Historical ties between Burma and France

The relationship between Burma and France in the 19th century was complex and multifaceted.

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Burmese kingdom of Konbaung, which controlled present-day Myanmar, engaged in a series of wars with the British East India Company, which were ultimately lost by the Burmese. In the aftermath of these wars, the British gained control over much of present-day Myanmar and established colonial rule over the region.

During this period, France, which also had colonial holdings in Southeast Asia, had little direct contact with Myanmar. However, the French did establish a consulate in Yangon (Rangoon) in the 1850s, and French Catholic missioneries began to arrive in the country.

In the late 19th century, as the British Empire consolidated its control over Myanmar, the French began to take a greater interest in the region. In 1883, the French established a protectorate over Cambodia and Laos, which neighbored Myanmar and French administrators began to see the possibility of expanding their influence in the region.

At the same time, the Burmese monarchy, which had been restored by the British in 1879, began to push back against British rule and sought to assert its independence. The king Thibaw Min, became more and more inclined towards France and sought alliances to fight against the british rule. This led to growing contacts between the Burmese court and French officials.

In the end, despite these efforts, the French were never able to establish a foothold in Myanmar, and the country remained under British control until its independence in 1948.