Rank General Allegiance Konbaung Dynasty | Years of service 1752–1769 Other work Governor of Kaungton Commands held Kaungton (1766–1769) | |
Battles/wars Konbaung-Hanthawaddy WarSino-Burmese War (1765–1769) Awards Ye Kyaw ThuraBalamindin Battles and wars Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War, Sino-Burmese War | ||
Balamindin (Burmese: ဗလမင်းထင်, [bəla̰ mɪ́ɴdɪ̀ɴ] or [bəla̰ mɪ́ɴtʰɪ̀ɴ]) was a general in the Burmese army of the Konbaung Dynasty. He is best known in Burmese history for his spirited defense Fort Kaungton against repeated attacks by numerically superior Chinese invasion forces in the Sino-Burmese War (1765–1769). From 1766 to 1769, Balamindin commanded the fort. The determined resistance by the Burmese at Kaungton proved critical in stopping the last three Chinese invasions. After the war, he was made governor of Kaungton.
Background
Balamindin was born Maung Lwin in the Moksobo region (present-day Shwebo District) in Upper Burma. He joined Alaungpaya's resistance forces to the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom's invasion forces in 1752. Lwin was selected as one of 68 elite commanders that would become the core leadership of Konbaung armies for the next thirty years. He served with distinction in Alaungpaya's reunification campaigns, first achieving the title Ye Kyaw Thura, and then Balamindin.
After Alaungpaya's death in 1760, Balamindin became allied with Alaungpaya's brother Thado Thinkhathu, governor of Toungoo (Taungoo). In 1762, Thinkhathu revolted against King Naungdawgyi, and Balamindin supported the rebellion. Naungdawgyi's forces laid siege to Toungoo, and recaptured the city. Naungdawgyi pardoned his uncle Thinkhathu and Thinkhathu's deputies, including Balamindin.