Min Khamaung (Arakanese:မင်းခမောင်း; Burmese pronunciation:[mɪ́ɴkʰa̰máʊɴ], Arakanese pronunciation: [máɴkʰa̰máʊɴ];1557 - c. May 1622) also known as Hussein Shah; was the king of Arakan from 1612 to 1622.
Early life
The future king was born to Princess Pyinsala Sanda (ပဥ္စလစန္ဒာ) and Prince Razagyi in Khamaungseit (ခမောင်းဆိပ်) which is modern day Maungdaw Township on the year 1577.
During a war between Taungoo and Arakan, the crown prince Khamaung was captured by Portuguese mercenary Filipe de Brito e Nicote and was held ransom in exchange for his independence from the various Burmese kingdoms until 1603.[1]
Reign
Min Khamaung succeeded the throne after his father, Min Razagyi's, death in 1612.[2] At that time, Mrauk U-Arakan was chaotic due to the Portuguese insurrections.[3] Razagyi had formed an unwilling alliance with the Portuguese mercenary captain Sebastian Gonzales Tibao to fend off the Mughals. However, Tibao had betrayed and taken over the Arakense navy and begun using it to raid the coast in 1610.[4].
By 1615, Khamaung was able to get subdue Tibao and resolved any tensions caused by the insurrections with the Burmese diplomatically. Khamaung then launched an second attack to retake Bhulua from the Mughals. The governor of Bhulua fled, allowing Arakan to occupy the city. Khamaung and his forces followed the Bhulua garrison to the Dakatia River, where the Arakanese forces were defeated and Khamaung was captured. Khamaung negotiated for his freedom, promising not to attack Bhulua again in exchange for various resources- such as elephants, equipment and servants.[5]
The subahdar (governor) of Bengal, Qasim Khan, found this release humane but unstatesmanlike as it missed an opportunity to subjugate Arakan. Accordingly, Qasim Khan built up an army and sent an expedition in February 1616 to take Chittagong back from Arakan. The forced launched an quick and early siege that- with superior Mughal siege weaponry and firepower- seemed poised to take Chittagong before the Arakanese army could arrive. However, dissent amongst the ranks stemming from a personal officer of the subahdar being the commander of mostly imperial forces. The Arakanese recovered their defence with reinforcements and proceeeded to cut off food supply lines with an army of 10,000 men.[5][6]
After the successful defence, Min Khamaung strengthened his military and situation by capturing Sandwip back from Tibao with the help of different Portuguese mercenaries in late 1617. Regaining the lost navy, he began to rad far into Bengal, as far inland as to attack towns on the Meghna River.[5]
Min Kamaung's military repelled and crushed the last of the Portuguese insurrection and invasion with the aid of Dutch military assistance from Dutch East India company VOC in 1625.[3]
Death
The King died on 1 June [O.S. 11 May] 1622 Saturday, 4th waxing of Nayone 984 ME in Mrauk U at age 45 of natural illness. He was succededed by his son Heir-apparent Min Hari Thiri Thudhamma.[7]
References
^Rajanubhab, D. (2001). Our Wars With the Burmese. Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd. pp. 185–187. ISBN9747534584.
^Rakhine Razawin Gyi (in Burmese). U Htun Shwe. p. 139 Phase.
^ abCatherine Raymond (2000). Illustrating the Kingdom of Arakan in the XVIIth Century: An Arakanese Perspective from the Dutch Sources. Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales. p. 10Phase.
^Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd. p. 141-142.
^ abcChowdhury, Mohammaed Ali (2004). Bengal-Arakan Relations. Kolkata: Firma KLM Private Limited. pp. 106–109. ISBN81-7102-118-2.
