Ava Kingdom: Map & History
The Ava Kingdom also known as Inwa Kingdom or Kingdom of Ava was the dominant kingdom that ruled upper Burma (Myanmar) from 1365 to 1555.
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The Ava Kingdom also known as Inwa Kingdom or Kingdom of Ava was the dominant kingdom that ruled upper Burma (Myanmar) from 1365 to 1555. Founded in 1365, the kingdom was the successor state to the petty kingdoms of Myinsaing, Pinya and Sagaing that had ruled central Burma since the collapse of the Pagan Kingdom in the late 13th century.
Modern Countries Once Part of Ava Kingdom
At its mapped extent, Ava Kingdom covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Ava Kingdom's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Ava Kingdom in Depth
History
The kingdom was founded by Thado Minbya in 1364 following the collapse of the Sagaing and Pinya Kingdoms due to raids by the Shan States to the north.
In its first years of existence, Ava, which viewed itself as the rightful successor to the Pagan Kingdom, tried to reassemble the former empire by waging constant wars against the Mon Hanthawaddy kingdom in the south, the Shan States in the north and east, and Rakhine State in the west.
While it was able to hold Taungoo and some peripheral Shan States (Kalaymyo, Mohnyin, Mogaung and Hsipaw) within its fold at the peak of its power, Ava failed to reconquer the rest. The Forty Years' War (1385–1424) with Hanthawaddy left Ava exhausted.
Legacy
Ava's most notable legacy was its contribution to Burmese vernacular literature which flourished during this period. Literature moved from being written predominantly in Pali to using the vernacular Burmese language. Ava was a highly literate society with poetry being composed by people from all levels of society, such as a village headman of Palaung in 1355, who inscribed verse onto stone. Inscriptions in classical Burmese during both the Bagan and Ava periods written by commoners and nobles appear at a ratio of 3:1 in favour of the commoners.
The maiden I marry shall be a forest dwelling, one that befits a hermit, far from the approach of men; she will tend to all my needs and will always keep me fed, with forest fruits for rice, and forest fruits for curry.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of Ava (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ava Kingdom: Key Facts
| Capital | Inwa |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1364 |
| Dissolved | 1555 |
Succeeded by
- Taungoo dynasty
Facts from Wikidata Q2500952 (CC0).
Ava Kingdom Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Ava Kingdom appears, with the other states of the time.
Ava Kingdom Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 193,597 km² in 1402 CE.
Ava Kingdom: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Ava Kingdom exist?
The Ava Kingdom is dated to 1375 CE – 1528 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Ava Kingdom?
The capital of the Ava Kingdom was Sagaing, Pinya, Ava.
How large was the Ava Kingdom at its peak?
At its peak in 1402 AD the Ava Kingdom covered about 193,597 km².
How did the map of the Ava Kingdom change over time?
The Ava Kingdom appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1400 CE to 1500 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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