The Treaty of Yandabo was signed on 24th February 1826, marking the conclusion of the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826), which had significant consequences for British and Burmese relations and the political landscape of Northeast India.
Key Events Leading to the Yandabo Treaty:
A. Expansionist Ambitions of Burma:
- By the early 19th century, the Konbaung Dynasty in Burma, under King Bagyidaw, had expanded aggressively into neighboring regions, including Manipur, Arakan, and Assam. The Burmese annexation of Assam in 1821 led to conflict with the Ahom Kingdom, which had historical ties with British India.
- The Burmese expansion into Assam alarmed the British East India Company, which feared for its northern frontier and trade routes, particularly as Burma’s reach extended toward Bengal.
B. Triggering of the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824):
- Tensions escalated when Burmese forces began to assert influence over Chittagong and Sylhet in British-controlled Bengal, violating British territory. The situation became critical when Burmese troops attacked British posts in Assam and Chittagong in 1824.
- The British East India Company declared war on Burma in March 1824, marking the beginning of the First Anglo-Burmese War. Major battles were fought in Arakan, Assam, Rangoon, and Tenasserim. The British initially faced resistance due to the unfamiliar jungle terrain and tropical diseases but soon gained an upper hand due to superior military strategy and naval support.
C. Military Campaigns and British Victory:
- British forces led by generals like Sir Archibald Campbell and General Cotton launched a successful campaign in Rangoon and Arakan, inflicting heavy losses on the Burmese army. The British navy’s ability to blockade Burmese ports and control the coastline further weakened Burma’s defense capabilities.
- The Burmese, facing both military defeats and severe financial strain from the protracted war, sought peace negotiations as the British approached Ava, the capital of the Konbaung Dynasty.
D. Burmese Appeal for Peace:
- By early 1826, the Burmese court, under increasing pressure from mounting losses, requested a ceasefire. The British forces were already within reach of Yandabo, a village near Ava, and the Burmese were in no position to continue the war. Facing potential collapse, King Bagyidaw authorized peace talks.
E. Signing of the Treaty of Yandabo:
On 24th February 1826, the Treaty of Yandabo was signed, concluding the war. The terms of the treaty were heavily favorable to the British. Burma agreed to:
- Cede Assam, Manipur, Arakan, and the Tenasserim coast to the British.
- Pay an indemnity of one million pounds.
- Accept a British Resident at Ava and refrain from interfering in Assam and Manipur.
Impact of the Yandabo Treaty:
- The treaty dramatically reshaped the political map of Northeast India and Southeast Asia, bringing Assam under British control and marking the beginning of British influence in Burma.
- It ended Burma’s dominance in the region and established the British Empire as the dominant power in Assam, Manipur, and Arakan, laying the foundation for the eventual annexation of Burma into British India.
In conclusion, the Treaty of Yandabo was a turning point in the region’s history, ending the First Anglo-Burmese War and beginning a new era of British expansion in Northeast India and Southeast Asia.
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