Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786)
The Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786), known as the Nine Armies' Wars (Thai: สงครามเก้าทัพ) in Siamese history because the Burmese came in nine armies, was the first war between the Konbaung dynasty of Burma and the Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom of the Chakri dynasty.
| Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Burmese–Siamese wars | |||||||
Green represents Burmese routes. Red represents Siamese routes. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Konbaung dynasty (Burma) |
Rattanakosin Kingdom (Siam) - Lanna Kingdom | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Bodawpaya Prince Thado Thiri Maha Uzana Prince Thado Minsaw Prince Thiri Damayaza Maha Thiri Thihathu Nemyo Nawratha Nawratha Kyawgaung Minhla Kyawdin Mingyi Maha Mingaung Nemyo Sithu Nemyo Gonnarat |
Rama I Prince Maha Sura Singhanat Prince Anurak Devesh Prince Chakchetsada Prince Thepharirak Phraya Kalahom Ratchasena Phraya Chasaenyakorn Chao Phraya Mahasena Pli Chao Phraya Rattanapipit Prince Kawila Chao Phraya Thamma Boonrot Chao Phraya Nakhon Phat Lady Chan and Lady Mook | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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144,000 (71,000 engaged) |
70,000 (~50,000 engaged) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy | Unknown | ||||||
King Bodawpaya of Burma pursued an ambitious campaign to expand his dominions into Siam. In 1785, three years after the foundation of Bangkok as the new royal seat and the Chakri dynasty, King Bodawpaya of Burma marched massive armies with total number of 144,000 to invade Siam in nine armies through five directions including Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Lanna, Tak, Thalang (Phuket), and the southern Malay Peninsula. However, the overstretched armies and provision shortages deemed the Burmese campaign failed. The Siamese under King Rama I and his younger brother Prince Maha Sura Singhanat successfully warded off Burmese invasions. By early 1786, the Burmese had largely retreated.
After the truce during the rainy season, King Bodawpaya resumed his campaign in late 1786. King Bodawpaya sent his son Prince Thado Minsaw to concentrate his forces on Kanchanaburi in only a single direction to invade Siam. The Siamese met the Burmese at Tha Dindaeng, hence the term "Tha Din Daeng campaign". The Burmese were again defeated and Siam managed to defend its western border. These two failed invasions ultimately turned out to be the last full-scale invasion of Siam by Burma.