The history of Burma is one of internal rivalry as well as occasional wars with external foes. Internally Burma was divided into four main ethnic groups, which at various times was considered the dominant power in the region.

The Arkanese were located along the seacoast and were heavily influenced by an Indian culture. The Arkanese had never expressed a desire to conquer the interior tribes but were often the target for expansion by the rulers of these tribes. The Arkanese were regarded as the best seafarers among the tribes in ‘Burma’.

The Mons or Tailaings were of a Mongolian ethnic group and the earliest of the interior tribes that had been pushed further to the southeast by later Burman migrations. Their main city was Pegu, which served as the capital for several Mon dominated dynasties over the years. The Mon tribes were regarded as excellent fighters on river canoes. They also often provided auxiliaries to Burmese or Siamese rulers.

The Shans were ethnically Chinese and also related to the dominant ethnic group in Siam. Their towns were mainly located in the highland and mountainous areas. Various tribes would ally themselves with the Burmese, the Siamese and the Chinese while other tribes would support the rival side in a war. . Their warriors were known for their ability as spearmen and the best war elephants were also considered as coming from Shan territory. Shan dominated dynasties did not have them agricultural capabilities in the highlands to support massive armies so their dominance over other ethnic groups was seldom and short lived.

The Burmans were an ethnically Tibetan group who migrated into the northwestern areas of the country and settled mainly in the river valleys upriver of Pegu. They are best known for their early dynasty based in Pagan, By the 1700s most Burman dynasties seemed to use Ava as their preferred capital site.

All of the Burmese ethnic groups were distinguishable among each other. Whether it was the heavy tattooing of the Burmans or the dress of the Mons, each group could easily be identified from other ethnic tribes in the army.

In regards to outside enemies, frequent campaigns were conducted against the Siamese. An occasional defensive struggle was fought against a Chinese incursion. Raiding and retaliatory strikes against tribes from India’s Eastern provinces became more frequent as the years went by. Even a campaign or two was fought against the Khymer who might become involved in a war that took place in Siam.

While the main foe may have been regarded as the Siamese to the east, outposts were always manned along the border to the northwest in anticipation of further raids by various Indian tribes. It is important to note that at this time, the raiding Indian tribes were not under the control of the British.

The Burman dynasty of the Alaunghpra in the 1700s had been particularly active in expanding Burman control. Numerous campaigns were launched to conquer the Arkanese, subdue local revolts and curb the power of the Siamese. The royal call to arms mustered vast numbers of local levies around a core of royal Household troops. In 1766 Tenasserim was obtained from Siam. In 1784 Arakan was annexed to the Ava kingdom. In 1813 the Indian territory of Manipur along the Surma Valley was conquered. In 1823 the Indian Shalpuri Island near Chittagong was occupied with sparked the war.

Anglo-Burmese War of 1824

Introduction
Burmese Empire During the 1700s
Burmese Army of the 1700s and 1800s
British-Indian Army of the Early 1800s