Photo Request - Burmese Gen. Maha Bandula's surrendered Armour @ the Tower of London

Nathaniel · 5th February 2013, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estcrh

Nathaniel, I actually think that is an Indian armor, a chilta hazar masha or coat of a thousand nails. Here is a comparison image with one from the Wallace Collection, London England.

Thanks Estcrh for the id & picture. That is the curious thing for sure about this label as the Burmese generals armour...it is clearly Indian, that I have known...that is part of why I'm curious to see if the suit of armour I was told that is in the Tower of London is the same. India was obviously a neighbor and there was allot of informational exchange between the region so it's quite possible that the general could have had an Indian suit of armour...but it does seem a bit odd a the same time...most other Burmese images (statues, paintings) of course have him in the more familiar Burmese military official attire...

Also @ Aiontay, you are the 2nd person who has mentioned to me about the Kachin claim to the ethnic roots of Maha Bandula. Thank you for posting...very interesting.

aiontay · 6th February 2013, 12:49 PM

During the early 19th century the Kachins were already established in Assam (the Singhpo) and were also raiding Manipur, so maybe that is how he got his Indian armor. I'm joking, but there was plenty of contact with India, as you note. Remember how the First Burmese War got started after all.

Gavin Nugent · 6th February 2013, 01:43 PM

Although after Mana Bandula's death, Scott writes in the mid 1880s about Mandalay.
He states that the outer suburbs housed over 100,000 people, being the traders and general population and that the wealth was in the hands of the Chinese and Moguls with whom the king was afraid to meddle.
He goes on to say, quote, "the grim-visaged Mogul, who could buy up half the town".
This is likely the case in other regions of Burma in earlier times too.

If this Mogul weath and trade centre existed as strongly back then through exporting vast amounts of products back to India, this could well have influneced and provided such a type of armour to Mana Bandula's court.

Just a little more food for thought :-)

Gav

Nathaniel · 17th February 2013, 04:09 AM

Thanks Gavin citing the informative historical account...I think it is definitely plausible that the wealthy would have the money to incorporate foreign armour dress just like they would use foreign weapons.

I ran into a separate reference to Maha Bandula's armour in UK

"The armour of Maha Bandular once was displayed at British museum. The style of it is very similar to Rajput brigandine armour called Chihal'Ta Hazar Masha (Coat of the thousand nails)"

6th February 2013, 12:49 PM	#2
aiontay Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 88	During the early 19th century the Kachins were already established in Assam (the Singhpo) and were also raiding Manipur, so maybe that is how he got his Indian armor. I'm joking, but there was plenty of contact with India, as you note. Remember how the First Burmese War got started after all.

6th February 2013, 01:43 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Although after Mana Bandula's death, Scott writes in the mid 1880s about Mandalay. He states that the outer suburbs housed over 100,000 people, being the traders and general population and that the wealth was in the hands of the Chinese and Moguls with whom the king was afraid to meddle. He goes on to say, quote, "the grim-visaged Mogul, who could buy up half the town". This is likely the case in other regions of Burma in earlier times too. If this Mogul weath and trade centre existed as strongly back then through exporting vast amounts of products back to India, this could well have influneced and provided such a type of armour to Mana Bandula's court. Just a little more food for thought :-) Gav

17th February 2013, 04:09 AM	#4
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Thanks Gavin citing the informative historical account...I think it is definitely plausible that the wealthy would have the money to incorporate foreign armour dress just like they would use foreign weapons. I ran into a separate reference to Maha Bandula's armour in UK "The armour of Maha Bandular once was displayed at British museum. The style of it is very similar to Rajput brigandine armour called Chihal'Ta Hazar Masha (Coat of the thousand nails)"