Timeline of Myanmar

Chronology

19 events spanning the history of Myanmar. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1057

   King Anawrahta founds the first unified Burmese state at Pagan.

   King Anawrahta founds the first unified Burmese state at Pagan and adopts Theravada Buddhism.

2. 1287

   The forces of Kublai Khan overran Burma.

   The forces of Kublai Khan overran Burma. The royal city of Bagan (Pagan) was abandoned under threat from Kublai Khan in the 13th century. The brick temple of Ananda Pahto is in Bagan. More than 4,400 pagodas and 3,000 other religious structures of bricks and stones were built in Bagan, Myanmar’s former capital, during a 243-year period from the 11th to 13th centuries, the result of extraordinary Buddhist fervor.

3. 1531

   Toungoo dynasty, with Portuguese help, reunites Burma.

   Toungoo dynasty, with Portuguese help, reunites Burma.

4. 1824 – 1826

   First Anglo-Burmese war.

   First Anglo-Burmese war. The war ends with the Treaty of Yandabo, according to which Burma ceded the Arakan coastal strip, between Chittagong and Cape Negrais, to British India.

5. 1850

   Rangoon, Burma, was destroyed by fire.

   Rangoon, Burma, was destroyed by fire.

6. 1852

   Second Anglo-Burmese War, where General Bandoola died.

   Second Anglo-Burmese War, where General Bandoola died.

7. 1885

   Britain captures Mandalay after a brief battle.

   Britain captures Mandalay after a brief battle; Burma becomes a province of British India.

8. 1937

   Britain separates Burma from India and makes it a crown colony.

   Britain separates Burma from India and makes it a crown colony.

9. 1940

   Drove out British. Japanese invaded.

   Drove out British. Japanese invaded.

10. 1942

    Japan invades and occupies Burma.

    Japan invades and occupies Burma with some help from the Japanese-trained Burma Independence Army, which later transforms itself into the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) and resists Japanese rule.