Burma/ Myanmar: The dragon-shaped Ava Pagoda, c.1920s.

Ava was capital of Burma from 1364 to 1841 and was founded by King Thadominbya on an artificial island at the confluence of the Irrawaddy and the Myitnge created by digging a canal linking the two rivers. Prior to this, Sagaing had been capital, but after Sagaing fell to the Shan, the court moved across the river to Ava.

The culture of Pagan was revived and a great age of Burmese literature ensued. The kingdom lacked easily defensible borders, however, and was overrun by the Shan in 1527.

Following the British conquest of Lower Burma after the Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852–53), Upper Burma was commonly called the Kingdom of Ava or the Court of Ava. During the reign of King Bodawpaya (r.1781–1819), the capital was moved to nearby Amarapura. However, his successor, King Bagyidaw (r.1819–37), moved the court back to Ava in 1823. When a tremendous earthquake caused extensive damage in 1841, Ava was finally abandoned for Amarapura. Little remains of the ancient capital today.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History