Toungoo–Mrauk-U War

Toungoo–Mrauk-U War (1545–1547)
Part of the wars of the Toungoo Empire

Toungoo invasion routes in the 1546–47 campaign
Date12 October 1545 – 30 January 1547
Location
Result Mrauk U victory; Treaty of Mrauk U (1547)
Territorial
changes
Status quo ante bellum
Belligerents
Toungoo Dynasty Kingdom of Mrauk U
Commanders and leaders
Tabinshwehti
Bayinnaung
Nanda Thingyan
Smim Bya Thamaik
Thiri Zeya Kyawhtin
Nanda Yawda
Sit Tuyingathu
Smim Enaye
Sithu Kyawhtin II of Salin
Diogo Soares
Min Bin
Min Dikkha
Maha Pyinna Kyaw
Min Phalaung
Units involved
Royal Burmese Army
Royal Burmese Navy
Portuguese mercenaries
Royal Arakanese Army
Royal Arakanese Navy
Portuguese mercenaries
Strength

1545: 4,000+

  • 4,000 (initial)
  • unspecified (later)

1546–47: 19,000

  • 15,000 (Navy)
  • 4,000 (Army)

1545: 6 regiments


1546–47: 20,000+

  • 20,000+ (Army)
  • unknown (Navy)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Toungoo–Mrauk-U War (Burmese: တောင်ငူ–မြောက်ဦး စစ်) was a military conflict that took place in Arakan (present-day Rakhine State of Myanmar) from 1545 to 1547 between the Toungoo Dynasty and the Kingdom of Mrauk U. The western kingdom successfully fended off the Toungoo invasions, and kept its independence. The war had a deterrence effect: Mrauk U would not see another Toungoo invasion until 1580.

The war's origins can be traced back to 1542 when King Min Bin of Mrauk U provided military support on the side of the Kingdom of Ava in the Toungoo–Ava War (1538–45). Although Min Bin left the alliance in the same year, King Tabinshwehti of Toungoo was determined to repay the favor. In 1545, Tabinshwehti agreed to aid Min Aung Hla, the former Viceroy of Thandwe, who had been removed from office by Min Bin. In October 1545, Tabinshwehti sent a 4000-strong army but it was promptly driven back. A much larger naval and land forces (combined 19,000 troops) of Toungoo tried again in the following dry season. The invasion forces overran southern Arakan, and were about to breach the defenses of the capital of Mrauk U when Mrauk U forces opened the sluices of the city's reservoirs, flooding the invaders out. On 30 January 1547, the two sides agreed to a peace treaty that allowed an orderly withdrawal of Toungoo forces from Arakan. The uneasy peace would last for the next 33 years.