Glass Palace Chronicles

   (Hmannan Yazawin)

   Compiled in 1829 by order of King Bagyidaw (r. 1819-1838), a history of Burma (or more precisely, the kingdoms established in the central valley of the Irrawaddy [Ayeyarwady] River) from its legendary origins to the Konbaung Dynasty. It was so named because the committee of "learned Brahmins, learned monks and learned ministers" who were appointed to compose it worked in a pavilion decorated with glass mosaic located within the palace compound at Ava (Inwa). The Chronicles trace the origins of the Konbaung royal family to the kingdom of Tagaung in Upper Burma, whose founder was a prince of Sakya in northern India, the country where Gotama Buddha was born. Direct descent from the Maha Thamada, the first king, was also claimed. The Glass Palace Chronicles were not intended to present an objective view of history, but rather to glorify the dynasty established by Alaungpaya (r. 1752-1760), who, however, seems to have been of rather humble origin.