Anglo-Burmese Relations

Background

·       The British came into increasing contact with Burma (present-day Myanmar) as the East India Company expanded its territories in eastern India. Burmese expansion into Assam, Manipur and Arakan brought Burma into direct conflict with British interests.

·       The Anglo-Burmese conflict ultimately resulted in three wars between 1824 and 1885, after which Burma was completely annexed to British India.

Causes of Anglo-Burmese Conflicts

·   Burmese Expansion: The Burmese kingdom under the Konbaung dynasty expanded rapidly during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It occupied Arakan (1785), Manipur and Assam, bringing Burmese territory close to British-controlled Bengal.

·   Border Disputes: The expansion of Burma created frequent disputes along the Bengal–Burma frontier, particularly in the areas of Chittagong, Arakan and Assam.

·   British Commercial Interests: The British were interested in expanding trade with Burma and accessing the markets and resources of Southeast Asia. British merchants also sought greater commercial privileges in Burmese territories.

·   Strategic Interests: Burma was strategically important because of its location between British India and Southeast Asia. The British wanted to secure India’s eastern frontier and prevent rival European influence, particularly French influence, from gaining ground in the region.

First Anglo-Burmese War, 1824–1826

·       The First Anglo-Burmese War began in 1824.

·       The immediate causes included Burmese expansion into Assam and Manipur and repeated frontier clashes with British territories.

·       British forces under Sir Archibald Campbell advanced into Burmese territory and captured Rangoon in 1824.

·       The Burmese initially offered strong resistance, but British military and naval superiority eventually forced them to negotiate.

Treaty of Yandabo, 1826: The war ended with the Treaty of Yandabo on 24 February 1826. Its major provisions were:

• Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, Arakan and Tenasserim to the British.
• Burma agreed to pay a war indemnity of one crore rupees.
• Burma agreed to withdraw its forces from Assam and Manipur.
• Burma agreed to establish diplomatic relations with the British.
• A British Resident was to be accepted at the Burmese court.

Second Anglo-Burmese War, 1852

·       The Second Anglo-Burmese War was largely connected with British commercial interests and disputes involving British merchants in Lower Burma.

·       The British accused Burmese authorities of mistreating British merchants and used the dispute as a justification for military intervention.

·       British forces captured Rangoon, Bassein and Pegu.

Annexation of Lower Burma

o   In 1852, Governor-General Lord Dalhousie annexed Pegu, effectively bringing most of Lower Burma under British control.

o   The Burmese kingdom was therefore divided into a British-controlled Lower Burma and an independent Burmese kingdom in Upper Burma.

Third Anglo-Burmese War, 1885: The final conflict occurred during the tenure of Lord Dufferin. Several factors contributed to the war:

• King Thibaw attempted to maintain Burmese independence.
• British commercial interests, particularly those involving the Bombay-Burmah Trading Corporation, created tensions.
• Burma developed closer relations with France, which alarmed the British.
• British officials feared that French influence in Burma could threaten Britain’s strategic position in Southeast Asia.
• The British invaded Upper Burma in 1885 and occupied Mandalay.
• King Thibaw was deposed and exiled to Ratnagiri in India.

Complete Annexation of Burma, 1886

·       On 1 January 1886, Upper Burma was formally annexed by the British.

·       Burma was initially administered as a province of British India.

·       Thus, the three Anglo-Burmese Wars transformed British involvement from frontier intervention into complete colonial annexation.

Burma as Part of British India

·       Burma remained administratively attached to British India for several decades.

·       However, its geographical, political and economic distinctiveness eventually encouraged a separate administrative arrangement.

·       In 1937, Burma was separated from British India under the Government of India Act, 1935 and became a separate British colony.

Economic Dimension

·       British rule transformed Burma into an important export-oriented agricultural economy.

·       The expansion of rice cultivation in the Irrawaddy delta made Burma one of the world’s major rice-exporting regions.

·       British companies also became involved in teak, rice, oil and other commercial activities.

·       Indian migration to Burma increased considerably during colonial rule, particularly in trade, administration, moneylending and labour.

Conclusion

The Anglo-Burmese Wars transformed Burma from an independent regional power into a British possession. The Treaty of Yandabo (1826) marked the beginning of British territorial expansion, while the annexation of Upper Burma in 1886 completed the conquest. British rule subsequently integrated Burma into the economic and administrative structure of the colonial empire.

FAQ

1. What were the major causes of the Anglo-Burmese Wars?
The major causes were Burmese territorial expansion, frontier disputes, British commercial interests, strategic considerations and competition with French influence in Southeast Asia.

2. What was the Treaty of Yandabo?
The Treaty of Yandabo (1826) ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, Arakan and Tenasserim, agreed to pay a one-crore-rupee indemnity, and accepted a British Resident at its court.

3. What was the result of the Second Anglo-Burmese War?
The war of 1852 resulted in the British annexation of Pegu and most of Lower Burma, bringing the economically important Irrawaddy region increasingly under British control.

4. Why did the British launch the Third Anglo-Burmese War?
The British were concerned about commercial disputes, King Thibaw’s policies and growing French influence in Burma. British forces captured Mandalay in 1885 and deposed King Thibaw.

5. When was Burma completely annexed by the British?
Upper Burma was annexed on 1 January 1886, completing British conquest of Burma. It was initially administered as a part of British India and was separated from India in 1937.