Alaungpaya vs Islam II Giray

Alaungpaya, a village headman from Moksobo, led a rebellion against the declining Toungoo dynasty after the fall of Ava to the Mon. He proclaimed himself king and founded the Konbaung dynasty, which would rule Burma until 1885.

Alaungpaya's forces recaptured Ava from the Mon kingdom of Pegu, restoring Burmese control over Upper Burma. This victory consolidated his power base and allowed him to launch further campaigns to reunify the country.

Alaungpaya's armies captured the Mon capital of Pegu (Bago), ending the Restored Hanthawaddy kingdom. This conquest unified all of Burma under Konbaung rule and led to the suppression of Mon identity and culture.

Alaungpaya led an invasion of Siam (Ayutthaya kingdom) with a large army. The campaign initially succeeded in capturing several towns, but the Burmese forces were forced to retreat after Alaungpaya was mortally wounded by a cannon explosion during the siege of Ayutthaya.

Islam II Giray implemented reforms to modernize the Crimean army. He introduced new firearms, including muskets and cannons, and reorganized the military structure. These reforms aimed to reduce reliance on traditional cavalry and improve the khanate's defensive capabilities.

Islam II Giray resisted Ottoman attempts to control Crimean foreign policy. He refused to participate in Ottoman campaigns against Persia and sought greater independence. This led to tensions with the Sublime Porte, though open conflict was avoided.

Islam II Giray led a military campaign into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The raid targeted the southern borderlands, capturing slaves and plundering settlements. This was part of the ongoing pattern of Crimean raids for economic gain.