Treaty of Yandaboo

The Treaty of Yandaboo between the British East India Company and the Burmese King of Ava, signed on February 24, 1826 marked the end of the First Burmese War. By the terms of the treaty, the British took possession of the former independent kingdom of Arakan and the former Siamese (then Burmese) territories of Ye, Tavoy and Mergui typically known as Tennasserim. Financial penalties were imposed on the Burmese kingdom by the treaty and the Burmese were compelled to accept the presence of the British in their capital.

Historical background

Starting in the later 1700s, the Burmese Kingdom began a period of military expansion in all directions. By the 1820s, the Burmese had reached the borders of British India. Disputes over the affairs of border kingdoms and the activities of anti-Burmese exiles in Indian territory eventually led to war. The signing of Yandaboo treaty effectively ended the war.

Assam and the war

Assam was ruled by the Ahom Dynasty for around 500 years prior to this event. However, the Ahom kings were considered by their critics to be inefficient rulers due to internal unrest and lack of devotion towards duty. This led to political conflicts amongst top officials like Purnananda Burhagohain who was one of the powerful ministers of the king in upper (eastern part) Assam and Badan Borphukan, who was a general in lower (western part) Assam. (Incidentally, Badan Borphukan was a son-in-law of Purnananda Burhagohain.) Later, Purnananda Burhagohain ordered for the arrest of Badan Borphukan. Knowing this, Purnananda Burhagohain's daughter, Badan's wife warned Badan. He fled to Burma to seek the Burmese king's help in conquering Assam.

The Burmese army conquered Assam after little resistance from the unprepared Ahom army and started unprecedented atrocities and massacres of the Assamese people. Folk tales from the region say that Assam was turned into a graveyard during this period. (People in Assam still refer to this period as "Maanor din" signifying a time of much devastation). Badan Borphukan is still treated as a traitor of the people in Assam and his name is today synonymous with traitors of the country.

Yandaboo accord

Later, the Burmese army, locally called Maandn in Assam, became involved in a war with British India as a result of the British Army having driven into Assam and subsequently to Myanmar, then Burma. The Burmese king finally signed the Yandaboo accord with the British East India Company. The treaty directly annexed Arakan and Tenassarim to the British Empire. The treaty also directed the Burmese to cease being involved in certain border states such as Assam and Manipur. These border states were all eventually annexed to the British Empire.

External links

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