10 Facts About Bodawpaya

Bodawpaya was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his eldest brother Naungdawgyi, at Ava.

Bodawpaya moved the royal capital back to Amarapura in 1782.

Bodawpaya fathered 70 sons and 67 daughters by about 54 consorts.

Bodawpaya invaded Siam again in 1809, but was fended off by Maha Senanurak.

In 1816, the Ahom governor of Guwahati in Assam, Badan Chandra Borphukan visited the court of Bodawpaya to seek help in order to defeat his political rival Purnananda Burhagohain, the Prime Minister of Ahom Kingdom in Assam.

Bodawpaya proclaimed himself the next messianic Buddha or Maitreya, but his claim was firmly rejected by the Sangha.

Bodawpaya had successfully arbitrated in favour of orthodoxy to cover both shoulders on the alms round in the controversy concerning the correct way of wearing the robes, and the Order of Monks was unified under the Thudhamma order.

In 1790 Bodawpaya began the construction of a gigantic stupa called Mantalagyi at Mingun, 11 kilometres up the River Irrawaddy from Mandalay on the west bank.

Bodawpaya ordered a major economic survey of the kingdom in 1784.

Bodawpaya was succeeded after his death in 1819 by his grandson, Prince of Sagaing, who later became known as Bagyidaw.