Bodawpaya

Bodawpaya (literally Royal Grandfather , March 11th 1745 - Amarapura June 5th 1819) was the sixth king of the Dynastie Konbaung of Burma (1782-1819). Born Maung Shwe Waing , later Badon Min , it was the fourth wire of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty. He was proclaimed king with Ava after having deposited his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, (wire of his/her brother Naungdawgyi). He brought back the capital to Amarapura in 1782.

He carried the title of Hsinbyumyashin (Lord of the White elephants), but is known under the name of Bodawpaya, in reference to his successor, his grandson Bagyidaw ( Uncle Elder Royal ), who accepted itself this name compared to his nephew Mindon Min. He had 62 wire and 58 girls of approximately 200 wives.

Military forwardings

He sent in 1784 his armies against the Arakan, under the orders of his son and heir apparent, the Prince de Debayin (father of the future kings Bagyidaw and Tharrawaddy Min). The capital of Arakan Mrauk U was taken the January 2nd 1785.

Bodawpaya twice tried to seize Ayutthaya, without success: 1785 and 1808. Buddhism was flourishing during its reign, thanks to the discipline and the stability brought by the institution of a chapter of Sangharajas (higher monks), charged with taking care on the purity of Sangha. Bodawpaya had sliced in favor of orthodoxy in the question of the port of the monastic dress (i.e. the 2 covered shoulders) and the order of the monks was unified by the Thudhamma sect. Burma became the guardian of Buddhism in the areas and ordination Upasampada was reintroduced with the Sri Lanka. It is the largest bell still being able to sound in the world. (The Tsar Kolokol of the the Kremlin is split.)

Bodawpaya was also a guard of the music and dramatic arts: it named a minister named the Thabin Wun , and establishes by decree of the strict rules ( Ameintdaw ). It ordered also a great study on the saving in its kingdom in 1784.

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