Orders of battle for the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1414–1415)

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Ava and Hanthawaddy forces fought primarily in the Irrawaddy delta theater in the south in this phase of the war.

This is a list of orders of battle for the 1414–1415 campaigns of the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1408–1418), a military war fought between the Burmese-speaking Kingdom of Ava and the Mon-speaking Kingdom of Hanthawaddy.

Background[edit]

The orders of battles in this article are sourced from the main royal chronicles—the Maha Yazawin, the Yazawin Thit and the Hmannan Yazawin, which primarily narrate the war from the Ava side.[note 1] For this phase of the war, the Razadarit Ayedawbon and Pak Lat Chronicles, which narrate from the Hanthawaddy perspective, provide almost no details except for the battle of Dala in March 1415.[note 2]

The military strength figures in this article have been reduced by an order of magnitude from those reported in the chronicles, following G.E. Harvey's and Victor Lieberman's analyses of Burmese chronicles' military strength figures in general.[note 3]

October–December 1414[edit]

Western theater[edit]

For the Battle of Khebaung in October 1414 in the western theater, the Ava force was commanded by Crown Prince Minye Kyawswa, accompanied by Nawrahta of Salin, Thray Sithu of Myinsaing, Yazathingyan of Sagaing, and Min Nyo of Kale. His army of eight regiments (8000 troops, with 200 or 600 cavalry and 40 or 80 elephants,[note 4] was accompanied by a navy of six flotillas, consisting of a dozen or more warships, 500 war boats,[clarification needed] more than 500 armoured war boats,[clarification needed] and 500 cargo boats, carrying around 13,000 troops in total.[note 5] The Pegu force was commanded by Smin Ye-Thin-Yan, who was killed in the battle.[4][2][3]

The name of the battle of Panko, which occurred in October or November, is mentioned only in the Razadarit and Yazawin Thit.[5][6] The Maha Yazawin only cursorily mentions that Smin Bayan was captured in battle but does not say in which battle.[4] The Hmannan describes the battle as part of Minye Kyawswa's southern drive but does not mention the name of the location.[7] The Ava army was commanded by Minye Kyawswa, and the navy by Nawrahta of Salin;[6][7] the Pegu navy was led by Smin Bayan, who surrendered, and its army by Prince Binnya Dhammaraza.[2][7][8]

At the first battles of Bassein and Myaungmya (October/November 1414), the Ava army was again led by Minye Kyawswa;[4][9][10] the Pegu defences at Bassein and Myaungmya, which included their own naval flotillas, were led by Dein Mani-Yut and Smin Saw Htut respectively.[4][9][10] The second battles began after Minye Kyawswa returned from Ava, which took 22 days in total.[note 6] The Ava forces, consisting of three regiments, were commanded by Nawrahta of Salin and Thiri Pyanchi;[9][11] the Pegu defence at Myaungmya retained Smin Saw Htut, but at Bassein Smin Maw-Khwin II was in charge.[note 7]

Central and eastern theatres[edit]

Prince Thihathu attempted to invade down the eastern side of the Irrawaddy and Hlaing rivers through Hsabaga,[6][7] which was the eastern border demarcation point per the 1403 Treaty of Prome.[13][14][15] At the Battle of Hsabaga (October 1414), Thihathu's army included troops from Hpaunghnin, Mindon (whose lord was killed), Nattaung (whose lord surrendered), and Ahlwe, in addition to his own Ava troops. The chronicles mention only the commanders but do not mention the strength of the second army.[6][7] The Pegu army and navy was led by Prince Binnya Bassein, aided by Upakaung Minhla Kyawkhaung and Lauk Na-Re.[6][7]

The Pegu force invading towards Toungoo was led by Smin Maw-Khwin of Sayat, who surrendered, and Smin Saw Paik, who died in battle;[4][6][12][8] they faced Thinkhaya I of Toungoo.[4][6][12]

December 1414–March 1415[edit]

According to the main chronicles, the siege of Dala began after Minye Kyawswa returned from Ava, which took 22 days in total.[note 6] By then, Razadarit had already moved to Martaban (Mottama) since the first half of November from Pegu.[9] The siege of Dala lasted until 2 March 1415.[16] Minye Kyawswa's force included Nanda Thuriya of Sale (ne Sittuyinga-Thu) and Nanda Kyawthu of Kinda (ne Letwe Yawda),[4][9][10] and was joined after December by Nawrahta of Salin.[9][11]

All the main chronicles as well as the Razadarit Ayedawbon chronicle say Minye Kyawswa laid siege to Dala, defended by Prince Binnya Dala. However, the Pak Lat chronicle says Minye Kyawswa laid siege to the capital Pegu, which was defended by Prince Binnya Kyan,[17] the title later worn by Binnya Dala, who was accompanied at the siege by Smin Awa Naing, Smin Sithu, Smin Sam Lek II, Smin Paik-Nye, and Maha Thamun,[4][9][10] in addition to regiments from Dagon and Syriam.[18]

Battle of Dala (13 March 1415)[edit]

Ava[edit]

Ava Order of Battle, 13 March 1415
Unit Commander Strength[note 8] Reference(s)
Main Division, 1st Army Minye Kyawswa † 4 regiments (2500+ troops, 250+ cavalry, 16+ elephants) [note 9]
Vanguard Regiment Minye Kyawswa † 300 troops, 100 (or 300) cavalry, ? elephants [note 10]
Arakan Regiment Lord of Arakan 700 troops, 50 cavalry, 5 elephants [note 11]
Kale Regiment Min Nyo of Kale 1000 (or 500) troops, 70 (or 50) cavalry, 5 elephants [note 12]
Salin Regiment Nawrahta of Salin 1000 troops, 50 cavalry, 5 elephants [note 13]

Hanthawaddy Pegu[edit]

Pegu Order of Battle, 13 March 1415
Unit Commander Strength[note 8] Reference(s)
Royal Hanthawaddy Army Razadarit 7 regiments (6000+ troops) [note 14]
1st Vanguard Regiment Binnya Dhammaraza 1000+ (or 2000) troops [note 15]
2nd Vanguard Regiment Binnya Ran 1000+ troops [note 16]
Right Flank Regiment Dein Mani-Yut 1000+ troops [note 17]
Left Flank Regiment Maha Thamun 1000+ (or 800) troops [note 18]
Royal Regiment Razadarit 1100 (or 2000) troops [note 19]
Rearguard Regiment Smin Awa Naing 200 (or 500) troops [note 20]
Dala Regiment Binnya Dala 1000+ troops [note 21]

Eastern theater (January–March 1415)[edit]

At the Siege of Fort Sayat, which took place in the east between January and March 1415), the Ava forces of 1000 troops, 50 cavalry, and 5 elephants were led by Thihathu, Thado of Mohnyin, and Tuyin Kyaw.[30][16][31] The Pegu army, of around 500 troops, 30 cavalry, and 5 elephants, was led by Smin Byattaba.[note 22]

Late events[edit]

During Minkhaung's invasion of April and May, the royal Ava force was commanded by King Minkhaung I,[32][33][34] with a strike force of a navy and five regiments co-commanded by Nawrahta of Salin and Min Nyo of Kale.[note 23] The Pegu force was led by King Razadarit,[32][33][34] accompanied by Smin Awa Naing, Smin Sam Lek II, Binnya Dala, and Binnya Set,

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ See (Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 31–34), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 239–247), and (Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 8–21).
  2. ^ See (Pan Hla 2005: 291–317) for this phase of the war. See (Pan Hla 2005: 310) for the order of battle for Dala.
  3. ^ See (Harvey 1925: 333–335)'s "Numerical Note". (Lieberman 2014: 98) writing on the First Toungoo period concurs: "Military mobilizations were probably more of a boast than a realistic estimate. Modern industrial states have difficulty placing 10% of their people under arms."
  4. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin, and Yazawin Thit: 8 regiments (80,000 troops, 6000 cavalry, 400 elephants)[1][2]
    • Hmannan Yazawin: 8 regiments (80,000 troops, 2000 cavalry, 800 elephants)[3]
  5. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin, : 6 flotillas (130,000 troops, 12 war ships, 500 war boats, 800 armored war boats, 500 cargo boats)[4]
    • Yazawin Thit: 130,000 troops, 12 war ships, 500 war boats, 500 armored war boats, 500 cargo boats[2]
    • Hmannan Yazawin: 130,000 troops, 18 war ships, 500 war boats, 800 armored war boats, 500 cargo boats[3]
  6. ^ a b Minye Kyawswa sailed up to Ava to present Smin Bayan and other key prisoners of war (11 days), spent 7 days at the capital, and returned to the south (4 nights, 5 days).[4][9][10]
  7. ^ After Dein Mani-Yut was recalled to Pegu in November, his command at Bassein was taken over by a commander titled Smin Maw-Khwin.[9][11] This Smin Maw-Khwin apparently had succeeded the previous Smin Maw-Khwin who was captured near Toungoo in October.[4][6][12]
  8. ^ a b Unless otherwise stated, the military mobilization figures in this article are reduced by an order of magnitude from those reported in the royal chronicles, per G.E. Harvey's analysis in his History of Burma (1925) in the section Numerical Note (pp. 333–335).
  9. ^ According to the Yazawin Thit and Hmannan, Nanda Thuriya of Sale and Thettawshay of Myedu also fell in action.[19][20] The Pak Lat says an Ava regimental commander named Min Maha Letya fell in action.[21]
  10. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 3000 troops, 3,000 cavalry, ? elephants[22]
    • Yazawin Thit: 3000 troops, 100 cavalry, ? elephants[23]
    • Hmannan: 3000 troops, 3000 cavalry, ? elephants[24]
  11. ^ Chronicles Maha Yazawin, Yazawin Thit and Hmannan all report 7000 troops, 500 cavalry, 50 elephants.[22][23][24]
  12. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 10,000 troops, 700 cavalry, 50 elephants[22]
    • Yazawin Thit: 10,000 troops, 500 cavalry, 50 elephants[23]
    • Hmannan: 5000 troops, 700 cavalry, 50 elephants[24]
  13. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 10,000 troops, 500 cavalry, 50 elephants[22]
    • Yazawin Thit: 10,000 troops, 500 cavalry, 50 elephants[23]
    • Hmannan: 10,000 troops, 5000 [not 500] cavalry, 50 elephants[24]
  14. ^
    • Per the chronicles Maha Yazawin, Yazawin Thit, and Hmannan, the Hanthawaddy army fielded six regiments out of the seven regiments, with Binnya Dala's regiment posted outside Dala.[25][26][27]
    • The Razadarit Ayedawbon gives seven regiments led by Binnya Dhammaraza, Binnya Ran, Binnya Dala, Dein Mani-Yut, Maha Thamun, Smin Awa Naing and Razadarit.[28]
    • The Pak Lat gives six regiments led by Binnya Kyan, Binnya Ran, Dein Mani-Yut, Maha Thamun, Smin Awa Naing and Razadarit.[28]
  15. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 2000 troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 20,000 troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[23]
    • Hmannan: 11,000 troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[29]
  16. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 1000+ troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 10,000+ troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[23]
    • Hmannan: 1000+ troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[29]
  17. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 1000+ troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 10,000+ troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[23]
    • Hmannan: 100+ troops, ? cavalry, ? elephants[29]
  18. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 1000+ troops[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 10,000+ troops[23]
    • Hmannan: 800 troops[29]
  19. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 2000 troops[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 20,000 troops[23]
    • Hmannan: 11,000 troops[29]
  20. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 2000 troops[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 5000+ troops[23]
    • Hmannan: 2000 troops[29]
  21. ^ Chronicles report:
    • Maha Yazawin: 1000 troops[25]
    • Yazawin Thit: 10,000+ troops[23]
    • Hmannan: 10,000 troops[29]
  22. ^ Chronicles give different figures:
    • Maha Yazawin: 20,000 troops, 30 cavalry, 5 elephants[30]
    • Yazawin Thit: 5,000 troops, 30 cavalry, 5 elephants[16]
    • Hmannan: 2,000 troops, 30 cavalry, 5 elephants[31]
  23. ^ The Maha Yazawin and Yazawin Thit chronicles say the remaining land and naval forces were led by the lords of Salin and Kale.[32][33] The

References[edit]

  1. ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 34
  2. ^ a b c d Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 247–248
  3. ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 22
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 35
  5. ^ Fernquest Spring 2006: 19
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 249
  7. ^ a b c d e f Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 24
  8. ^ a b Fernquest Spring 2006: 26
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 250–251
  10. ^ a b c d e Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 25–26
  11. ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 27
  12. ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 23
  13. ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 326
  14. ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 223
  15. ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 466
  16. ^ a b c Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 256
  17. ^ Pan Hla 2005: 297, footnote 1
  18. ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 252
  19. ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 259
  20. ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 42–43
  21. ^ Pan Hla 2005: 307
  22. ^ a b c d Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 47
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 258–259
  24. ^ a b c d Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 41
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 45–46
  26. ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 256, 259
  27. ^ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 42
  28. ^ a b Pan Hla 2005: 310, footnote 1
  29. ^ a b c d e f g Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 39–40
  30. ^ a b Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 43
  31. ^ a b Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 36
  32. ^ a b c Maha Yazawin Vol. 2 2006: 52–53
  33. ^ a b c Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 262
  34. ^ a b Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 46–47

Bibliography[edit]

  • Fernquest, Jon (Spring 2006). "Rajadhirat's Mask of Command: Military Leadership in Burma (c. 1384–1421)" (PDF). SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research. 4 (1). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  • Fernquest, Jon (Autumn 2006). "Crucible of War: Burma and the Ming in the Tai Frontier Zone (1382–1454)" (PDF). SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research. 4 (2). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  • Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
  • Kala, U (2006) [1724]. Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
  • Lieberman, Victor B. (2014) [1984]. Burmese Administrative Cycles: Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580–1760. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05407-0.
  • Maha Sithu (2012) [1798]. Myint Swe; Kyaw Win; Thein Hlaing (eds.). Yazawin Thit (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
  • Pan Hla, Nai (2005) [1968]. Razadarit Ayedawbon (in Burmese) (8th printing ed.). Yangon: Armanthit Sarpay.
  • Royal Historical Commission of Burma (2003) [1832]. Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3. Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
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