Why this matters now
Anglo-Burmese Wars are tested for: Konbaung Empire under King Bagyidaw expanding into Assam + Manipur + Cachar 1817-22; threat to British eastern India; Treaty of Yandabo 24 Feb 1826 (ceded Assam + Arakan + Tenasserim, Rs 1 crore indemnity); Burmese-British clashes at Rangoon 1852 → 2nd war ended in annexation of Lower Burma/Pegu Dec 1852; King Thibaw Min’s misrule + French overtures led to 3rd war; Mandalay fell 28 Nov 1885; 1 Jan 1886 annexation of Upper Burma; Burma became province of British India until 1937.
First War (1824-26)
Cause: King Bagyidaw + General Maha Bandula expanded into Assam (1817) + Manipur (1819) + Cachar (1822) + Jaintia. Burmese army crossed into British territory at Cachar 1823.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 5 March 1824 | British EIC declared war. |
| May 1824 | British under Sir Archibald Campbell captured Rangoon (now Yangon) with seaborne expedition. |
| Dec 1824 - Apr 1825 | Battles around Rangoon + Donabyu; Burmese General Maha Bandula killed 1 April 1825. |
| 1825 | British advanced up Irrawaddy to Prome (Pyay), then Yandabo. |
| 24 Feb 1826 | TREATY OF YANDABO — Burma ceded: |
Treaty of Yandabo terms:
- Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, Cachar, Jaintia, Rakhine (Arakan), Tenasserim (Mergui, Tavoy).
- Burma paid Rs 1 crore war indemnity (paid in 4 installments).
- Burma renounced claims on Cachar + Jaintia + Manipur.
- British Resident at Ava; Burmese Resident at Calcutta.
- Commercial treaty.
Significance: Most expensive Indian war for British (Rs 13 crore cost, 15,000 British casualties); pushed EIC near bankruptcy. Britain gained foothold in SE Asia.
Second War (1852-53)
Cause: Burmese Governor of Rangoon fined two British sea captains for trade violations. Commodore Lambert bombarded Rangoon ports + sank Burmese flagship. Lord Dalhousie declared war.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 1852 | War declared. |
| 14 April 1852 | British captured Martaban + Rangoon. |
| June 1852 | Bassein + Pegu captured. |
| Sept 1852 | Prome captured. |
| 20 Dec 1852 | Lord Dalhousie annexed Pegu province (Lower Burma) by proclamation. No formal treaty — Burma never accepted but couldn’t reverse. |
| Feb 1853 | King Pagan Min overthrown by Mindon Min; war effectively ended. |
British now controlled all of Lower Burma. Mindon Min (1853-78) ruled reduced Upper Burma; pursued reforms + diplomatic outreach to Europe.
Third War (1885)
Cause: King Mindon Min died 1878; succeeded by son Thibaw Min (1878-85) after palace massacre. Thibaw made overtures to France (sought to balance against British). 1885 commercial dispute with Bombay-Burmah Trading Corporation (BBTC over teak logging) gave pretext.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 22 Oct 1885 | British ultimatum to Thibaw. |
| 11 Nov 1885 | War declared by Viceroy Dufferin. |
| 14 Nov - 28 Nov 1885 | Rapid British advance up Irrawaddy under General Harry Prendergast. 11-day campaign. |
| 28 Nov 1885 | Mandalay fell. King Thibaw surrendered. |
| 29 Nov 1885 | Thibaw + Queen Supayalat + family exiled to Ratnagiri, India (Thibaw died there 1916). |
| 1 Jan 1886 | UPPER BURMA ANNEXED by Queen Victoria’s proclamation. Burma became Province of British India. |
Aftermath:
- 5 years of guerrilla resistance (1885-90) brutally suppressed.
- Burma administered as part of British India until Government of Burma Act 1935; separated from India 1 April 1937.
- Burma became independent 4 January 1948 (renamed Myanmar 1989).
- Indian + Chinese workers brought as labour; communal tensions in Rangoon, Pegu still echo today.
UPSC angle
Know ANGLO-BURMESE WARS 3 WARS 1824-1885 vs KONBAUNG DYNASTY BURMA; FIRST 1824-26: King BAGYIDAW + Gen MAHA BANDULA expanded Assam 1817+Manipur 1819+Cachar 1822+Jaintia; Burmese crossed Cachar 1823; British war 5 March 1824; Sir Archibald Campbell captured RANGOON (Yangon) May 1824 seaborne; MAHA BANDULA KILLED 1 April 1825; British advanced Irrawaddy Prome+Yandabo; TREATY OF YANDABO 24 FEB 1826 Burma ceded ASSAM+MANIPUR+CACHAR+JAINTIA+ARAKAN+TENASSERIM (Mergui+Tavoy) + Rs 1 CRORE INDEMNITY 4 installments + British Resident Ava + Burmese Resident Calcutta + commercial treaty; MOST EXPENSIVE INDIAN WAR for British Rs 13 cr cost + 15000 casualties; SECOND 1852-53: Burmese Governor Rangoon fined 2 British captains, COMMODORE LAMBERT bombarded Rangoon, LORD DALHOUSIE declared war April 1852; British captured Martaban+Rangoon 14 April 1852, Bassein+Pegu June, Prome Sept; 20 DEC 1852 DALHOUSIE ANNEXED PEGU PROVINCE (Lower Burma) BY PROCLAMATION no formal treaty; Feb 1853 King Pagan Min overthrown by MINDON MIN war ended; THIRD 1885: KING MINDON MIN died 1878 → THIBAW MIN 1878-85 (palace massacre); Thibaw overtures France; 1885 BBTC Bombay-Burmah Trading Corp teak dispute pretext; British ultimatum 22 Oct 1885; VICEROY DUFFERIN declared war 11 Nov 1885; Gen HARRY PRENDERGAST 11-day campaign 14-28 Nov 1885 up Irrawaddy; MANDALAY FELL 28 NOV 1885 Thibaw surrendered; 29 Nov 1885 Thibaw+Queen SUPAYALAT family exiled RATNAGIRI India (Thibaw died there 1916); 1 JAN 1886 UPPER BURMA ANNEXED Queen Victoria Proclamation Burma BECAME PROVINCE BRITISH INDIA; AFTERMATH: 5 yrs guerrilla resistance 1885-90; Government of Burma Act 1935 SEPARATED FROM INDIA 1 APRIL 1937; BURMA INDEPENDENT 4 JAN 1948 (renamed Myanmar 1989).
Frequently asked questions
How many Anglo-Burmese Wars were fought?
Three — 1st (1824-26), 2nd (1852-53), 3rd (1885). All against the Konbaung Dynasty.
What was the Treaty of Yandabo?
Signed 24 February 1826 ending the 1st war. Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, Cachar, Jaintia, Arakan and Tenasserim + paid Rs 1 crore war indemnity. Made British India a SE Asian power.
When was Burma annexed?
Lower Burma (Pegu) on 20 December 1852 by Lord Dalhousie. Upper Burma on 1 January 1886 by Queen Victoria’s proclamation after the 3rd war.
When did Burma separate from British India?
1 April 1937 under the Government of Burma Act 1935. Became independent on 4 January 1948 (renamed Myanmar in 1989).