The Last Decades and the Decline of Ava

The kingdom that was Ava came to an “end” in 1526-7. It can be attributed to both long-term structural causes as well as “incidents of the moment,” events that set “afire” the former “kindling.” These “incidents of the moment” can accelerate but also slow down (sometimes, actually reverse) long-term patterns and trends. In Ava’s case, they accelerated its decline. The merit-path to salvation, court factionalism, the patron-client system, and the growth of Shan ascendancy on the one hand, and military set-backs, serendipitous events, and intransigent personalities on the other, resulted in the “fall” of the First Ava Dynasty in 1527. Thereafter, Ava became an ordinary myosa-ship and ceased being the exemplary center of Upper Myanmar, until raised once again as capital of the Second Ava Dynasty in 1600, which is beyond the scope of this study.