Limbin Confederacy

   An alliance of sawbwas of the Shan States, established in 1883, initially to oppose King Thibaw. It backed the accession to the throne of the Limbin Prince, a member of the Konbaung royal family, in the hope that he would recognize the autonomy of the Shan States and abolish the oppressive thathameda (household) tax. When the British removed Thibaw from the throne at the end of 1885, the Confederacy, whose stoutest supporters included the rulers of Lawksawk, Mongnai, and Mongpawn, became an anti-British movement, which attempted to win the support of Sao On, sawbwa of Yawnghwe, who chose instead to side with the British. There ensued what amounted to a civil war between the Confederacy and pro-British sawbwas. In May 1887, the Limbin Prince surrendered to James G. Scott, British administrator for the Shan States, and went into exile in India.

   See also Pacification of Burma.