalay into a royal capital. It was completed in 1868. The text contains the Buddhist canon in the Burmese language.
U Nu Mohamad Kassim, better known as Saya Gyi U Nu, or U Nu, was a leading Burmese Muslim writer during the reign of King Bodawpaya. He combined words and terms from Burmese religious literature with poetic writing and Islamic ideas to produce books which are regarded as classics of Burmese Muslim literature. Bodawpaya appointed him to head a mission to India, to retrieve books and scriptures in Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, and Persian. Nu was appointed the Mayor of Yammar Wati with the title Shwe Taung Thargathu, which means "Hero of the Ocean".
Shwe Hpyin Nyidaw, also called Shwe Hpyin Nge or Min Lay, is one of the 37 nats in the official pantheon of Burmese nats.
The Burmese Resistance Movement of 1885–1895 occurred almost immediately after the fall of Mandalay. Due to the rapidity of British advancement up the Irrawaddy River, the bulk of the Burmese army suffered few casualties. Many had not experienced actual fighting. Nevertheless, the issue of the Hluttaw’s order to surrender on 27 November 1885 meant that Burmese garrisons south of Mandalay had to disarm without putting up a fight. Soon widespread resistance started to break out in Upper Burma, Lower Burma, the Shan Hills, Kachin Hills and Chin Hills which did not die out until 1896.
"To all town and village thugyis, heads of cavalry, heads of the daings, shield bearers, heads of jails, heads of gold and silver revenues, mine workers, settlement officers, heads of forests, and to all royal subjects and inhabitants of the Royal Empire: Those heretics, the English kala barbarians, having most harshly made demands calculated to bring about the impairment and destruction of our religion, the violation of our national traditions and customs, and the degradation of our race, are making a show and preparation as if about to wage war with our State ... The local officials shall not forcibly impress into service anyone who may not wish to serve. To uphold the religion, to uphold the national honour, to uphold the country's interests, will bring about threefold good; good of our religion, good of our master, and good of ourselves; and will gain for us the important result of placing us in the path to the celestial regions and to Nibban. Whoever, therefore, is willing to join and serve zealously will be assisted by His Majesty with royal rewards and royal money, and be made to serve in the capacity for which he may be fit. Loyal officials are to make inquiries for volunteers and others who may wish to serve, and are to submit lists of them to their respective Governments."
Hsinbyumashin was a senior queen of King Mindon Min during the Konbaung dynasty. She was known for Bronze Hall Massacre. She was the daughter of King Bagyidaw and his consort Nanmadaw Me Nu (Chief Queen of King Bagyidaw). She was one of the most influential queen consorts in Burmese history, and often regarded as the power behind the throne.
Thiri Pawara Atula Tilawka Maha Yazeinda Adhipati Yadana Dewi, commonly known as Setkya Dewi or Sekkya Dewi, was Queen of the Konbaung Kingdom of Burma from 26 March 1853 to 12 November 1876 as the chief queen of Mindon Min. Born to Tharrawaddy Min and his wife, she held the position of the Tabindaing Princess during her father's reign. Being renowned for her knowledge of modern science and astrology, Setkya Dewi was popular with the British, who described her as a well-educated woman, and visitors would often bring her gifts related to her astrological interests.
Khin The, commonly known by her regnal title Thiri Maha Yadana Mingala Dewi, was the Queen of the Northern Palace of King Mindon Min during the Konbaung dynasty. Among several queen consorts, Khin The was the favored queen of King Mindon.
Thiri Maha Thuta Yadana Sanda Dewi, commonly known as Anauk Nanmadaw Ma Mya Lay, was the Queen of the Western Palace of King Tharrawaddy during the Konbaung dynasty.
The Mandalay Thabin refers to the Mandalay-based dramatic arts industry, including yoke thé, anyeint, zat pwe, etc., flourished since the late Konbaung era, during the reigns of King Mindon and King Thibaw.
May Thit was a Burmese actress and singer. She won Best Actress Award for 1960, Best Supporting Actress Award for 1964 and 1976 in Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards. She was famous around between 1950s and 1990s.
Mindon Min, the tenth king of the Konbaung Kingdom, died in Mandalay Palace at the age of 64 on the afternoon of 1 October 1878. A mourning period of seven days preceded his funeral, which took place on 7 October. His son Thibaw was proclaimed the new monarch by the Hluttaw.
Taungdaw Thakhinma is a Burmese nat (deity) and guardian spirit of Mount Thakhinma. Nowadays, she stands as a symbol of unwavering love, maintaining her loyalty to her husband by giving her life. Her worshippers believe that prayers at her shrine can grant wishes and fortify their own love relationships.
Maung Maung Tin, also known as Mandalay U Tin, was a prince of the Konbaung dynasty, courtier, resistance leader, British colonial civil servant, writer, and historian. He is best known as the author of the last royal chronicle of Burma—the Konbaung Set Yazawin.
