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ā€œEast of the Indian subcontinent, a vibrant and learned culture flourished in the jungles and river valleys. Ascend to power, quash a treacherous rebellion, and restore the Burmese monarchy to its former glory. Assemble the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia with a legion of Battle Elephants that can demolish the most powerful of defenses. The Burmese unique unit is the Arambai, a ranged cavalry unit with a deadly but inaccurate attack.ā€
—Description[1]

The Burmese are a Southeast Asian civilization in Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas. They focus on Monks and Battle Elephants.

The Burmese are based on the Pagan Kingdom and the later Toungoo Empire, the latter of which is the largest empire in Southeastern Asia. They also encompass the Meitei people of Kingdom of Manipur (India), who were their historical rivals, through their Manipur Cavalry unique technology and Arambai unique unit.

Characteristics[]

Unique unit[]

Unique technologies[]

Civilization bonuses[]

Team bonus[]

Relics are visible on the map from the game start.

Overview[]

The Burmese have very solid cavalry, with full Blacksmith and Stable upgrades and Manipur Cavalry, which gives them +4 attack against archers. Their Battle Elephants in particular are very powerful, with not only everything previously mentioned but also +1/+1 armor, which further increases by another +1/+1 with Howdah. Their Monks are also very potent, with access to every Monk technology, with a 50% discount on every one. Their infantry is also great with full upgrades and +1 attack per age starting in the Feudal Age. The Arambai can be best described as a "short-ranged" (due to not benefiting from range upgrades) with a very high attack and low accuracy, but stray shots can deal full damage that hit other units. This makes the Arambai very threatening when massed against clumped units close together. Their navy and siege weapons are average with a few missing upgrades that do not do too much harm overall. Their economy is strong, with free Lumbercamp technologies.

On the other hand, their archer units are the worst in the game, as they not only lack several key technologies, but they are the only civilization to lack Leather Archer Armor. Compounded by their lack of Arbalester, their foot archers are useless. Their Skirmishers in particular are infamously bad, to the point where the civilization is vulnerable to Crossbowmen rushes unless they invest into Manipur Cavalry quickly.

Overall, with their bonuses for both Monks and cavalry, they are very flexible in both open and closed maps, as the former have a solid early game economic and military bonuses that can allow the Burmese to push for an infantry rush and transition to their main strength with cavalry; while the latter can allow the Burmese to take full advantage of their late-game army composition Monks, Battle Elephants, and Arambai due to the closed and defensive nature of the map allowing them to effectively boom up.

Changelog[]

AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas[]

  • With patch 5.3, Manipur Cavalry's +6 anti-building bonus damage adjusted (+6 (building)/+0 (standard building) ā†’ +3/+3), so Architecture does not cancel the effect completely anymore.
  • With patch 5.7:
    • Howdah food cost increased (200 food ā†’ 400 food) and extra pierce armor decreased (+2 ā†’ +1).
    • (Elite) Arambai attack decreased (18 (non-Elite)/20 (Elite) ā†’ 17/19) movement speed decreased (1.35 ā†’ 1.3).
    • Elite Arambai anti-cavalry archer armor decreased (+2 ā†’ +0).
  • With Patch 5.8, (Elite) Arambai wood cost increased (50 wood ā†’ 80 wood).

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West[]

  • With update 44725:
    • (Elite) Arambai damage decreased (17 (non-Elite)/19 (Elite) ā†’ 12/15). However, stray shots deal full damage to the unit they hit (instead of half).
    • Arambai Rate of Fire decreased (2.2 ā†’ 2).

Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes[]

  • With update 51737, Howdah extra pierce armor reverted (+1 ā†’ +2).
  • With update 56005, Manipur Cavalry reworked: it longer affects Arambai, and provides +5 attack against archers instead of +6 attack against buildings.

AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India[]

  • With update 61321:
    • Burmese Battle Elephants get +1/+1 armor as a new civilization bonus.
    • Howdah extra pierce armor un-reverted (+2 ā†’ +1).
    • Manipur Cavalry food cost decreased (650 food ā†’ 400 food).
    • (Elite) Arambai train time decreased (21 ā†’ 18 seconds).
  • With update 73855, Arambai benefit from Parthian Tactics.
  • With update 81058:
    • Elite Arambai upgrade food cost decreased (1,100 food ā†’ 1,000 food); gold cost increased (675 gold ā†’ 750 gold).
    • Gambesons introduced.

AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome[]

  • With update 87863, (Elite) Arambai are affected by Chemistry. Elite Arambai attack reduced (15 ā†’ 14).
  • With update 81058:
    • Manipur Cavalry cost reduced (400 food, 400 gold ā†’ 300 food, 300 gold) and effect reduced (+5 ā†’ +4).
    • Manipur Cavalry moved to Castle Age and Howdah moves to Imperial Age.

Campaign appearances[]

The Burmese have a campaign devoted to their civilization: Bayinnaung. They also appear in:

CampaignIcon-PrithvirajDE Prithviraj[]

CampaignIcon-GajahMadaDE Gajah Mada[]

CampaignIcon-SuryavarmanIDE Suryavarman I[]

CampaignIcon-BayinnaungDE Bayinnaung[]

This campaign is played as the Burmese.

In-game dialogue language[]

Burmese units speak their namesake, a Sino-Tibetan language (related to the language spoken by the Chinese and Tibetic languages) written with a script descended from Brahmic, either Kadamba or Pallava. Note that the Romanization of the Burmese Language may differ from person to person, and there is no single standard. Additionally, Farmer and Forager use the same word in-game.

Villager
Military
Monk
King

AI player names[]

When playing a random map game against the computer, the player may encounter any of the following Burmese AI characters:

  • Anawrahta (į€”į€”į€±į€¬į€ŗį€›į€‘į€¬): The founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that formed the basis of modern-day Burma.
  • Bayinnaung (į€˜į€Æį€›į€„į€·į€ŗį€”į€±į€¬į€„į€ŗ): Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta was king of the Toungoo Dynasty of Burma from 1550 to 1581. During his 31-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma," Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern-day Burma, Chinese Shan states, Lan Na, Lan Xang, Manipur, and Siam.
  • Binnya Dala (į€—į€Šį€¬į€øį€’į€œ): A court title used at the courts of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, Toungoo Dynasty and Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom. Possibly refers to General of Hanthawaddy defeated in the Battle of Naungyo in 1538 or Chief Minister and general of Toungoo (1559ā€“1573).
  • Kyansittha (į€€į€»į€”į€ŗį€…į€…į€ŗį€žį€¬į€ø): King of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 1084 to 1112/13, and is considered one of the greatest Burmese monarchs.
  • Min Bin (į€™į€„į€ŗį€øį€•į€„į€ŗ): King of Arakan from 1531 to 1554, "whose reign witnessed the country's emergence as a major power". Aided by Portuguese mercenaries and their firearms, his powerful navy and army pushed the boundaries of the kingdom deep into Bengal, where coins bearing his name and styling him sultan were struck, and even interfered in the affairs of mainland Burma.
  • Mingyi Nyo (į€™į€„į€ŗį€øį€€į€¼į€®į€øį€Šį€­į€Æ): The founder of Toungoo dynasty of Burma. Under his 45-year leadership (1485ā€“1530), Toungoo (Taungoo), grew from a remote backwater vassal state of Ava Kingdom to a small but stable independent kingdom.
  • Minkhaung (į€•į€‘į€™ į€™į€„į€ŗį€øį€į€±į€«į€„į€ŗ): A Burmese royal title, and may refer to monarchs (kings Minkhaung I/Minkhaung II/Minkhaung of Mrauk-U/Minkhaung of Prome) or viceroys of Toungoo (Minkhaung I of Toungoo/Minkhaung II of Toungoo) in late AoE II era.
  • Nanda (į€”į€”į€¹į€’į€˜į€Æį€›į€„į€ŗ): King of Toungoo Dynasty of Burma from 1581 to 1599. He presided over the collapse of Toungoo Empire, the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia.
  • Narapati (į€”į€›į€•į€į€­): A Burmese royal title, and may refer to: Narapati I of Ava, King of Ava, r. 1442ā€“68; Narapati II of Ava, King of Ava, r. 1501ā€“27; Narapati of Prome, King of Prome, r. 1532ā€“39; Narapati III of Ava, King of Ava, r. 1545ā€“51; and Narapati IV of Ava, King of Ava, r. 1551ā€“55; in AoE II era.
  • Sithu (į€…į€Šį€ŗį€žį€°): A Burmese royal title used in the days of Burmese monarchy and may refer to Sithu I/Sithu II/Sithu III/Sithu IV, kings of Pagan, Sithu of Pinya and Sithu Kyawhtin.
  • Swasawke (į€…į€½į€¬į€…į€±į€¬į€ŗį€€į€²): King of Ava from 1367 to 1400. He reestablished central authority in Upper Burma for the first time since the fall of the Pagan Empire in the 1280s. He essentially founded the Ava Kingdom that would dominate Upper Burma for the next two centuries.
  • Tabinshwehti (į€į€•į€„į€ŗį€›į€½į€¾į€±į€‘į€®į€ø): Tabinshwehti was king of Toungoo Dynasty of Burma from 1530 to 1550, and the founder of Toungoo Empire. His military campaigns created the largest kingdom in Burma since the fall of Pagan Empire in 1287.

History[]

ā€œSince prehistoric times, the fertile plains, navigable rivers, and the protection of surrounding mountains have attracted many ethnic groups to settle in the area of present-day Myanmar (Burma). Between the end of the first millennium BC and the ninth century AD, a multitude of city-states emerged as a result of intensified rice cultivation and growing Indo-Chinese trade. Similar to other early Southeast Asian polities, culture became influenced by the interaction with India. Most of the urban civilizations of Myanmar gradually converted to Buddhism and built many temples. These tall cylindrical temples, called stupas, became the prototype for later religious architecture. For example, the famous 11th century Shwezigon Pagoda was based on this design.
History burmese

During the Middle Ages, two states succeeded in uniting the different polities of Myanmar into one powerful empire. In 1044, Anawrahta Minsaw (1044-1077) ascended the throne of the small Pagan kingdom in Upper Myanmar. After consolidating the state's economic power through the building of extensive irrigation networks, Anawrahta conquered most of Upper and Lower Myanmar. Around 1200, the Pagan empire (1044-1297) reached its zenith: the Burmese language became the lingua franca, laws were codified, and the territory reached its largest extent.

The Pagan empire had only a limited standing army in their capital, called the brave ones, but additional troops were conscripted during times of war. The main body of the army consisted of infantry. A number of war elephants, the elite unit of the army and a symbol of power, were allotted to each force. The elephants were often equipped with a Howdah, a sort of carriage, from which multiple archers could shoot. In addition, the Burmese deployed a sizable cavalry force. Soldiers fought with a variety of weapons, including swords, spears, bows, and darts. Despite its many victories in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the Pagan army was eventually defeated by the Mongols in 1285. Without powerful leadership, the empire soon disintegrated into rivaling states.

By the fourteenth century, four states had filled the void of the Pagan Empire though their rule was highly contested and vassals often rebelled. While these four states waged war among each other, the small kingdom of Toungoo profited by welcoming refugees, expanding its own territory, and raiding neighboring cities. In 1510, King Mingyinyo (1485-1530) declared independence. Under his successors, King Tabinshwehti (1530-1550) and especially King Bayinnaung (1550-1581), Toungoo expanded from a regional kingdom into the largest empire of Southeast Asia, encompassing much of present-day Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Extensive use of firearms and the recruitment of Portuguese artillery gave the Burmese a technological advantage in battle.

This explosive growth, however, left the Toungoo Empire ungovernable. Shortly after the death of Bayinnaung, different states rebelled. Instead of consolidating the kingdom's core region, Bayinnaung's son, King Nanda (1581-1599), desperately tried to hold on to the large empire. The failure of multiple campaigns against the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya weakened Toungoo's military strength. Failed harvests due to climatic cooling weakened the imperial economy. In 1599, Toungoo's capital was besieged and burned to the ground, marking the end of the second Burmese Empire.
ā€

Trivia[]

  • Before the Definitive Edition the middle of the navigation bar showed a green peafowl, which is the royal symbol of Burmese kingdoms since the 11th century.
    • This symbol is also used as the civilization icon of the Burmese in the Definitive Edition.
    • This symbol is also used as the coat of arms of the Konbaung dynasty (18th century).
  • The Burmese user interface image is an image of the temples and pagodas in Bagan, which between the 11th to 13th centuries hosted more than 10,000 temples, pagodas, and monasteries, out of which 2,200 still exist.
  • The Burmese are the only civilization that lack Leather Archer Armor at the Blacksmith.
  • The following heroes available in the Scenario Editor are themed on the Burmese: Bayinnaung and Tabinshwehti.
  • While they primarily represent the Pagan Kingdom and the Taungoo/Toungoo dynasty, they also draw influence from modern northeastern India, namely the state of Manipur, reflected in their use of the Arambai and the Manipur Cavalry unique technology. This is slightly ironic, as the Kingdom of Manipur often fought against the Burmese Empire. In the 18th century, Manipur horsemen often fought in Burmese armies and constituted important portions of the Burmese cavalry, although this is far after the end of the game's time period. Ironically, the Burmese technology Manipur Cavalry (when its effect was granting bonus damage against buildings) could have potentially come from the deadly raids the Manipuris made into Burmese lands in the 18th century when they ravaged much of the countryside, destroying villages and pagodas.
  • The civilization name is based on Burmese į€—į€™į€¬ Bama, colloquial form of the ethnic name į€™į€¼į€”į€ŗį€™į€¬ Mranma, of unknown origin; French linguist Michel Ferlus included this ethnonym in the South-East Asia word-family *-ra:ŋ "human being". However, the term later referred to all ethnic groups within the boundaries of British Burma, including those ruled by the Shan, Mon, and Rakhine kingdoms.
  • Unused data (under technology 633) suggests that Burmese infantry would have had an additional +1 attack starting in the Dark Age (stacking with their current bonus for a total +4 in the Imperial Age).

Gallery[]

Video overview[]

References[]

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