Editing Mon people (section)

=== 16th to 17th centuries ===
In the early sixteenth century, the Bamar regained their momentum at [[Taungoo]], leading to the fall of Hanthawaddy to King [[Tabinshwehti]] in 1539. This was after a devastating attack on Lower Burma, in which the northern army overran the Irrawaddy Delta and captured Pegu. The siege of Pegu lasted four years and involved [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] mercenaries fighting on both sides. The History of Kings attributes Tabinshwehti's success, in part, to the decadence of the Mon king, Dhammazedi's heir.{{sfn|South|2002|pages=73}}

As a result of the fall of Pegu, large numbers of Mon refugees fled to [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]], where the Mon aristocracy joined the court and exercised considerable influence. Meanwhile, back in Burma, the fall of Martaban in 1541 was accompanied by massacre and pillage on a large scale, as was the capture of the old Pyu capital of Prome the following year. This marked the first time, since before the Mongol invasions, that most of Lower and Central Burma was under the control of a Bamar monarch. King Tabinshwehti, founder of the new Toungoo dynasty, celebrated by decorating the Shwedagon and other pagodas with huge amounts of plundered gold.{{sfn|South|2002|pages=73}}

Although Tabinshwehti's made efforts to win over the Mon people, the Bamar monarch consistently emphasized his claim to Bamar nationality and sovereignty. Nevertheless, Tabinshwehti was relatively more tolerant than later Toungoo kings who outlawed the Mon language and persecuted the Mon people.{{sfn|South|2002|pages=74}}

Following Tabinshwehti's coronation in 1546, Ayutthaya launched several raids on Lower Burma, including the successful capture of [[Tavoy]] in 1548. With the Toungoo dynasty in disarray after Tabinshwehti's death in 1550, the Mon launched another bid for independence under the leadership of the legendary Mon rebel, the [[Smim Htaw]]. The Smim Htaw managed to capture the ancient settlement of Dagon and drive the Burmese from Pegu, but a series of intra-Mon disputes allowed Tabinshwehti's general, [[Bayinnaung]], to recapture the city.{{sfn|South|2002|pages=74}}

Despite Bayinnaung allowing the Mon people to rule over townships and villages and accept them into the military, he did not grant them the right of national [[self-determination]], and therefore the Mon became subservient to the Bamar. Significant Mon uprisings took place during Bayinnaung's reign, including in 1551 and 1564 when the royal palace at Pegu was destroyed.{{sfn|South|2002|pages=75}}

Following the death of King Bayinnaung, his successor King [[Nanda Bayin|Nanda]] instituted oppressive policies against the Mon people, leading to the Mon chiefs Phaya Kiat and Phaya Ram attempting to assassinate [[Naresuan]] of [[Phitsanulok]] in 1584. However, they learned that Naresuan was not responsible for the policies and instead joined his campaigns against the Toungoo court.{{sfn|Rajanubhab|2001|pages=85–87}}

In the 17th century, the Bamar king [[Anaukpetlun]] launched a counter-attack against the Mon rebels and captured their stronghold at Syriam. Eventually, the Mon lands were retaken, and the capital was moved to Pegu. An unsuccessful Mon uprising occurred in Martaban in 1661, which led to the pursuit of fleeing Mon refugees into Ayutthaya via the [[Three Pagodas Pass]].{{sfn|South|2002|pages=77}}