Mindon Min

Who was Mindon Min?

Mindon Min (Burmese: မင်းတုန်းမင်း, pronounced [mɪ́ɰ̃dóʊɰ̃ mɪ́ɰ̃]; 1808 – 1878), born Maung Lwin, was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. Under his half brother King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma by the British Empire. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Pagan. Mindon was born Maung Lwin in 1808, a son of Tharrawaddy Min and Chandra Mata Mahay, Queen of the south Royal Chamber. He studied at the Maha Zawtika monastic college in Amarapura until the age of 23, and held deep respect for religion and religious scholarship throughout his life. Mindon grew up in the shadow of British control – by 1853, the year of his coronation, Burma had gone through radical changes. Mindon Min, born Maung Lwin, was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878.

He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper part of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his kingdom.

Historical significance

He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma because of his role in the Fifth Buddhist Council.