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Orders of battle for the Ava–Hanthawaddy War (1385–1391)
This is a list of orders of battle for the First Ava–Hanthawaddy War in which the Royal Ava Armed Forces and their allies Myaungmya armed forces fought the Royal Hanthawaddy Armed Forces between 1385 and 1391.
Background edit
Sources edit
The orders of battles for Ava in this article are sourced from the main royal chronicles—the Maha Yazawin, the Yazawin Thit and the Hmannan Yazawin, which primarily narrate the war from the Ava side, and provide a specific order of battle for each of the Ava campaigns; the chronicles also typically (but not always) provide the opposing forces' strength as part of their narratives.[note 1]
The extant information for the orders of battles for Hanthawaddy Pegu is not as detailed. The Razadarit Ayedawbon chronicle, which narrates the war from the Hanthawaddy perspective, provides only occasional facts and figures on the Hanthawaddy forces, and even less on the opposing forces. Therefore, this article uses the limited orders of battle information on the Hanthawaddy side reported in the main chronicles.[note 2]
Adjustment of strength figures edit
The military strength figures in this article have been reduced by an order of magnitude from those reported in the chronicles, following G.E. Harvey's and Victor Lieberman's analyses of Burmese chronicles' military strength figures in general.[note 3] Specifically for this war, historians' estimates range from 12,000 to 30,000+ troops for Ava (as opposed to 130,000 to 290,000 infantry reported in the chronicles).[note 4]
Composition of the opposing forces edit
In all the three invasions, Ava raised the vast majority of its regiments from districts around the capital (Ava, Pinle, Pinya, Myinsaing, Sagaing); central and southern districts along the Irrawaddy river (Pagan, Sagu, Salin, Pakhan Gyi, Myede and Prome); and south and southeastern districts (Nyaungyan, Yamethin, Taungdwin, Toungoo).[1][2] Of its northern districts only Kale contributed a regiment in the first and second invasions while Dabayin, Amyint and two Shan regiments participated in the second invasion.[3][2] However, after its war with the northern Maw kingdom (1387–1389/90),[4] Ava did not include any northern regiments in its third invasion of Hanthawaddy Pegu in 1390–1391.[5][6][7]
The Hanthawaddy army that withstood Ava's first two invasions consisted of troops from the central Hanthawaddy province (Dala, Dagon, Hlaing, Hmawbi and Pegu), the only province King Razadarit controlled.[8] It was only in 1390 after Razadarit had conquered Martaban and Myaungmya provinces that the Hanthawaddy army was able to field its largest force, drawn from all three provinces.[5][9]
First invasion (1385–1386) edit
Ava edit
| Ava Order of Battle, 1385–1386 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| 1st Army | Crown Prince Tarabya | 9 regiments; 7000 infantry, 500 cavalry, 20 elephants | Sittaung Front via Toungoo (Taungoo) | [10][11][12] |
| Kale Regiment | Lord of Kale | |||
| Toungoo Regiment | Phaungga of Toungoo | |||
| Taungdwin Regiment | Thihapate II of Taungdwin | |||
| Yamethin Regiment | Thilawa of Yamethin | |||
| Sagaing Regiment | Yazathingyan of Sagaing | |||
| Sagu Regiment | Theinkhathu of Sagu | |||
| Myede Regiment | Thinkhaya of Myede | |||
| Wadi Regiment | Lord of Wadi | |||
| Ava Regiment | Crown Prince Tarabya of Ava | |||
| 2nd Army | Prince Min Swe | 9 regiments; 6000 infantry, 500 cavalry, 20 elephants | Northern Delta Front via Tharrawaddy | [10][11][12] |
| Pinle Regiment | Min Letwe of Pinle | Killed in action † | ||
| Prome Regiment | Myet-Hna Shay of Prome | |||
| Pinya Regiment | Thray Waduna of Pinya | |||
| Salin Regiment | Lord of Salin | |||
| Talok Regiment | Lord of Talok | |||
| Pakhan Gyi Regiment | Lord of Pakhan | |||
| Pagan Regiment | Sithu of Pagan | |||
| Nyaungyan Regiment | Lord of Nyaungyan | |||
| Pyinzi Regiment | Prince Min Swe of Pyinzi | |||
| Myaungmya Flotilla | Viceroy Laukpya of Myaungmya | unknown | Southern Delta Front via Myaungmya to Dagon | [13] |
Hanthawaddy Pegu edit
| Pegu Order of Battle, 1385–1386 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Main Army | King Razadarit | at least 8 regiments | [11][12] | |
| Pankyaw Regiment | Nandameit | ? | Killed in action † | [10][14] |
| Hlaing Regiment | Smin Zeik-Pun | ? | Captured by Ava | [10][14] |
| Hmawbi Regiment | Smin E-Kaung-Pein | ? | [13] | |
| Dagon Regiment | unnamed | ? | [10][14] | |
| Royal Regiment | King Razadarit | 1000+ troops | [15] | |
Second invasion (1386–1387) edit
Ava edit
| Ava Order of Battle, 1386–1387 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Army | Crown Prince Tarabya | 11 regiments; 12,000 infantry, 600 cavalry, 40 elephants | Northern Delta Front | [16][3][17] |
| Toungoo Regiment | Phaungga of Toungoo | |||
| Taungdwin Regiment | Thihapate II of Taungdwin | |||
| Yamethin Regiment | Thilawa of Yamethin | |||
| Pinle Regiment | Thray Thinkhaya of Pinle | |||
| Myinsaing Regiment | Thray Sithu of Myinsaing | |||
| Kale Regiment | Lord of Kale | |||
| Pinya Regiment | Thray Waduna of Pinya | |||
| Nyaungyan Regiment | Tuyin Ponnya of Nyaungyan | |||
| Dabayin Regiment | Lord of Dabayin | |||
| Amyint Regiment | Lord of Amyint | |||
| Ava Regiment | Crown Prince Tarabya of Ava | |||
| Navy | King Swa Saw Ke | 9 regiments and 1 flotilla; 17,000 infantry, 100 transport ships, 120 war boats | Southern Delta Front via the Irrawaddy river | [16][3][17] |
| Prome Regiment | Myet-Hna Shay of Prome | |||
| Myede Regiment | Thinkhaya of Myede | |||
| Sagu Regiment | Theinkhathu of Sagu | |||
| Salin Regiment | Lord of Salin | |||
| Talok Regiment | Lord of Talok | |||
| Pakhan Gyi Regiment | Lord of Pakhan Gyi | |||
| Sagaing Regiment | Yazathingyan of Sagaing | |||
| 1st Shan Regiment | unnamed | |||
| 2nd Shan Regiment | unnamed | |||
| Royal Flotilla | King Swa Saw Ke | |||
| Myaungmya Flotilla | Viceroy Laukpya of Myaungmya | 200 transport ships, 5 warships, 70 war boats | Southern Delta Front | [16][3][17] |
Hanthawaddy Pegu edit
| Pegu Order of Battle, 1386–1387 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Main Army | King Razadarit | 5 regiments; 6000 infantry, ? cavalry, 20 elephants | Pegu and Northern Delta | [18][19] |
| 1st Vanguard Regiment | Than-Byat | |||
| 2nd Vanguard Regiment | Sit-Laung | |||
| 3rd Vanguard Regiment | Smin Yawgarat | |||
| 4th Vanguard Regiment | Byat Za | |||
| Royal Regiment | King Razadarit | |||
| Hlaing Regiment | Dein Mani-Yut Smin Ye-Thin-Yan (deputy) | 500 troops | Northern Delta Front | [20] |
| Hmawbi Regiment | Northern Delta Front | |||
| Dagon Regiment | Southern Delta Front | |||
| Dala Regiment | Nyi Kan-Kaung | Southern Delta Front | ||
Hanthawaddy Pegu–Myaungmya (1389–1390) edit
Hanthawaddy Pegu edit
| Pegu Order of Battle, 1389–1390 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Main Army | King Razadarit | At least 4 regiments; ? infantry, 10+ elephants | Battles of Bassein, Myaungmya | [note 6] |
| 1st Regiment | Dein Mani-Yut | 1000+ troops, ? elephants | Battle of Daybethwe | [21] |
| 2nd Regiment | Byat Za | 700 troops, 10 elephants | Siege of Sandoway | [22] |
| Naval Squadron | Lagun Ein | 20+ war boats | Battle of Pan Hlaing | [23] |
| Gu-Htut Regiment | Smin Baykhatta Smin Than-Kye | ? | Occupation of Gu-Htut | [24] |
| Royal Regiment | King Razadarit | [25] | ||
Myaungmya edit
| Myaungmya Order of Battle, 1389–1390 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Myaungmya Army | Ma Pyit-Nwe | 1000+ infantry, ? elephants, ? war boats | [note 7] | |
| Daybathwe Battalion | Saw E Binnya | [26] | ||
| Bassein Regiment | Lauk Shein Deputies: Bya Kun, Bya Kyin | 1000 troops, ? elephants, 50+ war boats | [27] | |
| Bassein Naval Squadron | Lauk Shein | 50+ war boats | ||
Third invasion (1390–1391) edit
Ava edit
| Ava Order of Battle, 1390–1391 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Army | Crown Prince Tarabya | 12 regiments; 12,000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 80 elephants | [5][6][7] | |
| Toungoo Regiment | Phaungga of Toungoo | |||
| Taungdwin Regiment | Thihapate II of Taungdwin | |||
| Yamethin Regiment | Thilawa of Yamethin | |||
| Pinle Regiment | Thray Thinkhaya of Pinle | |||
| Myinsaing Regiment | Thray Sithu of Myinsaing | |||
| Nyaungyan Regiment | Tuyin Ponnya of Nyaungyan | |||
| Five Irrigated Districts Regiment | Sithu Thanbawa | |||
| Pinya Regiment | Thray Waduna of Pinya | |||
| Sagaing Regiment | Yazathingyan of Sagaing | |||
| Paukmyaing Regiment | Min Pale of Paukmyaing | |||
| Pyinzi Regiment | Prince Min Swe of Pyinzi | |||
| Ava Regiment | Crown Prince Tarabya of Ava | |||
| Navy | King Swa Saw Ke | 9 regiments & 1 flotilla; 17,000 infantry, 200 transport ships, 80 war boats | Northern Delta Front via the Irrawaddy river | [5][6][7] |
| Prome Regiment | Letya Pyanchi of Prome | |||
| Myede Regiment | Thinkhaya of Myede | |||
| Sagu Regiment | Theinkhathu of Sagu | |||
| Salin Regiment | Nawrahta of Salin | |||
| Pagan Regiment | Uzana of Pagan | |||
| Talok Regiment | Yazathu of Talok | |||
| Pakhan Gyi Regiment | Tarabya I of Pakhan | |||
| Singu Regiment | Letya the Elder of Singu | |||
| Royal Flotilla | King Swa Saw Ke | |||
Hanthawaddy Pegu edit
| Pegu Order of Battle, 1390–1391 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Strength[note 5] | Notes | Reference(s) |
| Main Army | King Razadarit | 8 regiments; 8000 infantry, 40 elephants | Sittaung Front | [5][9] |
| 1st Regiment | Byat Za | |||
| 2nd Regiment | Dein Mani-Yut | |||
| 3rd Regiment | Smin Ye-Thin-Yan | |||
| 4th Regiment | Smin Maw-Khwin | |||
| 5th Regiment | Smin E-Ba-Ye | |||
| 6th Regiment | Lagun Ein | |||
| 7th Regiment | Nyi Kan-Kaung | |||
| Royal Regiment | King Razadarit | |||
| Gu-Htut Corps | Smin Than-Kye | 1 regiment & 4 naval squadrons; 5000 troops, 150 war boats | Northern Delta Front | [5][9][28][7] |
| 1st Naval Squadron | Maha Thamun | |||
| 2nd Naval Squadron | Smin Pun-Si | |||
| 3rd Naval Squadron | Smin E-Kaung-Pein | |||
| 4th Naval Squadron | Smin Bya Paik | |||
| Gu-Htut Regiment | Smin Than-Kye | |||
Notes edit
- ^ See (Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 291, 295, 301), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 196, 198, 202) and (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 417–418, 422, 429–430).
- ^ See (Pan Hla 2005) for the reporting in the Razadarit Ayedawbon chronicle of the Hanthawaddy army's formations. See (Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2003: 291–301), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 2012: 196–202), (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 417–430) for Ava's side reporting of Hanthawaddy formations throughout the war.
- ^ See (Harvey 1925: 333–335)'s "Numerical Note". (Lieberman 2014: 98) writing on the First Toungoo period concurs: "Military mobilizations were probably more of a boast than a realistic estimate. Modern industrial states have difficulty placing 10% of their people under arms."
- ^ (Harvey 1925: 82 and 82 footnote 1): G.E. Harvey estimated that "the total strength of the invaders [Ava forces] would usually be about 12,000... partly because the Hmannan figure is usually 120,000 and the chronicles habitually over-estimate by ten". However, Harvey misquoted Hmannan since the chronicle does not report 120,000 anywhere for any of the campaigns of the war. Nor do any other main chronicles. All three main chronicles report 130,000 troops for the first invasion ((Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 291), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 196) and (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 417–418)); 290,000 troops for the second invasion ((Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 295), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 198) and (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 422)); and 290,000 troops for the third invasion ((Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 301), (Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 202) and (Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 429–430)).
(Aung-Thwin 2017: 64, 66): Michael Aung-Thwin's estimates of Ava's total strength were 20,000 to 33,000 troops for the campaigns. - ^ a b c d e f g h Unless otherwise stated, the military mobilization figures in this article are reduced by an order of magnitude from those reported in the royal chronicles, per G.E. Harvey's analysis in his History of Burma (1925) in the section Numerical Note (pp. 333–335).
- ^ The Razadarit Ayedawbon (Pan Hla 2005: 185–190) does not mention the total strength of the Hanthawaddy forces for this campaign. Per (Pan Hla 2005: 185–186), Razadarit briefly left the front for Dala after the first battle of Bassein, and returned to the front before the battle of Myaungmya. During his absence, Dein commanded the remaining troops over 10,000 strong (which after adjusting down by an order of magnitude means over 1000 strong).
- ^ (Pan Hla 2005: 189) says over 10,000 troops surrendered after the batttle of Myaungmya. This means Myangmya likely had more than 1000 troops, after adjusting by the chronicle figure by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, per (Pan Hla 2005: 187–188), Myaungmya defenses also included war elephants.
References edit
- ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 417–418, 422, 429–430
- ^ a b Aung-Thwin 2017: 65
- ^ a b c d Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 198
- ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 199–201
- ^ a b c d e f Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 301
- ^ a b c Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 202
- ^ a b c d Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 429–430
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 165, 169–170
- ^ a b c Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 202–203
- ^ a b c d e Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 291
- ^ a b c Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 196
- ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 417–418
- ^ a b Pan Hla 2005: 166
- ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 418
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 167
- ^ a b c Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 295
- ^ a b c Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 422
- ^ Maha Yazawin 2006: 296
- ^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 423
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 169–170
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 185
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 190
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 184–185
- ^ Yazawin Thit Vol. 1 2012: 200–201
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 186
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 185–186
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 178, 184
- ^ Pan Hla 2005: 198
Bibliography edit
- Aung-Thwin, Michael A. (2017). Myanmar in the Fifteenth Century. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-6783-6.
- Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
- Kala, U (2006) [1724]. Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
- Lieberman, Victor B. (2014) [1984]. Burmese Administrative Cycles: Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580–1760. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-05407-0.
- Maha Sithu (2012) [1798]. Myint Swe; Kyaw Win; Thein Hlaing (eds.). Yazawin Thit (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3 (2nd printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.
- Pan Hla, Nai (2005) [1968]. Razadarit Ayedawbon (in Burmese) (8th printing ed.). Yangon: Armanthit Sarpay.
- Royal Historical Commission of Burma (2003) [1832]. Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1–3. Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.