9 September 1580
Bayinnaung's invasion of Arakan in 1580
On 9 September 1580: Bayinnaung launched a massive invasion of Arakan. The Toungoo realm was then at its greatest extent - reaching from Manipur in the west across all the Shan states to Lanxang (Linzin in Burmese or Vientienne) and Ayutthaya in the east. Only Arakan remained unconquered.
The invasion was led by Prince Thiri Thudhamma Raza of Martaban and was a joint land and naval expedition that included 24,000 foot soldiers, 1,200 horses, 120 elephants, and 1,300 vessels (leaving from Cape Negrais). The Arakan kingdom, under King Min Phalaung, was then also at the height of its powers and its dominion stretched to Chittagong and Tripura.
The invading forces easily captured Sandoway but nearly a year later turned back when King Bayinnaung died on 10 October 1581. Mrauk-U remained independent for more than another two hundred years.
The picture is a Dutch illustration of Mrauk-U from that time. The Dutch Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie had a very close relationship with the Mrauk-U rulers.
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