Socio-Economic Conditions Under King Badon (1782-1819)

King Badon or Bodawpaya (1782-1819) was the longest ruler of the Konbaung dynasty (1752-1885). His reign was full of events whether they were political, economic, and social developments. King Badon is famous for the casting of a large bronze bell, and also for the collection of stone inscriptions scattered in Upper Myanmar. The latter were used a material for the measurement of religious land throughout the kingdom. He developed contacts with the China, India and English. Other notable undertakings of King Badon included the collecting of population census for increasing royal revenues and assessing the number of man power for royal construction, etc. Royal orders or edicts regulating on commercial transaction, fire prevention, and circulation of minted coins as currency were also important steps in his administration of the kingdom. His actions also show that he was a traditionalist believing in theory of universal monarch (Sakyawade Min), and passion for the glorious fame of founder king of new city and new capital Amarapura. Moreover, the King made his Calendar reform, the consecration ceremony and so on.