List of wars involving Myanmar

This is a list of wars that involve Myanmar. Throughout Burmese history many wars had been fought with the ethnic majority Bamar and its neighbors, other Myanmar people such as the Mon people who are the founders of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom and the Rakhine people who are the founders of the Kingdom of Mrauk U as well as other foreign states and ethnicity such as Thailand which has been the archnemesis of the Burmese people for centuries and other ethnic groups such as the Shan people and other ethnic groups in Myanmar. This article also features wars and conflicts between ethnic groups in Myanmar and their enemies. As well as the modern civil war that is happening in Myanmar.

Burmese victory

Burmese defeat

Other result

Ongoing

Pagan Kingdom 849-1300

During Pagan Dynasty, The Bamar people who are the majority ethnic group of Myanmar had just settled the country after Nanzhao Kingdom invasion who conquered the Pyu city states. During this time, Anawrahta consolidated Myanmar and established the current modern borders of Myanmar by conquering various different Ethnic groups in Myanmar coming into conflict with other Southeast Asian Empires like the Khmer empire during the conquest of Thaton kingdom and creating the Burmese Golden age where modern Burmese culture came to take form. The Pagan period is also known for the construction of various temples and pagoda and adoption of Theravada Buddhism from the Ari Buddhism which is a Mahayana sect of Buddhism combing practices such as Animism. The Pagan kingdom would continued even after Anawrahta's Death. Being continued under competent leaders like Kyansittha but would eventually end with the First Mongol invasion of Burma. Fracturing into multiple city states which resulted in the period known as Warring states period of Myanmar. This period also lead to the rising of Kingdom of Mrauk U who was founded by the Rakhein people after their migration to the Arakan Beginning in 900s and consolidating their power in the region in 1100s. And became vassal of the Pagan kingdom.

Conflict	Combatants		Result	Notable battles
Nanzhao invasion of Pyu city states	Nanzhao kingdom and Bamar people	Pyu city states	Victory
Anawrahta conquest of Shan hills 1050s-1060s	Pagan Kingdom	Shan States	Victory
Anawrahta conquest of Arakan	Pagan Kingdom	Arakan	Victory
Anawrahta conquest of Thaton Kingdom 1057	Pagan Kingdom	Thaton Kingdom	Victory
First Mongol invasion of Burma	Pagan Kingdom	Yuan Dynasty	Defeat	Battle of Pagan (1287)

Warring states Period 1297-1545

During this period of Burmese history, which in Burmese is known as the Inwa period is when Burma was fractured into various kingdoms shortly after the invasion of the Mongol empire. Leading to rising of the Shan princes who founded the Myinsaing Kingdom and drive the Mongols back out of the country and is succeed by Kingdom of Ava. During this period of Burmese history the infamous Forty Years' War was fought between Kingdom of Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdom leading to rises of Burmese folk heroes like Minye Kyawswa, who was one of the commanders during the Forty Years' War. Kingdom of Mrauk U also participated in the Forty Years' War as a vassal of Hanthawaddy kingdom. But during this period Kingdom of Mrauk U also become a vassal of Bengal Sultanate for 20 years. But eventually liberating themselves and taking over Chittagong in 1542 following a short Mughal reoccupation. But they would eventually lose Chittagong to the Mughals. This period of turbulent ended with the rise of [[ Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung and the Toungoo Empire who conquered the Hanthawaddy kingdom and Kingdom of Ava.

Conflict	Combatants		Result	Notable battles
Second Mongol invasion of Burma	Myinsaing Kingdom	Yuan Dynasty	Victory
Forty Years' War	Kingdom of Ava	Hanthawaddy kingdom	Military stalemate
Bengal Sultanate–Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512–1516	Kingdom of Mrauk U	Bengal Sultanate	Defeat
Mrauk U invasion of Chittagong 1542	Kingdom of Mrauk U	Bengal Sultanate	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1547–1549)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Defeat
Burmese–Siamese War (1563–1564)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Victory
Conquest of Chittagong	Kingdom of Mrauk U	Bengal Netherlands Portugal	Defeat
Toungoo–Hanthawaddy War 1495–1541	Toungoo dynasty	Hanthawaddy Kingdom	Victory	Battle of Naungyo (1538)
Toungoo–Ava War 1525–45	Toungoo dynasty	Kingdom of Ava	Victory
Toungoo–Ava War 1525–45	Toungoo dynasty	Kingdom of Ava	Victory

Toungoo dynasty

First Toungoo Empire marked one of the largest extend of the Burmese empire the second being during the Kobaung Empire. The Toungoo empire started with Mingyi Nyo who rebelled against the kingdom of Ava and established the Toungoo dynasty. He was then succeed by his Tabinshwehti who with his childhood bestfriend Bayinnaung waged wars against the other Burmese and Myanmar kingdoms and reintegrate them also coming into contact with the Kingdom of Mrauk U and also fighting a war with them in the Toungoo-Mrauk-U War. Tabinshwehti also waged a war with the Ayutthaya Kingdom but failing to take over Ayutthaya. But after Tabinshwehti assassniation he would be succeed by Bayinnaung who would expand Myanmar to its greatest extent in history and conquering the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Lan Xang as well as reintegrating the Shan states. Under his reign, Burmese influence would extend all the way from Yunnan to Ceylon. But shortly after Bayinnaung's death his accomplishments would be reversed by his son Nanda Bayin, who constantly fought with his vassals leading to the weakening of the First Toungoo empire. As well as, waging unwinnable wars against the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Naresuan and the First Toungoo empire declined under his reign shortly leading to the collapse of the First Toungoo empire into various kingdoms which Bayinnaung and Tabinshwehti conquered in the wake of the first Toungoo empire.

Conflict	Combatants		Result
Toungoo-Mrauk-U War	Toungoo dynasty	Kingdom of Mrauk-U	Defeat
Reintegration of the Shan states	Toungoo dynasty	Shan states	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1568–1569)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Victory
Toungoo conquest of Lan Na (1564	Toungoo dynasty	Lanna kingdom	Victory
Toungoo conquest of Lan Xang (1565	Toungoo dynasty	Lan Xang	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1584–1593)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Defeat
Burmese–Siamese War (1593–1600)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Military stalemate
Burmese–Siamese War (1609–1622)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1662–1664)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Military stalemate
Burmese–Siamese War (1675–1676)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Military stalemate
Burmese–Siamese War (1700–1701)	Toungoo dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Defeat

Konbaung dynasty

Conflict	Combatants		Result	Notable battles
Burmese–Siamese War (1759–1760)	Konbaung dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Inconclusive
Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767)	Konbaung dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Victory	Battle of Nonthaburi (1765) Siege of Ayutthaya (1766 – 1767)
Sino-Burmese War (1765 – 1769)	Konbaung dynasty	Qing Dynasty	Victory	Battle of Goteik Gorge (1767 or 1768) Battle of Maymyo (1768)
Burmese–Siamese War (1775–1776)	Konbaung dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Burmese strategic victory Siamese tactical victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1785–1786)	Konbaung Dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Defeat
Burmese conquest of Arakan	Konbaung dynasty	Kingdom of Mrauk U	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1788)	Konbaung Dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1792–1794)	Konbaung Dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Victory
Burmese–Siamese War (1797–1798)	Konbaung Dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom Kingdom of Vientiane	Defeat
Burmese–Siamese War (1802–1805)	Konbaung Dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom Kingdom of Vientiane	Defeat
Burmese–Siamese War (1809–1812)	Konbaung Dynasty	Rattanakosin Kingdom	Defeat
Arakanese Uprising^[1] (1811–1815)	Konbaung Dynasty	Arakanese rebels	Victory
Burmese invasions of Assam (1817–1826)	Konbaung Dynasty	Kingdom of Ahom Kingdom of Manipur	Victory
First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826)	Konbaung Dynasty	British Empire Rattanakosin Kingdom	Defeat	Battle of Yangon (1824) Battle of Danubyu – (1825) Battle of Prome – (1825)
Burmese–Siamese War (1849–1855)	Konbaung Dynasty	Ayutthaya Kingdom	Victory
Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852–1853)	Burmese Empire	British Empire	Defeat
Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885)	Burmese Empire	British Empire	Defeat
Japanese invasion of Burma (1941–1942) (part of World War II)	United Kingdom India Burma China United States	Empire of Japan Burma Independence Army Thailand	Defeat: Japanese troops invade and occupy Burma in 1942	Battle of Bilin River – 14–18 February 1942 Battle of Sittang Bridge – 19–23 February 1942 Battle of Pegu – 3–7 March 1942 Battle of Taukkyan Roadblock – 7–8 March 1942 Battle of Tachiao – 18–19 March 1942 Battle of Toungoo – 19–29 March 1942 Battle of Oktwin – 20–23 March 1942 Battle of Toungoo – 24–30 March 1942 Battle of Yedashe – 5–8 April 1942 Battle of Szuwa River – 10–16 April 1942 Battle of Yenangyaung – 11–19 April 1942 Battle of Mawchi and Bato – Early April 1942 Battle of Bawlake – 17 April 1942 Battle of Shwedaung – 1942 Battle of Prome (1942) – 1942 Battle of Pyinmana – 17–20 April 1942 Battle of Loikaw – 20 April 1942 Battle of Hopong – Taunggyi – 20–24 April 1942 Battle of Loilem – 25 April 1942 Battle of Lashio – 29 April 1942 Battle of Hsenwe – 1 May 1942 Battle of Salween River – 6–31 May 1942 Battle of Hsipaw-Mogok Highway – 23 May 1942
Burma campaign (1942–1943) (part of World War II)	Allies: United Kingdom British India British Burma United States Republic of China	Axis: Japan State of Burma Thailand	Defeat: Axis victory	Arakan Campaign 1942–1943 – December 1942–May 1943 First Chindit Expedition – 8 February–late April 1943 Battle of Yupang – October–December 1943
Burma campaign (1944) (part of World War II)	Allies: British Empire Burma Republic of China United States	Japan	Victory Allies victory	Battle of Lashio – January 1944 Battle of the Admin Box – 5–23 February 1944 (also known as the Battle of Ngakyedauk or the Battle of Sinzweya) Second Chindit Expedition – 5 February–17 August 1944 Battle of Maingkwan – February-5 March 1944 Battle of Mogaung – March 1944 Battle of Imphal – 8 March–3 July 1944 Battle of Sangshak – 20–26 March 1944 Battle of Kohima – 4 April–22 June 1944 Siege of Myitkyina – April–August 1944
Burma Campaign (1944–1945) (November 1944–July 1945)	Allies British Empire Burma Patriotic Burmese Forces China United States	Axis Japan State of Burma Azad Hind Thailand	Victory Japanese are expelled by Allied forces in 1945	Battle of Mongyu – December 1944-January 1945 Battle of Ramree Island – 21 January–20 February 1945 Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay – January–March 1945 (also known as the Battle of Central Burma) Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations – 4 February–13 May 1945 Battle of Lashio – March 1945 Battle of Hsipaw – March 1945 Battle for Pegu – 27–30 April 1945 Battle of Elephant Point – 1–2 May 1945
Internal conflict in Myanmar (1948–present)	Union of Burma (1948–1962) Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (1962–1988) Union of Myanmar (1988–2011) Republic of the Union of Myanmar (since 2011) State Administration Council (since 2021)	Ethnic armed organisations National Unity Government of Myanmar (since 2021)	Ongoing
Campaign at the China–Burma Border (1960–1961)	Union of Burma People's Republic of China	Republic of China	Victory ROC withdrawal from Burma
Myanmar civil war (2021–present)	State Administration Council Tatmadaw Army Air Force Coast Guard Border Guard Police Border Police Pyusawhti^[2] Thway Thout^[3]^[4] PNA SNA ZRA^[5]	National Unity Government PDF^[6]^[7]^[8] CDF CNDF KNDF MRDA SAF CPB PLA Allied ethnic armed organisations: Brotherhood Alliance MNDAA TNLA ULA-AA^[a] ANC ANC-AA KIO KIA KNU KNLA KNDO ABSDF KNPP KA KNPLF CNF CNA PSLF BPLA	Ongoing Tatmadaw's stable control drops to between 72 and 220 out of 330 townships, though continues to control all major population centers^[9]

References

^ "Britain Burma Arakan Uprising 1811–1815". www.onwar.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
^ "Pyusawhti militia". Myanmar NOW. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
^ "Murders in Yangon and Mandalay linked to Thwe Thout". Myanmar Now. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
^ Mathieson, David Scott (10 June 2022). "Myanmar raising bloodthirsty death squads". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
^ "Paul Lu: ZRO/ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members". Burma News International. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
^ "Interview: 'Our Strength is in the People'". Radio Free Asia (RFA). 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
^ "Sagaing and Magway PDFs launch guerrilla attacks on military columns". Myanmar Now. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^ "Yangon PDF Central Command announces attacks after Kyimyindine crackdown". BNI. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^ Faulder, Dominic (1 February 2023). "Myanmar's iron-fisted ruler Min Aung Hlaing fights to stay on his throne". Nikkei Asia. Bangkok, Thailand. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.

Notes

^ April–November 2022; October 2023 – present

[1] "Britain Burma Arakan Uprising 1811–1815". www.onwar.com. Retrieved 30 March 2019.

[2] "Pyusawhti militia". Myanmar NOW. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

[3] "Murders in Yangon and Mandalay linked to Thwe Thout". Myanmar Now. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.

[4] Mathieson, David Scott (10 June 2022). "Myanmar raising bloodthirsty death squads". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.

[5] "Paul Lu: ZRO/ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members". Burma News International. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.

[6] "Interview: 'Our Strength is in the People'". Radio Free Asia (RFA). 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.

[SGNMGW-7] "Sagaing and Magway PDFs launch guerrilla attacks on military columns". Myanmar Now. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.

[YGN-8] "Yangon PDF Central Command announces attacks after Kyimyindine crackdown". BNI. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.

[Nikkei_Asia-10] Faulder, Dominic (1 February 2023). "Myanmar's iron-fisted ruler Min Aung Hlaing fights to stay on his throne". Nikkei Asia. Bangkok, Thailand. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.

[9] April–November 2022; October 2023 – present

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History of Myanmar

Prehistory of Myanmar 11,000–200 BCE Pyu city-states 200 BCE – 1050 CE (Sri Ksetra Kingdom, Tagaung Kingdom) Mon kingdoms 825?–1057? CE (Thaton Kingdom) Arakanese kingdoms 788?–1406
Pagan Kingdom 849–1297 Early Pagan Kingdom 849–1044 Warring states period Upper Myanmar 1297–1555 Myinsaing and Pinya Kingdoms 1297–1365 Sagaing Kingdom 1315–1365 Kingdom of Ava 1365–1555 Prome Kingdom 1482–1542 Hanthawaddy Kingdom 1287–1539, 1550–1552 Shan States 1215–1563 Kingdom of Mrauk U 1429–1785 Toungoo dynasty 1510–1752 First Toungoo Empire 1510–1599 Nyaungyan Restoration 1599–1752 Restored Hanthawaddy 1740–1757 Konbaung dynasty 1752–1885
British colonial period 1824–1948 Anglo-Burmese Wars 1824–1885 Resistance movement 1885–1895 Nationalist movement 1900–1948 Japanese occupation 1942–1945
Modern era 1948–present AFPFL government 1948–1962 Ne Win dictatorship 1962–1988 SLORC / SPDC junta 1988–2010 Political reforms 2011–2015 SAC junta 2021–present
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