Late Konbaung Myanmar and the English Wars (1824-1885AD)
Myanmar's last dynasty was also its most expansive, reaching into today's Northeast India as well as across what is now Laos and Thailand. Over the late 18th and 19th centuries, its royal court created much of the art and architecture that are considered "traditional" today. In the east, the saopha chieftains of Shan State ruled an array of principalities with growing ties to the Irrawaddy valley as well as to China's Yunnan province.
Over the middle decades of the 19th century, however, a series of disastrous wars against the British India Empire led to the kingdom's collapse. A desperate attempt to reform and modernise in the face of imperial aggression failed and the country was eventually colonized by the British.
This section draws together last traditions from the Konbaung period as well as stories and individuals from its little-remembered reformist era and Burma's transition to colonial rule.
![The Shwethalyaung Buddha at Pegu in 1881](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_742381979149121.jpg)
The Shwethalyaung Buddha at Pegu in 1881
Read more![Late 19th Century Myanmar men’s dress](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_442496899137632.jpg)
Late 19th Century Myanmar men’s dress
Read more![Rangoon under King Tharawaddy](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_696333883753931.png)
Rangoon under King Tharawaddy
Read more![U Bein bridge October 1855](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_802929776427674.jpg)
U Bein bridge October 1855
Read more![Bagan in 1855](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_709294469124539.jpg)
Bagan in 1855
Read more![The Ananda temple c. 1855](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_905114092875908.jpg)
The Ananda temple c. 1855
Read more![Pagoda Road, 1863](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_1240642449323069.jpg)
Pagoda Road, 1863
Read more![An unidentified gentleman c. 1865](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/tmu180011.jpg)
An unidentified gentleman c. 1865
Read more![King Thibaw’s School](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_516166965103958.jpg)
King Thibaw’s School
Read more![Portrait of an unidentified Burmese gentleman c. 1870, Cornwall, UK](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_1208796869174294.jpg)
Portrait of an unidentified Burmese gentleman c. 1870, Cornwall, UK
Read more![Mandalay during the reign of King Mindon c. 1875](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_810706685649983.jpg)
Mandalay during the reign of King Mindon c. 1875
Read more![Portrait of an unidentified Burmese man c. 1875](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_717152008338785.jpg)
Portrait of an unidentified Burmese man c. 1875
Read more![A Burmese traveller in Scotland c. 1875](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_695233383863981.jpg)
A Burmese traveller in Scotland c. 1875
Read more![Portrait of an unknown Burmese boy c. 1875](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_1058664487520867.jpg)
Portrait of an unknown Burmese boy c. 1875
Read more![Jacket of King Thibaw](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_674176392636347.jpg)
Jacket of King Thibaw
Read more![The Prince of Limbin and family, at Limbin House in Allahabad c. 1910](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_985431298177520.jpg)
The Prince of Limbin and family, at Limbin House in Allahabad c. 1910
Read more![An unidentified minister of King Thibaw](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_387841144603208.jpg)
An unidentified minister of King Thibaw
Read more![Mandalay c. 1882](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_715454035175249.jpg)
Mandalay c. 1882
Read more![Mandalay palace in 1885](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_448999961820659.jpg)
Mandalay palace in 1885
Read more![The Burmese king’s bodyguard](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_514115468642441.jpg)
The Burmese king’s bodyguard
Read more![Mandalay 1885](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_756004774453508.jpg)
Mandalay 1885
Read more![Young women selling cheroots, Mandalay December 1885](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_1164691800251468.jpg)
Young women selling cheroots, Mandalay December 1885
Read more![First close-up photo of Shwedagon Pagoda](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_1163653290355319.jpg)
First close-up photo of Shwedagon Pagoda
Read more![Burmese silversmiths c. 1885](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_1110857072301608.jpg)
Burmese silversmiths c. 1885
Read more![Traditional justice](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_924777877576196.jpg)
Traditional justice
Read more![The last known photograph of King Thibaw](https://lostfootsteps.org/storage/app/media/images/268215723232418_559850914068896.jpg)