BCE [Before Common Era, = B.C.]
1000. Legendary origin of the Burman kingdom. Founding of Tagaung
by Abhi Yaza (Raja), a conquered Sakya king of Kapilavastu ("Kapilawut") in Audh.
865. Era of King Kawza begins. Thirty-two kings follow, ending with Binnaka Yaza.
825. King Kan Yaza-dyi is established at Kale on the Chindwin. His son Umidusitta migrates to Kyauppadaung in Arakan and establishes the Arakan Kingdom. King Kan Yaza-nge is established in Tagaung.
691. Era of King Kawza closes. Era of Bodaw Yuzana, Raja of the Sakyas, grandfather of Gawdama,begins.
623. Birth of Gawdama, afterwards the Buddha, according to the legend; according to historical researches, sixty to one hundred and thirty-one years later.
Chinese irruption into Burma. King driven south to Male. Tripartition of kingdom. Prince Doza Yaza of Kapilavastu marries the chief widow of the king and founds old or northern Pagan. Seventeen reigns follow, up to 443 BCE
588. Gawdama quits the palace and enters on his mission as Buddha. Miraculous visit of the Buddha and five hundred yahan to Sagaing. Changes in the earth prophesiedÑthe formation of the Bo-u lake, the rise of Popa mount (volcanic), the retreat of the sea from Thayekittaya near Prome(cf p.50), and the spread of Buddhism.
543. Demise of Gawdama Buddha. Era of Gawdama begins (lasts till 82 C.E.). First Buddhist council.
523. King Ajutasatra collects the relics of the Buddha.
443. Two Burman kingdoms, Tagaung and Pyu (Pye, Prum, Prome ?) Prince Labadutra of Tagaung hunts the great boar, which he kills at Wettokyun near Prome. Second Buddhist council.
250. King Asoka (Asawka min) of Pattaliputra distributes the relics of the Buddha. The king's son Mahinda goes as missionary yahan to Ceylon. U Ottara and U Sawnase missionary yahan to Burma.
241. Third Buddhist council.
150. Legendary visit of Gawdama to Arakan. The Maha-myammuni image modelled from the Buddha, and cast by King Sandathuria. 80. The Buddhist canon reduced to writing by Vattagamini.

C.E. [Common Era = A.D.]

65. The Buddhist Scriptures brought to China.
82. New era of Pyu King Thamundayit. [Lasts till 638.]
104.The Muns destroy Thayekittaya. King Thamundayit driven north, where he establishes New Pagan. Eighteen reigns follow.
128. Rise of Magadu in Martaban (Mottama).
400. The missionary yahan Buddhaghosa from Ceylon brings the Buddhist scriptures to Pegu and reforms the religious practice .
410 Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa Hian visits Ceylon.
450. Burma invaded by Shan Chinese (Tarok_Tartar?)
518 Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Chun Yun visits Ceylon.
552. Buddhism introduced into Japan.
629. Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Hiouen Sung visits Ceylon; remained till 648.
638. Era and dynasty of King Pupasaw--the present era.
Accession of King Pyinbya, to whom nine of the temples at Pagan are ascribed. Siam (Yodaya) converted to Buddhism.
800. Irruption of Shans into Burma. (Date earlier ? Pressure of Chinese on the N.E. the probable cause, Phayre, p. 12.) King Saw Yahan introduced naga ['nat'/spirit] worship.
1017. Accession of King Anawyata Minsaw the Great. Abolishes naga worship. Builds temples at Pagan. Invades China to procure the Buddhist scriptures and sacred tooth-relic. A model of the relic procured and deposited in the Shwezigon Paya, Nyaung-u. Invades Arakan and endeavours to take the Maba-myammmuni image. Invades Pegu, captures Thaton and brings away the Buddhist scriptures to Pagan. Takes Tenaserim from Siam.
1085. Southern provinces rebel, but are re-subjugated. King Kyansitthu of Pagan builds Ananda Paya and Shwe Ku Paya. Establishes relations with the Buddhists of Ceylon. Repairs the shrines at Boddhagaya through the agency of the King of Arakan.
1160. King Kyansitthu of Pagan murdered by his son after reigning seventy-five years.
1167. Accession of King Narapati Sitthu the Great. Empire established over all the kingdoms except Arakan. Embassy sent to the King of Ceylon, who deputes five yahan to teach Buddhism in Burma.
1204 Burma invaded from India. Burman sovereign deposed [Kala-kya-min.] Cambodia and Arayamana invaded from Ceylon.
1284 Burma invaded by China and tribute demanded. King Narashihepade driven south and pursued to Tarok-hmaw before Prome whence he fled to Pathein [Tarok-pye-min]. Pagan referred to by Marco Polo as the capital of a great kingdom.
1300. Burma invaded by Shans. King Kyawzwa of Pagan made a recluse. China interferes on behalf of Burma and besieges Myinzaing, but without effect. Pagan kingdom parcelled out among Shan leaders. Siam recovers Tenaserim. Pegu regains independence. Prome, Taung-ngu (Paung), Myinzaing, Pinya, Sagaing, Thayet assert independence. Pagan dynasty continues in name only. Shan dynasty of Beinnaka established in Burma Proper.
1306. King Zaw-aw Thin Hmaing of Pegu recaptures Tenaserim from Siam. Foundation of chronic hostility between Pegu and Siam
1330. Tenaserim recovered and Pegu made tributary by Siam (Siamese accounts).
1348. King Sinbyu Shin of Pegu. First mention of cannon. The Mun have fire-arms.
1364. Inwa ['Ava',Ratanapoya-'city of gems'] founded by Shan-Burman King Rahula (Thado Minbya).
1385. Accession of King Yazadlyit the Great, of Pegu. War with Burma. Chinese interfere on behalf of latter. Arakan supports Burma. Peace concluded, 1421, on the basis that Prome is Burman territory.
1423. Death of King Yazadiyit of Pegu.
1438. The calendar adjusted by moving the date back two years. Nicolo d' Conti, traveller from Italy, describes Thaton as a seaport. Other travellers from the West about this period were Ludovico Barthema of Bologna, Hieronimo Adorno, Hieronimo de San Stefano and the Russian, Athanasius Nitikin.
1444. Chinese invasion of Burma repelled.
1446. Queen Shinsawbu of Pegu.
1454. Ali Khan usurps the kingdom of Arakan. Burman kingdom weakened by inroads from the North. Adventurers from Europe in the service of the rival kingdoms.
1461. King Dammazedi of Pegu. Zealous Buddhist.
1505. Shan Swabwa of Unaung overthrows the Shan-Burman king of Ava.
1530 Five independent kingdoms_Ava (Shan), Prome (Shan-Burman> Taung-ngu (Paung), Pegu (Mun) and Arakan. Taung-ngu begins to rise in power Thohambwa succeeds to the kingdom of Ava. Massacres of yahan and plunder of zed' take place. The king assassinated, 1542. Travellers of the period,Ruy Nunes d'Alcunha, I51I. Giovanni de Sylveira (Arakan) Antonio Carrea (treats with the King of Pegu on behalf of Portugal, 1519) Odoardc Barbessa (reports the King of Pegu to be very powerful,1520) Caesar Frederick Ralph Fitch. (Memoirs, ed. J. Horton Ryley. See Jardine, introduction to Sangermano's Burmese Empire.) Soldiers of fortune_Caspar d' Cruz, Boniface Damien Giovanni Cayero and Ferdinand Mendez Pinto.
1540 Martaban (Mottama) besieged by Siam
1550. King Tabin Shwe-ti of Pegu advances on Ava, but is repulsed by a confederation of the Shans. Pagan is occupied and the other Burman kingdoms subjugated. Siam recover Tenaserim. Nawratha (afterwards called Bayin-naung [next to the king] leads an expedition against Siam with assistance of the Portuguese adventurers, Seixas and Cayero, who bring five hundred Portuguese soldiers.Bayin-naung (brother-in-law of the last king of Pegu) succeeds, under the title of Sinbyumya Shin. Thamein Taw, representative of the ancient Mun dynasty, is beheaded. Expedition to and capture of Ava.
Advance to Zimme. Shan states subjugated, excepting Theinni. Advance on Laos, as far as the Mekong. 1562, Siam invaded and the capital Ayodaya captured. Tenaserim recovered from Siam.
1575, the Shan states re-subjugated. Troops sent to the aid of the King of Ceylon. Zenith of Mun empire.
1570. Pegu exhausted and depopulated. In his old age the emperor becomes fanatical, compels foreigners to embrace Buddhism (the solitary example of the kind) and to respect animal life. Mahomedan butchers mentioned at this period. 1581, preparations for invading Arakan interrupted by the death of the emperor.
1581. Yuwa Yaza (crown prince) succeeds.
I591. Nanda Bayin succeeds to the empire of Pegu. Successful expedition against Ava. Advance against Siam with 5000 elephants and 300,000 men. Ayodaya besieged without success, and again in 1593. Pegu drained of men and resources. The emperor gives way to senseless savagery; immolates his relatives (witnessed by Gaspari Balbi, of Venice). Massacres of the people ordered and persecution of the yahan. Taung-ngu and Arakan league against the emperor. The Siamese invader is acclaimed.
I596. The Arakanese advance as far as Thallyin ("Syriam") on Pegu channel, opposite Rangoon. Sack of Pegu. Fabulous accounts of its wealth. Independence of Ava reestablished. Siam recovers Tenaserim and besieges Martaban. Taung-ngu attacked by Prome while engaged in repulsing the Siamese. Philip de Brito [a Portuguese shipboy who grew up in the palace at Arakan] deserts the Arakanese and seizes Syriam for the Portuguese. 1600, Philip de Brito recovers Yamethin for Taung-ngu.
1607. Ava re-subjugates Prome and (1610) Taung-ngu also, and obtains the tooth-relic of the Buddha. Travellers at this period, the Jesuit Boves, Faria y Souza.
1615. De Brito captures Taung-ngu but is attacked and defeated by the King of Ava and is tortured to death. De Brito's Portuguese comrades are sent to Ava. King Maha Damma Yaza of Taung-ngu reconstitutes the empire, with his capital at Ava. The help of Portuguese galleons obtained by sea. The Siamese ally with the Portuguese. Envoys sent to Burma from the Emperor Jehangir and the governor of Bengal.
1616. The Englishman Samuel dies in Burma; his property seized but afierwards restored. The English invited to settle. English factories at Syriam, Prome, Ava, Bamaw. Disputes of English and Dutch settlers. Both compelled to withdraw.
1632. The Mun Emperor Thado Damma Yaza on the throne, with the capital at Ava; a good and wise ruler. Builds Kaung-hmudaw Paya, below Sagaing.
1648. Bintale succeeds, and is succeeded by Maha Payawa Damma Yaza.
1658. An invasion from China repulsed with difficulty.
1661. The Kingdom of Ava usurped by Prome.
The pirate Gonzales appears in Arakan. Bengal in a disorganized state, of which Arakan takes advantage, and with the help of Gonzales advances as far as Lakimpur, but is driven back to Chittagong. Gonzales turns the Arakanese fleet against Arakan and commits shocking atrocities. The Viceroy of Goa leagues with the pirate, who nevertheless is eventually beaten.
1664. The Arakanese advance into Bengal as far as Dakka.
1672. Accession of Emperor Thiyi Payawa Maha Damma Yaza of Pegu. 1687. Haindyi Island (" Negrais"), at the mouth of the Pathein river, is taken by Captain Weldon (British) on behalf of the Siamese. At the bidding of the East India Company the Siamese Governor of Mergui expels British traders ("interlopers),seventeen British massacred in the scuffle that took place. The British fall into disrepute. A French mission follows.
1688. The Governor of Pegu sends a letter to the Governor of Madras asking for British traders to settle in Pegu
1695 The Burman Government confiscates the goods of Adrian Tilbury, an Englishman who died in Burma; and the ship SS. Antony and Nicholas. Messrs. Fleetwood and Sealy deputed by the Madras Government to recover the above, in 1697. Messrs. Bowyear and Alison deputed on the same duty in 1709.
1698. Accession of Emperor Sinbyu Shin Dipata. Non-Buddhist foreigners treated with contempt, but not molested.
1720. First Catholic mission.
1733.Accession of Emperor Sinbyu Shin Dipata 11.
1738 Manipuris advance as far as Sagaing and destroy temples there.
1740 Pegu-Burman Empire again disintegrating. Pegu exhausted by imposts; even the looms are taxed. The condition of the people wretched. The Muns rise against the Taung-ngu-Peguan dynasty, march north and capture the Emperor Kaungthit. The East India Company have an agent in Pegu.
1746 A Gwe Shan becomes King of Pegu, but abdicates. Binnya Dala elected in his place.
1750 The Muns under the Yuwa Yaza (crown-prince) and Dalaban march north in great force, with the co-operation of renegade Dutch and native Portuguese.
1752, Ava destroyed, the king taken to Pegu (where he was executed two years later on a charge of conspiracy).
1754. Aungzaya of Mosobo (later Shwebo), afterwards called Alaung Paya, rallies the Burmans to rise against the Mun garrisons, which are dispersed. The Burmans march on Pegu, take the city and capture the emperor. Rangoon [Yangon-the end of the strife] is founded and Burman empire proclaimed under Alaung Paya.
1755. Embassy of Captain George Baker to Burma. See his journal (Oriental Repertory, London, Dalrymple, 1791). The Emperor Alaung Paya sends a golden letter for delivery to King George 111., but it is intercepted.
1756. Murder of Bishop Nerini.
1757. Rising of Muns. Fresh Campaign, in which Pegu is finally subjugated. The name Talaing [Ôthe vanquishedÕ] given to the Mun race. Dalaban, the Mun general afterwards called Nawratha, enters the service of the Burman Emperor on honourabl terms. The crew of the French ship Galate'e are seized.
1758 .Manipur is subdued. A rebellion of the Talaings is suppressed.
1759 The British settlers at Negrais are massacred at the instigation of the French.
Siam is invaded and siege laid to Ayodaya, without success.
1760. Death of Alaung Paya. His eldest son Naungdawdyi succeeds, under his father's will that his three sons should reign in succession. Palace intrigues The capital changed from Shwebo to Sagaing.
1761. Captain Alves deputed on a mission to the Burman Emperor.
1763. The Emperor Sinbyushin succeeds his brother Naungdawdyi. The capital changed to Shwebo.
1765. Manipur, now the ally of the British, is overrun by Burma.
1766. Burman expedition against Zimme. Tenaserim is recaptured, Siam invaded under t command of Dalaban, Ayadaya destroyed and the country laid under tribute. The Siamese defence conducted with the help of a British privateer.
1767. The Chinese invade Burma with 50,000 men. Their army is repulsed and destroyed.
1769 The Chinese invade Burma and are repulsed again. Their soldiers permitted to return disarmed.
1771 Siam throws off the Burman yoke and recovers Tenaserim. A force is despatched against Siam, of which the Talaing brigade mutinies and invests Rangoon. Failing to take the place they retreat to Martaban.
1774. An expedition is sent against Martaban, consisting of 20,000 men and twenty-four guns, which reduces the place.
1775. The Emperor Sinbyu Shin visits Rangoon. Judicial murder of the last Peguan Emperor Binnya Dala. The Schwedagon Paya is built over, to its present dimensions, and decorated with a magnificent hti. Siam invaded again, without effect. Manipur overrun again.
1776. Emperor Sinbyu Shin succeeded by his son Singu Min. Capital changed to Sagaing.
1781. Emperor Singu Min dies. Succeeded by Maung Maung, son of Emperor Naungdawdyi, contrary to the will of Alaung Paya, under which his own third son Maung Waing was designated. Maung Waing captures the palace, murders his nephew, and assumes the empire under the title of Bodaw Paya (also called Badon Min, Sinbyu-mya Shin, and Mantaya-dyi). Commits fearful atrocities against his opponents at Paunga where he destroys the whole of the inhabitants, yahan included. Capital changed from Sagaing to Amayapoya (Abode of Immortals).
1782. Rebellion of the Talaings in Rangoon suppressed. Surgeon W. Hunter visits Burma.
1783. Father Sangermano lands in Burma. (Remained till 1806. See his work The Burmese Empire.)
1784. Arakan invaded and subdued. The Maha-myammuni image brought to Amayapoya (cf. B.C. 150 and A.D. 1017) Arakanese take refuge in British Chittagong and from thence harass the Burmans.
1785. Expedition made against Junkseylon, without success.
1786. Siam invaded without success.
1787. Invasion from Siam repulsed.
1790. Tenaserim recaptured from Siam.
1793. Punitive expedition sent against the Arakanese refugees in Chittagong.
1795. Captain Michael Symes (see his work) sent on a mission to the Emperor of Burma by the Governor- General of India. Burma contends for an envoy from the King of England, on the precedent of the. envoy [Lord Macartney] sent to the empire of China. Efforts to negotiate a commercial treaty unsuccessful. Subsequent envoys-Captain Cox. 1803, Lieut. Canning, 1811.
1803. The Amayapoya gaing of Burman yahan in Ceylon, protests against the intrusion of caste ideas in the Thinga there.
1811. The filibuster Chin Byan overruns Arakan from the base of British Chittagong.
1813. Burman embassy to the Governor-General of India. Adoniram Judson, American Baptist missionary, lands in Burma.
1817. The Burman government intrigues with the Mahrattas.
1819. The Emperor Bodaw Paya is succeeded by his grandson Badyidaw. Capital changed to Ava, 1823. Troubles with Munipur; the Raja erects a royal pyatthat over his residence. The British arm the Manipuris.
1823. Outrage committed by the Burman government on the British outpost at Shahpuri island, at Naf, Arakan. Burma warned by the British that war may ensue. The Burmans in reply advance to Kachar.
1824 (5th March). British declare war and land their forces. Burman resistance broken, not without aid of the Talaings, on the fall of the able General Maha Bandtila (24th April, 1825) Cost to British, 4000 men and 5 million pounds. Arakan, Martaban and Tenaserim provinces annexed. Indemnity of 1,000,000 rupees imposed on Burma, and a treaty of commerce exacted
1827. Talaing rising in Rangoon. Mission of Captain Crawfurd to Ava (see his work).
1829. Inroads made on British territory by Burman brigands, from the base of Martaban. Martaban government bound down by British to restrain Burman subjects
1837. King Badyidaw deposed and his son Thayawadi Min proclaimed king in Burma. Capital, Kyaummyaung and later Amayapoya. The reign disfigured by barbarities. 1841, the king visits Rangoon.
1845. King Thayawadi deposed and his son Pagan Min proclaimed. Massacres at the palace.
1851 Extortions practiced by the government of Rangoon, and the British traders Lewis and Sheppard ill-treated.
1852. Second British war, which lasts nearly twelve months. Pegu annexed; British Burma Commission organised by Colonel (afterwards Sir) Arthur Phayre, the first Chief Commissioner. Brigandage becomes rife, but is suppressed by degrees.
1853. King Pagan Min deposed and his son Mindon Min proclaimed in Burma.
1855. Mission of Capt. Henry Yule to Ava (see his work).
1857. The Burman capital changed to Mandalay.
1862. A fresh commercial treaty with Burma negotiated by Colonel Phayre.
1866. The rebellion headed by the Myin-Myinghndaing princes, quelled, with the assistance of the British. Embassy of the King of Burma to the Queen of England.
1872. Death of King Mindon Min. Accession of his son Thibaw Min. The young king a puppet in the hands of evil ministers. Massacres at the palace.
1878. Massacres in the jail and atrocities at the palace. Disorganization of the state. Approaches made by the Burman government to the French. Third British war. Burman resistance nominal only. The Burman government overthrown, the king deported and the country incorporated in the Indian Empire.
1885-87 Local outbreaks of resistance and general revival of brigandage, which are gradually suppressed.