15 Facts About Saya San

The uprisings that culminated in the Saya San Rebellion are considered a quintessential anti-colonial movement in Southeast Asia.

Saya San was born on 24 October 1876 in Shwebo, a center of monarchist sentiment and the birthplace of the Konbaung dynasty, which ruled Myanmar from 1752 until the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1886.

Saya San married Ma Kay and had two children, Ko Po Thin and Ma Sein.

Saya San worked as a carpenter and then as a fortuneteller and traditional healer, authoring treatises questioning Western medicine.

In December 1930, Saya San launched a peasant revolt, proclaiming himself king and organizing the "Galon Army".

Saya San fled to the Shan Hills, but was captured in August 1931 and executed on 28 November 1931.

At the auspicious moment, the coronation of Saya San proceeded in the traditional manner, at a pagoda near Rangoon.

Saya San was proclaimed the Thupannaka Galuna Raja, and donned the royal raiment prescribed by ancient usage.

Saya San promised supporters that he would restore the authority of the Burmese monarchy, revitalize the Buddhist religion and expel the British authorities.

Saya San took the name of the Thupannaka Galon Raja.

For those Burmese historians, Saya San was portrayed as an early nationalist hero.

Saya San used a vast amount of British documents, including parliamentary papers and police reports, to create a narrative by recognizing the localized form of political expression.

Saya San provides four other examples to justify his theory in bigger colonial situations.

Several details of the trial, including a diary produced by the police that outlines Saya San's plan, are not considered to be trustworthy.

The Saya San rebellion left thousands of people dead by the time it had concluded, making it one of the most violent anti-colonial movements in Southeast Asia in the 20th century.