Singu Min
Encyclopedia
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 against Siam at his accession, effectively ceding Lan Na to the Siamese. Likewise, he took no action when the Laotian states stopped paying tribute in 1778. The only campaigns were in Manipur
, where the Burmese army was forced to put down four rebellions throughout his reign.
The king is best remembered for the 22,952-kg Maha Ganda Bell which he donated in 1779. Singu was overthrown on 6 February 1782 by his cousin Phaungka, and was executed by his uncle Bodawpaya
eight days later.
on 10 May 1756. When his father became king, Min Ye Hla was granted the town of Singu
in fief. He became known as Singusa or Lord of Singu by which he would be known. He was later installed as Heir Apparent
, against the wish of the founder of the dynasty, Alaungpaya.
that all his sons become king. Singu's accession was made possible by the support of his father-in-law Gen. Maha Thiha Thura
, the commander-in-chief
of the Burmese military. (Singu's second queen, Maha Mingala Dewi, was the general's daughter.) At Hsinbyushin's death, Maha Thiha Thura led Burmese forces were bogged down in their latest campaign in Siam. Concerned about his own rule at home, Singu ordered a complete withdrawal of Burmese forces from Lan Na and Upper Menam valley. The withdrawal's long-term impact was that the Burmese would lose most of the old Lan Na Kingdom, which had been under Burmese suzerainty since 1558.
) was next in line for the throne—hence Singu's next target—but the astute prince conducted himself to be seen as harmless that he escaped death. Prince of Badon was sent to Sagaing
where he was kept under close supervision.
By demobilizing, he essentially decided to give up Lan Na which had been under Burmese rule since Bayinnaung
's time. Similarly, he took no action when the Laotian states of Vientiane
and Luang Prabang
, which had been Burmese vassals since 1765 stopped paying tribute in 1778. Nonetheless, his demobilization was greatly received by the war-torn country. The people had grown tired of constant conscriptions to fight in "ever-lasting wars" in remote regions they had never heard of.
The only region in which Singu maintained military action was Manipur, where he inherited another war from his father. The former Manipuri king, whom the Burmese last drove out in 1770, made four attempts to oust the Burmese nominee between 1775 and 1782 from his base in Cachar. The Burmese drove him back each time but were unable to capture him. The army gained "barren victories" and lost 20,000 men partly by fever over the years. After Singu's dethronement in 1782, the Burmese withdrew from Manipur "perhaps because the country was now so thoroughly devastated that nothing more could be wrung out of it".
.
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 Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. The king, who came to power amid controversy, largely put an end to his father Hsinbyushin
Hsinbyushin
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...
's policy of territorial expansion, which had severely depleted the kingdom's manpower and resources. He stopped his father's latest war against Siam at his accession, effectively ceding Lan Na to the Siamese. Likewise, he took no action when the Laotian states stopped paying tribute in 1778. The only campaigns were in Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, where the Burmese army was forced to put down four rebellions throughout his reign.
The king is best remembered for the 22,952-kg Maha Ganda Bell which he donated in 1779. Singu was overthrown on 6 February 1782 by his cousin Phaungka, and was executed by his uncle Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
eight days later.
Early life
Singu was born Min Ye Hla, the eldest son to Prince of Myedu (later King Hsinbyushin) and his first wife at the Royal Palace in AvaAva
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...
on 10 May 1756. When his father became king, Min Ye Hla was granted the town of Singu
Singu
-External links:*...
in fief. He became known as Singusa or Lord of Singu by which he would be known. He was later installed as Heir Apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
, against the wish of the founder of the dynasty, Alaungpaya.
Accession controversy
Singu ascended the throne amid controversy as his accession ignored the wish of the dynasty founder 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...
that all his sons become king. Singu's accession was made possible by the support of his father-in-law Gen. Maha Thiha Thura
Maha 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...
, the commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Burmese military. (Singu's second queen, Maha Mingala Dewi, was the general's daughter.) At Hsinbyushin's death, Maha Thiha Thura led Burmese forces were bogged down in their latest campaign in Siam. Concerned about his own rule at home, Singu ordered a complete withdrawal of Burmese forces from Lan Na and Upper Menam valley. The withdrawal's long-term impact was that the Burmese would lose most of the old Lan Na Kingdom, which had been under Burmese suzerainty since 1558.
Reign
Singu killed off potential rivals to the throne as soon as he came to power. He had three of his half-brothers executed in 1776 upon his ascension. He next executed his uncle Prince of Amyin, who rightful heir to the throne per Alaungpaya's wish, on 1 October 1777. He exiled other possible claimants—the remaining three uncles, and two cousins. Prince of Badon (later King BodawpayaBodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
) was next in line for the throne—hence Singu's next target—but the astute prince conducted himself to be seen as harmless that he escaped death. Prince of Badon was sent to Sagaing
Sagaing
Sagaing is the capital of Sagaing Region in Myanmar. Located on the Ayeyarwady River, 20 km to the southwest of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river, Sagaing with numerous Buddhist monasteries is an important religious and monastic center. The pagodas and monasteries crowd the numerous...
where he was kept under close supervision.
Demobilization
Unlike his predecessors, who were all military men, Singu was anti-war in sentiment. The country had been fighting constant wars since 1740, and manpower and resources had been severely depleted. Moreover, he did not trust army commanders who were "drunk with victory" and had become warlords in the regions. Singu witnessed how the commanders openly disobeyed his father's orders when the once-fiery king was on his deathbed (1774–1776). Reflecting the people's general wariness for war, Singu largely demobilized the armies. He even had a fallout with Maha Thiha Thura and dismissed the man who made him king. He relieved the old general of all his offices. He divorced Maha Thiha Thura's daughter in May 1777, and had her drowned in 1778.By demobilizing, he essentially decided to give up Lan Na which had been under Burmese rule since Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta was the third king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma . During his 30-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma", Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern day...
's time. Similarly, he took no action when the Laotian states 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...
and 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...
, which had been Burmese vassals since 1765 stopped paying tribute in 1778. Nonetheless, his demobilization was greatly received by the war-torn country. The people had grown tired of constant conscriptions to fight in "ever-lasting wars" in remote regions they had never heard of.
The only region in which Singu maintained military action was Manipur, where he inherited another war from his father. The former Manipuri king, whom the Burmese last drove out in 1770, made four attempts to oust the Burmese nominee between 1775 and 1782 from his base in Cachar. The Burmese drove him back each time but were unable to capture him. The army gained "barren victories" and lost 20,000 men partly by fever over the years. After Singu's dethronement in 1782, the Burmese withdrew from Manipur "perhaps because the country was now so thoroughly devastated that nothing more could be wrung out of it".
Administration
He spent much of time at the capital, surrounding himself with young people, anti-war in temperament himself. He spent his days at the palace, listening to music and poetry and his nights in drunken bouts in a hideout across the river. He executed or dismissed those courtiers who criticized his conduct.Dethronement and death
On 6 February 1782, one of the exiled cousins, Prince of Phaungka, came back to Ava, deposed Singu and claimed himself to be king. Phaungka's reign was short. Their uncle Prince of Badon, organized a coup one week later, killed both Singu and Phaungka and became king—later known as King BodawpayaBodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
.