Bayinnaung

Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Thiri Maha Zeya Theekha was a king of Burma (now Myanmar) from 1550 to 1581, and also the founder of the First Toungoo Empire. He is considered one of the greatest military strategists and conquerors in Southeast Asian history. Born in 1516, he rose through the ranks of the Toungoo army before succeeding his half-brother Tabinshwehti.

Bayinnaung's reign was characterized by extensive military campaigns that vastly expanded the Toungoo Kingdom. He is credited with unifying much of modern-day Myanmar, including Ava (Upper Burma), Pegu (Lower Burma), and Arakan. His ambitions extended beyond Burma, leading him to conquer Chiang Mai, Lan Xang (modern Laos), and parts of Siam (modern Thailand). At its zenith, his empire stretched from the borders of China to the northern Malay Peninsula.

Despite his military prowess, Bayinnaung was also known for his administrative skills. He established a centralized administration and promoted trade and economic development within his empire. He was a devout Buddhist and patron of the religion, commissioning numerous pagodas and temples. His military achievements and the vastness of his empire earned him the epithet "Conqueror of the Ten Directions." Bayinnaung died in 1581, leaving behind a powerful but ultimately unsustainable empire that began to fragment shortly after his death. His legacy remains significant in Myanmar and neighboring countries, remembered as a pivotal figure in regional history.