The Cannon Soldiers of Burma II - The Historical Perspective

The adventurous Portuguese sailed into the Indian Ocean in the 1500s seeking fame and fortune. Their arrival in Burma with advanced weaponry made them coveted mercenaries and later hereditary soldiers in the service of the mighty Taungoo and Alaungpaya dynasties.
Forcibly settled, the Portuguese and their descendants built mixed Bayingyi communities that were repopulated by French prisoners-of-war in the 18th century. As governors, advisors, priests, translators, farmers, mercenaries and cannon soldiers, their descendants became loyal servants of the nation, played an important role in the modernization of Burma and served in nearly every major conflict since their ancestors first arrived.
History is rarely simples and it is common for accounts to differ. But whether friend or foe, it is regrettable that the undeniable influence of these communities is still overlooked.
This book remedies this and illuminates the central role they played in some of the most defining moments in Burmese history. It is a call for these communities to be rightfully recognized as part of the ethnocultural fabric of Burmese civilization. Drawing on a mix of historical record and oral tradition, it provides a valuable perspective on Burmese history as seen through the eyes of the Bayingyi community.