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The Old Church At Syriam
Brief descriptions from
Twentieth Century Impressions of Burma, published in 1900
and
An Old Church in Than Hlyin by Dr. Khin Maung Nyun
and
The Burma Echo, Sept. 1907
Brief descriptions from
Twentieth Century Impressions of Burma, published in 1900
and
An Old Church in Than Hlyin by Dr. Khin Maung Nyun
and
The Burma Echo, Sept. 1907
The Old Church At Syriam 1/8
... In 1631 the Dutch were allowed to establish a factory at Than-lyeng which they retained till 1677. The date of the establishment of the English factory is not known. In 1698, however, it was re-established and Mr Bowyear placed in charge of it by the Government of Madras.
In 1740 the Peguans expelled the Burmese and captured Than-lyeng without, however, injuring or molesting the English and other foreigners residing there.
In 1743 the Burmese retook the town, but held it for three days only, when the Talaings returned, drove out the Burmese and having strong and not unwarranted suspicions of duplicity on the part of Mr Smart, then in charge of the factory, burnt it to the ground and this together with the unsettled state of affairs induced Mr Smart to retire from the country with the whole establishment.
Nothing now remains of these once flourishing Portuguese, Dutch and English factories but substantial remains of the old church, some tombs of masonry and the foundations of a few masonry houses. The tombs all show signs of having been dug into, this was done before the occupation of Pegu by the British, by order of the Myook or Burmese petty governor, in the expectation of finding treasure.
The ruins of the church stand on an elevated ridge just outside the old town walls and give evidence of the great strength and solidity with which it must originally have been built. It was erected in 1749-50 by Monsignor Nerini, the second Vicar Apostolic of Ave and Pegu and a member of the Barnabite mission which laboured in this country during the last century.
The following account of its erection is taken from the life of one of these missionaries Monsignor G.M. Percoto, missionary to the Kingdoms of Ave and Pegu and Bishop of Massulis:-
In 1740 the Peguans expelled the Burmese and captured Than-lyeng without, however, injuring or molesting the English and other foreigners residing there.
In 1743 the Burmese retook the town, but held it for three days only, when the Talaings returned, drove out the Burmese and having strong and not unwarranted suspicions of duplicity on the part of Mr Smart, then in charge of the factory, burnt it to the ground and this together with the unsettled state of affairs induced Mr Smart to retire from the country with the whole establishment.
Nothing now remains of these once flourishing Portuguese, Dutch and English factories but substantial remains of the old church, some tombs of masonry and the foundations of a few masonry houses. The tombs all show signs of having been dug into, this was done before the occupation of Pegu by the British, by order of the Myook or Burmese petty governor, in the expectation of finding treasure.
The ruins of the church stand on an elevated ridge just outside the old town walls and give evidence of the great strength and solidity with which it must originally have been built. It was erected in 1749-50 by Monsignor Nerini, the second Vicar Apostolic of Ave and Pegu and a member of the Barnabite mission which laboured in this country during the last century.
The following account of its erection is taken from the life of one of these missionaries Monsignor G.M. Percoto, missionary to the Kingdoms of Ave and Pegu and Bishop of Massulis:-
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“He, Dom Nerini, was received with favour by the King of Pegu to whom he made himself useful by his skill in astronomy, foretelling eclipses and so forth and he ultimately received permission to erect a church of masonry at Syriam. The funds for building the church were found by a good Armenian merchant and the building was designed by Father Nerini. So well did he succeed that the church when finished was the admiration not only of the country but even of the foreigners who came to the place.
In plan it consisted of a single nave ornamented with arches and columns both inside and out. Its dimensions were as follows: length 80, breadth 31 and height 40 French feet. It was intended to have a domed roof but the arrival of the Coromandel workmen who were sent for to construct it was prevented by the war which arose and the rood was, therefore completed in another style. The whole building was a marvel to the Peguans, but what they more especially admired was a spiral staircase going up inside the tower.”
The following inscription was placed inside the church:-
D.O.M.
Ad. Fidem. Propagandum.
CLERICI. REGULARIS. SANCTI. PAULLI.
Nicolaus De Aguilar. Nationi. Armenus.
Margarita. Conjux.
Aedificabant.
Anno Domini CIOIOCCL.
No trace of this inscription now remains, the roof and west wall have fallen in as well as other parts of the building, but the place where the spiral staircase was with the marks of the steps, the north and south walls and the eastern end, are still standing. Father Luigi Galli, in his history of Christianity in Burma tells us that- “Hardly was the labour of constructing
In plan it consisted of a single nave ornamented with arches and columns both inside and out. Its dimensions were as follows: length 80, breadth 31 and height 40 French feet. It was intended to have a domed roof but the arrival of the Coromandel workmen who were sent for to construct it was prevented by the war which arose and the rood was, therefore completed in another style. The whole building was a marvel to the Peguans, but what they more especially admired was a spiral staircase going up inside the tower.”
The following inscription was placed inside the church:-
D.O.M.
Ad. Fidem. Propagandum.
CLERICI. REGULARIS. SANCTI. PAULLI.
Nicolaus De Aguilar. Nationi. Armenus.
Margarita. Conjux.
Aedificabant.
Anno Domini CIOIOCCL.
No trace of this inscription now remains, the roof and west wall have fallen in as well as other parts of the building, but the place where the spiral staircase was with the marks of the steps, the north and south walls and the eastern end, are still standing. Father Luigi Galli, in his history of Christianity in Burma tells us that- “Hardly was the labour of constructing
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the church ended when Father Nerini took in hand the building of a roomy house as a parochial residence for the bishop and the missionaries shortly expected from Italy, as well as a dwelling place for a number of Talaing children given by their parents to the mission. The dwelling thus constructed had, when finished, two halls, eight rooms and two verandahs. For symmetry there was a wing, the rooms in the lower floor of which were used as store-houses, one for a kitchen and another for a bath-room expected.
Above was the dormitory and the school-house which had at the time 40 pupils on the rolls. By the side of the church and within the spacious mission grant, another dwelling was erected for abandoned infants who were placed under the charge of matronly dames to be brought up in piety, religion and industry.
These various structures gave the place an aspect of a little village, but were not, however, constructed without cost as about 5,000 Roman scudi had to be expended in the erections. The major part of this sum was received from a wealthy and well disposed Armenian merchant named Nicolas de Aguilar, principally in whose honour the marble tablet (alluded to above) was erected.”
The mission was established in 1722 and remained unmolested till the war between the Peguans and the Burmese which resulted in the destruction of the factories and the temporary supremacy of the Talaing Kingdom, when Monsignor Galizia was killed, but Father Nerini, as we have seen, was spared and taken into favour by the Peguan King and was eventually, in 1754, raised to the apostolic vicariate and made Bishop of Orienza.
The flourishing days of the mission after this were of but short duration. In 1756 the bishop was murdered by the Burman sovereign Aloung-bhoora, then besieging Than-lyeng, because he suspected him of having sent for a French ship which entered the river with the intention of assisting the Peguans.
Above was the dormitory and the school-house which had at the time 40 pupils on the rolls. By the side of the church and within the spacious mission grant, another dwelling was erected for abandoned infants who were placed under the charge of matronly dames to be brought up in piety, religion and industry.
These various structures gave the place an aspect of a little village, but were not, however, constructed without cost as about 5,000 Roman scudi had to be expended in the erections. The major part of this sum was received from a wealthy and well disposed Armenian merchant named Nicolas de Aguilar, principally in whose honour the marble tablet (alluded to above) was erected.”
The mission was established in 1722 and remained unmolested till the war between the Peguans and the Burmese which resulted in the destruction of the factories and the temporary supremacy of the Talaing Kingdom, when Monsignor Galizia was killed, but Father Nerini, as we have seen, was spared and taken into favour by the Peguan King and was eventually, in 1754, raised to the apostolic vicariate and made Bishop of Orienza.
The flourishing days of the mission after this were of but short duration. In 1756 the bishop was murdered by the Burman sovereign Aloung-bhoora, then besieging Than-lyeng, because he suspected him of having sent for a French ship which entered the river with the intention of assisting the Peguans.
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From that time till 1760 the mission remained destitute and was then re-established in Rangoon. Than-lyeng or Syriam being abandoned.
AN OLD CHURCH IN THAN HLYIN by Dr. Khin Maung Nyun
Than Hlyin known as Syriam in the British Colonial times was once one of Myanmar's seaport towns which thrived on overseas trade and commerce. From the 16th to the middle of the 18th centuries it had commanded the sea lanes in the South East Asian waters, and its maritime importance was no less than those of its contemporaries Penang, Malacca and Jakarta. The Arabs, Armenians, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the English who arrived there one after another at different times, to trade, to repair or build galleons, to open factories or to serve under Myanmar kings and meddle in the local politics. But after King Anaukhpet Lun besieged it and broke up the Portuguese stronghold there in 1613 and later King Alaungpaya suppressed his enemies there in 1756, this seaport town was relegated to the background.
Among old monuments which still stand in Than Hlyin which is now easily reached in half an hour from Yangon by car on the Than Hlyin Bridge, is an old Roman Catholic church in ruins on a hillock locally called Shin Mwe Lun Kon. Because the Portuguese had controlled Than Hlyin for 13 years (A.D. 1600-1613) the church is mistakenly thought to be an old Portuguese church. But the two inscriptions sheltered in a small brick house inside the church give us its history.
One is a tombstone with inscriptions in Latin and Myanmar. The Latin says, "Here lies Maria Dias, aged 48, mother of Antonio Fernande, expired in March 1732. R. I. P."
Some portions of the Myanmar inscription have been weathered. A loose rendering into English is as follows: " . . . year, second waning moon of Tabaung (March) on the 4th day (Wednesday) . . . the mother of Preacher Yarnate. . . aged 48 followed the course of Karma (passed away.)"
AN OLD CHURCH IN THAN HLYIN by Dr. Khin Maung Nyun
Than Hlyin known as Syriam in the British Colonial times was once one of Myanmar's seaport towns which thrived on overseas trade and commerce. From the 16th to the middle of the 18th centuries it had commanded the sea lanes in the South East Asian waters, and its maritime importance was no less than those of its contemporaries Penang, Malacca and Jakarta. The Arabs, Armenians, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the English who arrived there one after another at different times, to trade, to repair or build galleons, to open factories or to serve under Myanmar kings and meddle in the local politics. But after King Anaukhpet Lun besieged it and broke up the Portuguese stronghold there in 1613 and later King Alaungpaya suppressed his enemies there in 1756, this seaport town was relegated to the background.
Among old monuments which still stand in Than Hlyin which is now easily reached in half an hour from Yangon by car on the Than Hlyin Bridge, is an old Roman Catholic church in ruins on a hillock locally called Shin Mwe Lun Kon. Because the Portuguese had controlled Than Hlyin for 13 years (A.D. 1600-1613) the church is mistakenly thought to be an old Portuguese church. But the two inscriptions sheltered in a small brick house inside the church give us its history.
One is a tombstone with inscriptions in Latin and Myanmar. The Latin says, "Here lies Maria Dias, aged 48, mother of Antonio Fernande, expired in March 1732. R. I. P."
Some portions of the Myanmar inscription have been weathered. A loose rendering into English is as follows: " . . . year, second waning moon of Tabaung (March) on the 4th day (Wednesday) . . . the mother of Preacher Yarnate. . . aged 48 followed the course of Karma (passed away.)"
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The other is a Latin inscription of 10 lines in relief letters on a metal plate of 34 inches by 22 inches, which says that the
church is dedicated to Virgin Mary, and that it was built in 1750 by an Armenian Nicolai de Aguilar and Margarita, his wife.
Below the floral frame of the plate are two lines of Armenian letters which tell us that the church was built in 1750 in ever loving memory of Agatt, the son of Mr. Nicholas and wife. The church and the tombstone are not associated with the Portuguese, neither are the two inscriptions related. The Portuguese communities in Than Hlyin were deported upcountry after their gang-leader Phillipe de Brito was punished and put to death in A.D. 1613. The tomb-stone inscription is 18 years earlier than the church. When it was first discovered in the Burma Oil Company compound in the early days of the British Colonial Rule, it was removed into the church. It is not the tombstone of de Brito as the locals believe it to be.
By Notification No. 303 dated the 10th August 1908, the Government had declared the old church to be a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904. Since then both the church and the two inscriptions have come into the custody of the Archaeology Department which has compiled a brief history of the old church as follows:
" The church was erected in 1749-50 A. D. by Monseigneur Nerini, the second Vicar Apostolic of Ava and Pegu, and a member of the Barnabite Mission, which laboured in Pegu in the 18 th century. The major part of the expenses of the erection was borne by Nicolaide Aguilar, a wealthy Armenian Merchant. The form of the building is thus described by Monseigneur G.M. Percoto, Missionary to the Kingdom of Ava and Pegu and Bishop of Massulis: "In plan it consisted of a single nave, ornamented with arches and columns both inside and out. Its dimensions were as follows: Length 81, breadth 38, and 40 French feet. It was intended to have a domed roof, but the arrival of the Coromandel workmen who were sent for to construct it, was prevented by the war, which arose, and the roof was therefore completed in another style. The whole building was a marvel to Peguans, but what they more especially admired was a spiral staircase going up inside the tower."In A Description of the Burmese Empire, 1885, Rangoon by Father Sangermano, there is a note added by John Jardine, President of the Educational Syndicate of British Burma in which he quoted Monseigneur G.M. Percoto on the description and the service of the church as follows:
church is dedicated to Virgin Mary, and that it was built in 1750 by an Armenian Nicolai de Aguilar and Margarita, his wife.
Below the floral frame of the plate are two lines of Armenian letters which tell us that the church was built in 1750 in ever loving memory of Agatt, the son of Mr. Nicholas and wife. The church and the tombstone are not associated with the Portuguese, neither are the two inscriptions related. The Portuguese communities in Than Hlyin were deported upcountry after their gang-leader Phillipe de Brito was punished and put to death in A.D. 1613. The tomb-stone inscription is 18 years earlier than the church. When it was first discovered in the Burma Oil Company compound in the early days of the British Colonial Rule, it was removed into the church. It is not the tombstone of de Brito as the locals believe it to be.
By Notification No. 303 dated the 10th August 1908, the Government had declared the old church to be a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904. Since then both the church and the two inscriptions have come into the custody of the Archaeology Department which has compiled a brief history of the old church as follows:
" The church was erected in 1749-50 A. D. by Monseigneur Nerini, the second Vicar Apostolic of Ava and Pegu, and a member of the Barnabite Mission, which laboured in Pegu in the 18 th century. The major part of the expenses of the erection was borne by Nicolaide Aguilar, a wealthy Armenian Merchant. The form of the building is thus described by Monseigneur G.M. Percoto, Missionary to the Kingdom of Ava and Pegu and Bishop of Massulis: "In plan it consisted of a single nave, ornamented with arches and columns both inside and out. Its dimensions were as follows: Length 81, breadth 38, and 40 French feet. It was intended to have a domed roof, but the arrival of the Coromandel workmen who were sent for to construct it, was prevented by the war, which arose, and the roof was therefore completed in another style. The whole building was a marvel to Peguans, but what they more especially admired was a spiral staircase going up inside the tower."In A Description of the Burmese Empire, 1885, Rangoon by Father Sangermano, there is a note added by John Jardine, President of the Educational Syndicate of British Burma in which he quoted Monseigneur G.M. Percoto on the description and the service of the church as follows:
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" . . a rich Armenian and his wife finding the money, Merini built a splendid church, with only one nave adorned with arches
and columns within and without," and with a bell-tower so high as to make the Peguans marvel. A Latin description of 1750 commemorated the Armenians, whose name were Nicholas de Aguilar and Margarita, his wife. The people met in the church at the sound of the bells.: baptisms were performed with solemnity: they made processions and went singing psalms through the squares and the streets, and everything was done as in Italy. For the boys many schools were made of geography, arithmetic, navigation, and such sciences and arts as might be useful to them, an overall Father Nerini Presided, untiring, day and night."
To-day only the shell of this old church remains with the two inscriptions housed inside it. Day trippers go to Than Hlyin to get away from the hurly-burly of Yangon and to recapture the heyday of the old seaport and imaginatively reconstruct the picture of a 246 year old Armenian church of the Barnabite Order.
Extracts from The Burma Echo - Portuguese At Syriam
The question of the ownership of the old Portuguese Church at Syriam was recently investigated by the Archaeological Department and it was found that the ruins had been purchased many years ago by he late Mr Pennycuick, who in his retirement from Burma handed over the property to the Burma Oil Company. On hearing that the Government was desirous of preserving the old church as an Archaeological monument, the Burma Oil Company transferred the building to the Public Works Department.
The church stands on a hill and was erected in 1749 by Monsignor Nerini, the Second Vicar Apostolic of Ava and it is not generally known that the church Nerini was built on the site - or very near it - of a more ancient church, erected in 1612 by a Portuguese Free-Lance, Philip de Brito.
De Brito found his way out to the East in those early days when Portugal held the proud distinction of being the first Maritime Power in the world and when many of her adventurous sons set sail from her shores in quest of fresh discoveries.
and columns within and without," and with a bell-tower so high as to make the Peguans marvel. A Latin description of 1750 commemorated the Armenians, whose name were Nicholas de Aguilar and Margarita, his wife. The people met in the church at the sound of the bells.: baptisms were performed with solemnity: they made processions and went singing psalms through the squares and the streets, and everything was done as in Italy. For the boys many schools were made of geography, arithmetic, navigation, and such sciences and arts as might be useful to them, an overall Father Nerini Presided, untiring, day and night."
To-day only the shell of this old church remains with the two inscriptions housed inside it. Day trippers go to Than Hlyin to get away from the hurly-burly of Yangon and to recapture the heyday of the old seaport and imaginatively reconstruct the picture of a 246 year old Armenian church of the Barnabite Order.
Extracts from The Burma Echo - Portuguese At Syriam
The question of the ownership of the old Portuguese Church at Syriam was recently investigated by the Archaeological Department and it was found that the ruins had been purchased many years ago by he late Mr Pennycuick, who in his retirement from Burma handed over the property to the Burma Oil Company. On hearing that the Government was desirous of preserving the old church as an Archaeological monument, the Burma Oil Company transferred the building to the Public Works Department.
The church stands on a hill and was erected in 1749 by Monsignor Nerini, the Second Vicar Apostolic of Ava and it is not generally known that the church Nerini was built on the site - or very near it - of a more ancient church, erected in 1612 by a Portuguese Free-Lance, Philip de Brito.
De Brito found his way out to the East in those early days when Portugal held the proud distinction of being the first Maritime Power in the world and when many of her adventurous sons set sail from her shores in quest of fresh discoveries.
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Of the deeds of some, there are records handing down their names to posterity. Of the majority, history is silent. Nevertheless, their names are not forgotten, their memories are kept alive, not be the subtlety of a Hume or the diffusive eloquence of a Gibbon but by tradition.
Of this, De Brito very little that is authentic is known. That he was in the employ of the King of Arakan, that he lived and ruled at Syriam and built there a city and a church - history records. Tradition fills in the gaps and is lavish in her description of the martial splendour of the Portuguese adventurer.
"Thakin" said my Burmese schoolmaster, who with creditable patience had been trying to teach me the Burmese alphabet for over a month and found me more disposed to listen to his stories of the Nat who carried away all King Thibaw's jewels from Mandalay and secreted them at the foot of the Moulmein pagoda and exciting adventures of that description, "Thakin," said he "De Brito came as a warrior all clothed in mail. The King of Arakan was struck with his god-like appearance and enquired who he was but the man spoke a strange tongue and none could understand his speech. De Brito was housed in a kyaung. Some little while he remained there and when he could speak and understand the language of the country he demanded an audience of the King. Now, at this time, because of great victory, the people were holiday-making and the King had gathered all the famous athletes throughout his Kingdom to perform before his subjects. There was collected, therefore, a great multitude, when the stranger was presented to the King, who asked him from whence he came and his business. De brito replied - Sire, I am of a nation far beyond the seas. In my land every man is a warrior and O King, my nation for the time being friendly with other nations, I and a few bold comrades have come hither in quest of adventure.
The King though De Brito was lying and so exclaimed "O Braggart! We too are a nation of warriors, show us the way to your country and we will swallow it up, that it be no more a nation." At this the stranger grew exceedingly angry and offered to prove that he was no braggart, to fight twenty of the King's warriors. The King replied that he always liked to humour his guests and ordered twenty of his men to oppose the stranger.
Of this, De Brito very little that is authentic is known. That he was in the employ of the King of Arakan, that he lived and ruled at Syriam and built there a city and a church - history records. Tradition fills in the gaps and is lavish in her description of the martial splendour of the Portuguese adventurer.
"Thakin" said my Burmese schoolmaster, who with creditable patience had been trying to teach me the Burmese alphabet for over a month and found me more disposed to listen to his stories of the Nat who carried away all King Thibaw's jewels from Mandalay and secreted them at the foot of the Moulmein pagoda and exciting adventures of that description, "Thakin," said he "De Brito came as a warrior all clothed in mail. The King of Arakan was struck with his god-like appearance and enquired who he was but the man spoke a strange tongue and none could understand his speech. De Brito was housed in a kyaung. Some little while he remained there and when he could speak and understand the language of the country he demanded an audience of the King. Now, at this time, because of great victory, the people were holiday-making and the King had gathered all the famous athletes throughout his Kingdom to perform before his subjects. There was collected, therefore, a great multitude, when the stranger was presented to the King, who asked him from whence he came and his business. De brito replied - Sire, I am of a nation far beyond the seas. In my land every man is a warrior and O King, my nation for the time being friendly with other nations, I and a few bold comrades have come hither in quest of adventure.
The King though De Brito was lying and so exclaimed "O Braggart! We too are a nation of warriors, show us the way to your country and we will swallow it up, that it be no more a nation." At this the stranger grew exceedingly angry and offered to prove that he was no braggart, to fight twenty of the King's warriors. The King replied that he always liked to humour his guests and ordered twenty of his men to oppose the stranger.
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Tradition gives a most picturesque account of this engagement. De Brito, although clothed in armour, without assistance sprang on to his war horse and drawing his sword said he was ready. At a signal from the King the Burmese leaped into the air, shouting and making a great noise. The stranger charged into them and there was such fighting as was never witnessed before, He clave men in halves, he smote off their heads and with such force one rolled to the feet of the King.
The Burmese slew the stranger's big horse but the man proved that he could fight on foot as well as on horseback Round and round he swung his sword making a great circle within the radius of which no life was safe and when the soldiers held back he rushed on them cutting them down like paddy at harvest time. "O man!" cried the King, "Of a truth thou art no braggart. Where are our soldiers? The brave died nobly The cowards are hiding neath the loongies of their wives."
The King made De Brito a General and sent him to capture Syriam. When Syriam fell De Brito built a fort and proclaimed himself Governor. The King of Arakan was justly incensed because of the conduct of the Portuguee adventurer and sent a large army to chastise him. De Brito defeated the Arakanese with great slaughter. To strengthen his position De Brito went to Goa and returned with six ships. He was now recognised as King of Pegu and was for a little while left in peace. He improved the fortifications of Syriam, built a church and laid out the city.
Once more, Arakan invaded Syriam but was again defeated and the King's son was taken prisoner. On payment of 50,000 crowns, the prince was liberated. De Brito next interfered with the Kingdom of Toungoo, which was tributary to the King of Ava and in 1612 Ava and Toungoo invaded Syriam besieging it by land and sea. A treacherous hand opened the Syriam gates. De Brito was taken prisoner and in front of his palace was impaled alive.
It was in 1755 that Syriam was destroyed. Up to that date Syriam was a principal port in lower Burma. The Talaing Kingdom of Pegu overthrew Ava and after a few years of supremacy the Talaings were overcome by a prince named Alompra, who, to celebrate his conquest, destroyed Syriam and built Rangoon.
The Burmese slew the stranger's big horse but the man proved that he could fight on foot as well as on horseback Round and round he swung his sword making a great circle within the radius of which no life was safe and when the soldiers held back he rushed on them cutting them down like paddy at harvest time. "O man!" cried the King, "Of a truth thou art no braggart. Where are our soldiers? The brave died nobly The cowards are hiding neath the loongies of their wives."
The King made De Brito a General and sent him to capture Syriam. When Syriam fell De Brito built a fort and proclaimed himself Governor. The King of Arakan was justly incensed because of the conduct of the Portuguee adventurer and sent a large army to chastise him. De Brito defeated the Arakanese with great slaughter. To strengthen his position De Brito went to Goa and returned with six ships. He was now recognised as King of Pegu and was for a little while left in peace. He improved the fortifications of Syriam, built a church and laid out the city.
Once more, Arakan invaded Syriam but was again defeated and the King's son was taken prisoner. On payment of 50,000 crowns, the prince was liberated. De Brito next interfered with the Kingdom of Toungoo, which was tributary to the King of Ava and in 1612 Ava and Toungoo invaded Syriam besieging it by land and sea. A treacherous hand opened the Syriam gates. De Brito was taken prisoner and in front of his palace was impaled alive.
It was in 1755 that Syriam was destroyed. Up to that date Syriam was a principal port in lower Burma. The Talaing Kingdom of Pegu overthrew Ava and after a few years of supremacy the Talaings were overcome by a prince named Alompra, who, to celebrate his conquest, destroyed Syriam and built Rangoon.