Treaty of Yandabo facts for kids

The Treaty of Yandabo (Burmese: ရန္တပိုစာချုပ်) was a very important peace treaty. It officially ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. This war had lasted for almost two years. The treaty was signed on February 24, 1826.

On the British side, General Sir Archibald Campbell signed the treaty. For the Burmese, the Governor of Legaing, Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin, signed it. The British army was very close to the Burmese capital, Ava. They were only about 80 kilometers (50 miles) away at a village called Yandabo. This meant the Burmese had to accept the British demands without much discussion.

The treaty made the Burmese agree to several things. They had to give up certain lands to the British. They also had to stop interfering in other areas. A large payment of money was also part of the deal. Both sides also agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives. This meant they would send officials to each other's capitals. They also planned to sign a trade agreement later.

This treaty ended the longest and most expensive war for British India. Many soldiers died on both sides. The war also cost the British a huge amount of money. This led to money problems in British India later on. For the Burmese, this treaty was the start of losing their independence. Their empire, which had been very powerful, became much weaker. They had to pay a huge amount of money, which hurt their economy for many years. The British would later fight two more wars against the Burmese. By 1885, the British had taken over the entire country.

How Did Peace Talks Begin?

Peace talks started in September 1825. By then, the British were in a strong position. They had won a major battle in April 1825. In this battle, the Burmese commander-in-chief, Maha Bandula, was killed. The British had taken control of several areas. These included Lower Burma, Rakhine, and Taninthayi. They also controlled Assam and Manipur.

British Demands for Peace

The British had clear demands. They wanted the Burmese to accept that Assam, Manipur, and Cachar were independent. They also wanted the Burmese to stop interfering in these areas. The British also demanded that Rakhine and its nearby areas be given to them. They wanted a British official to live at the Burmese King's court in Ava. Finally, they demanded a huge payment of two million pounds sterling. The British said they would hold onto Yangon and Taninthayi until this money was paid.

The Burmese leaders were not ready for these demands. They did not want to give up so much land. They also thought the payment was too high. Their army was much smaller and weaker by this point. The Burmese envoy, the lord of Kawlin, replied to the British. He said his government would give up claims to Assam and Manipur. But they did not want to give up Rakhine. They also disagreed with the British choice for the future ruler of Manipur.

The British were not happy with this response. They told the Burmese that the question was not what the Burmese would give up. Instead, it was about how much the British would return to them.

Why Did Talks Fail?

Because of these disagreements, the peace talks stopped. The Burmese decided to keep fighting. In November 1825, Burmese forces tried to take back Pyay. They almost succeeded. But by early December, the British won again. Their stronger weapons helped them defeat the Burmese.

By the start of 1826, the British were moving closer to Ava. They captured the ancient city of Pagan on February 8. Then, on February 16, they reached Yandabo village. This village was less than 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Ava. It was only a four-day march away.

Signing the Treaty

The Burmese had no other choice. They asked for peace. The Burmese king, Bagyidaw, sent a group of people to meet the British commander. This group included an American, an Englishman, and two Burmese ministers. The final talks were not really negotiations. The Burmese had to agree to everything the British demanded.

What the Treaty Demanded

The British demanded, and the Burmese agreed to:

• Give Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Rakhine (Arakan), and the Taninthayi (Tenasserim) coast to the British. This coast was south of the Salween river.
• Stop interfering in Cachar and Jaintia.
• Pay one million pounds sterling in four payments.
• Allow British and Burmese officials to be exchanged between Ava and Calcutta.
• Sign a commercial (trade) treaty later.

The first payment of money had to be made right away. The second payment was due within 100 days. The rest of the money had to be paid within two years. The British said they would not leave Yangon until the second payment was made.

The Treaty of Yandabo was signed on February 24, 1826. General Campbell signed for the British. Governor Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin signed for the Burmese. The Burmese paid the first part of the money. It was 250,000 pounds sterling in gold and silver. They also released British prisoners of war.

What Happened After the Treaty?

The treaty put a huge financial burden on the Burmese kingdom. It left the country very weak. The British demands were so high because the war had cost them so much. About 40,000 British and Indian soldiers fought in the war. Around 15,000 of them died. The war cost British India about 13 million pounds sterling. This huge cost led to a serious economic crisis in India. By 1833, it had caused many businesses to fail. It also made the British East India Company lose some of its special rights. This included their control over trade with China.

Areas like Assam became part of British India. For the Burmese, the treaty was a complete humiliation. It was also a long-lasting financial problem. Many men had died in the war. The Burmese had been proud of their military success for 75 years. But now, that pride was gone. The leaders in Ava could not accept losing their lands. They tried to get them back, but failed. A British official living in Ava was a daily reminder of their defeat.

Most importantly, the huge payment made the royal treasury empty for years. One million pounds sterling was a massive amount of money, even in Europe at that time. In Burmese money, it was 10 million kyat. To give you an idea, an average villager in Upper Burma in 1826 lived on about one kyat per month.

The treaty achieved its goal: it left Burma crippled. The British fought two more wars against the much weaker Burmese. These wars were in 1852 and 1885. By 1885, the British had taken over the entire country.