Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

Every picture tells a story


(Computer colored version of B&W photograph)


When England defeated Burma in 1885 on the Third Anglo-Burmese War, King Theebaw (called in Thai tongue as “See-poh”) was the last ruler. The monarchy was finished and Burma was added as a province of British India.




This incident made all the neighbors around including Siam as Burma’s archenemy appalled.

At the Palace, King Rama V and all of his subjects discussed seriously about what happened and why. One mutual reason was Burma wanted to shake hand with France in order to balance the power against England. England feared that if so, France would have more power so it ‘nib that in the bud’.

Later on, the King’s brother was appointed as his official representative to offer the Royal Regalia to Nicholas II, the Emperor of All Russia in 1891, he then furthered his visit to some more of the western royal courts.

In Italy, the Prince met the British ambassador named Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood who was the final person to officially give signature to make the Third Anglo-Burmese War. After that remarkable decision, he was granted 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava.

The Prince of Siam chatted with the British ambassador and one thing led to another, it finally came to the most curious topic. The Prince asked him what his inspiration to colonize Burma was.

The British Ambassador replied that “…Even if you allowed yourself to cut off your hand instead of having to hit Burma and you'd be happy to do it, but I had contemplated several things. It came to the direction to choose between fighting with a small and faraway land like Burma and fighting with France, which is a great and powerful country and the consequence would lead to a great war in Europe. The conclusion came to an answer of dealing with Burma to extinguish a major incident. Therefore we had to decide to invade and annex Burma…”

(Note: As having never been a politic guy, this answer was difficult to understand. An excuse??)