Below is a list of dominant ethnic groups that settled in Burma or influenced them during this era. Due to the importance of city (town) states, to the military history of the region, I have listed some of the primary city-states of the region, as well.

ARAKAN The name given to the coastal region of Burma. Dominated by the Kanraw people and heavily influenced by Ceylon and other Hindu groups from India. The towns in the region were key trading centers located along the coast. They gave homage to the rulers of Pagan during its height. However during the Shan-Tailang Wars, they often shifted allegiance. Considered the best sailors in Burma. For a number of years they actually controlled Chittagong in SE coastal India. Appearance comments indicate that they practiced ‘flathead’ forming on children. They preferred the Indian style short cotton skirt.

ARI This was a warrior pre-Buddhist monk sect which was centered in Thamahti near Pagan during the 900s AD. One source indicates that they worshipped Dragons. Some sources refer them as a nobility caste of Tibetans, which ruled Upper Burma rather than a monk sect. They tended to wear long hair in Indian style and maintained beards. They wore blue-black robes and enjoying strong drink and warfare. They fought in mounted units at their height of power. They continued to act as military advisors even after they lost power in 1044 ASSAM. An area in India often ruled by Shan tribes and fought with various Burmese dynasties. They are noted as wearing blue caps or turbans and wearing mainly a loincloth. Red dyes seem to have been popular. AVA:A city state founded by the Successor Shan where the Irrawaddy merges with the Myienge river. It was a key player in Burmese affairs from 1300-1550

BILU A savage tribe located in the Salwin river delta. May not have been a Mon, Shan or Burman tribe.

BURMAN An ethnic group which migrated to Burma from the area of Tibet. They settled along the Irrawaddy river and often dominated Upper and central Burma along the river valley. AKA Myanmar. They are noted for being heavily tattooed. The Chinese because of this practice called them black bellies. They are noted as wearing thin pantaloon garments.

BURMESE A term used for an amalgamation of various ethnic groups in Burma into a single group. Often used by outsiders for the people who controlled the dominant city in Burma regardless of ethnic group.

COCHIN CHINA The area of modern Vietnam. Often attacked Siam but rarely raided into Burma. Most conflicts with the Burmese resulted due to the Burmese providing troops to various allies. They are noted for having over 2,000 military schools. They maintained a core of a drilled regular guard. Their preferred weapons were the bow and long daggers. They adopted firearms before most other armies in the region.

DACOITS The term for local tribal chieftains who had a close group of followers. Their villages were often located in harsh, isolated areas. They were noted for their independence and would often act contrary to the orders of their overlords. Later often regarded as pirates and bandits by Europeans.

HINDU various Hindu groups from India proper, Ceylon or one of their colonies to the east such as Siam or Sumatra influenced Burma. They established trading outposts in various towns in Thaton, Rangoon and Prome among others. They influenced the towns in the Arakan area the most.

JANGOMA A tribes which raided Burmese and Siamese towns. Noted for wearing only a loincloth and being bareheaded.

KHAMPA Aka Champa. A Mon tribal grouping. Noted for preferring pikes and sabres. They later adopted the musket and used levy troops and elephants from Laos.

KANCHIN They dominated the extreme northern area of Burma including the source of the Irrawandy.

KANRAW The main ethnic group comprising the various towns in the coastal area of Arakan.

LAOS Laotian tribes were noted for raising some of the best fighting elephants in the region.

MACASSAR Tribes from Indonesia who were hired as mercenaries by Siam and sometimes-raided Arakan. They disdained any distance weapons and preferred to charge into close contact with the enemy. They preferred to fight with a long tapered dagger/ sword, lance or short spear. Ironically they would use a long blowpipe with poisoned darts.

MON One of the early migrating tribes regarded as a Mongol group. However, my research indicates that it would be more accurate to regard them as one of the many migrating Asiatic Hun tribes of the pre-500 AD era. Mongols as we know them did not influence the area until after 1200 AD and were called Tartars by the Burmese. The Mons bypassed many of the original settlements and established the city-state of Pegu and other Talaing towns in Lower Burma and the Khymer towns in Cambodia. AKA Talaings.

MANIPUR A small area in eastern India. They were well known for fielding excellent horsemen. They were sometimes vassals of a Burmese dynasty. One Manipur mounted contingent even accompanied a Burmese invasion of Siam in the 1500s. They would also frequently raid various Shan villages.

MARTABAN A key city located at the mouth of the Salween river. Early ‘capital’ of Talaing tribes. Known as an important trading port with Europeans and Moslems in the 1500s.

MOHNYIN The major Kachin town in Upper Burma. Controlled by the Shan and became a chief rival of Ava in Upper Burma.

NAN CHAO The major Tai kingdom located in the Yunnan Province of SW China. They tended to support towns ruled by Shan but took tribute from other towns as well. They controlled trade between Burma and China. The Meng Dynasty ruled Nan Chao from 649-902 AD. Aka Nan Zhao.

PAGAN A Burman capital of Central and Uper Burma. Dominated Burmese affairs from 1000-1287 when Mongol-Yuan China destroyed them. Aka Pugan

PEGU The most important of the Tailang cities. After 1369, it was regarded as the Talaing “capital”. Located in the fertile area between the Irrawaddy delta and the Sittang River. Aka Raman

POONG An Indian Hindu term for Upper Burma

PROME Aka Pye. Early city founded by the Pyu people on the Irrawaddy river and located just above the delta region.. Influence fluctuated but always considered a key city in controlling trade along the river.

PYU One of the early Tibeto-Burman tribes to migrate down the Irrawandy. They were heavily influenced by Indian culture and founded the Vikrama dynasty at Prome. Being one of the first, they were constantly attacked by new immigrants until they eventually merged with the Burmans.

SHAN Ethnic Chinese from the Yunnan province area of China who initially migrated along the Sawleen river. Many were exiles from the Nan Chao government. They often cooperated with the controlling Chinese power in Yunnan (Nan Chao or Yuan Dynasty). They defeated and replaced many of the Burman rulers in Pagan and other towns. Initially their main strength was in the mountainous area of northeast Burma but they moved west in great force. They dominated Upper Burma and founded Siam. They founded Mohnyin, Moemik, Hsipaw among others and established the great city state of Ava.

TAI One of the largest ethnic groups in Southeastern Asia. They controlled Nan Chao in the Yunnan area of China. Splinter migrating groups were known as the Shan in Burma and the Thai in Siam.

TALAINGS A mix of Mon tribes and local groups in Lower Burma. The main name for the Mon ethnic group in Burma. Not known as great seamen but considered better boatmen than the Shan or Burmans. Other countries indicate that the Mons had a darker olive skin than the other Burmese tribes. They had no beard and wore no clothes in combat except for a loincloth. Drawings indicate that warriors often carried a sword and occasionally a spear. Their shield was round and could cover the entire torso. It was often slung to the back when charging. It was mainly used for protection from arrows while advancing into contact.

THET Aka Chin.

TONKIN The tribes of Tonkin in northern Vietnam were noted as preferring to use clubs rather than swords. They were also known as good coastal sailors with most vessels over 70 feet long.

TOUNGOO The most important city of the later Burman from 1492-post 1600 located along the Sittang river. During the 1500s its ruling class controlled most of Burma and fought numerous wars with Siam.

VIENTIANE A Vietnamese or Mon people of Laos. Controlled the town of Si Sattana Khanahut. Occasionally fought with Burmese allies and attacked Burmese forces in Siam.

YUAN Mongol dominated Dynasty of China. Normally allowed the local governor of Yunnan province to control affairs with Burma.

A Brief Military History of Burma

200 to 1600 AD Historical Background
Ethnic Groups and City-States of Burma and the Southeast Asia Region
Notes of Military Tactics and Organization
The Dynasties of Burma