Balamindin

Balamindin (Burmese: ဗလမင်းထင်, pronounced [bəla̰ mɪ́ɴdɪ̀ɴ] or [bəla̰ mɪ́ɴtʰɪ̀ɴ]) was a general in the Burmese army of the Konbaung Dynasty. He is best known in Burmese history for his spirited defense Fort Kaungton against repeated attacks by numerically superior Chinese invasion forces in the Sino-Burmese War (1765–1769). From 1766 to 1769, Balamindin commanded the fort. The determined resistance by the Burmese at Kaungton proved critical in stopping the last three Chinese invasions. After the war, he was made governor of Kaungton.[1]

Balamindin
ဗလမင်းထင်
BornMu valley, Kingdom of Myanmar
AllegianceKonbaung Dynasty
Service/branchRoyal Burmese Army
Years of service1752–1769
RankGeneral
Commands heldFort Kaungton (1766–1769)
Battles/warsKonbaung-Hanthawaddy War
Sino-Burmese War (1765–1769)
AwardsYe Kyaw Thura
Balamindin
Other workGovernor of Kaungton[1]

Background

Balamindin was born Maung Lwin in the Moksobo region (present-day Shwebo District) in Upper Burma. He joined Alaungpaya's resistance forces to the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom's invasion forces in 1752. Lwin was selected as one of 68 elite commanders that would become the core leadership of Konbaung armies for the next thirty years. He served with distinction in Alaungpaya's reunification campaigns, first achieving the title Ye Kyaw Thura, and then Balamindin.[1]

After Alaungpaya's death in 1760, Balamindin became allied with Alaungpaya's brother Thado Thinkhathu, governor of Toungoo (Taungoo). In 1762, Thinkhathu revolted against King Naungdawgyi, and Balamindin supported the rebellion. Naungdawgyi's forces laid siege to Toungoo, and recaptured the city. Naungdawgyi pardoned his uncle Thinkhathu and Thinkhathu's deputies, including Balamindin.[2]

See also

References

  1. Kyaw Thet (1962). History of Burma (in Burmese). Yangon: University of Rangoon Press. pp. 268–270.
  2. Kyaw Thet, pp. 296-297


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.