According to Shan chronicles, the majority race in the Shan State, who call themselves Tai, settled down in this present area and established the first kingdom,Mao, in BC. 93, the year counted as the beginning of the Shan Era. It was certainly in existence in AD. 568, according to western record.

Some of the Shans went further west into present-day Burma and Assam and southwards into present-da6 Laos and Thailand. Those that went in to Burma became strong towards the end of the 13th century under the leadership of the famous three Shan brothers Senkhai, Sengkam, and Sengsai in Shan, better known as Asinkhaya, Razathinjan and Thihathu by the Burmese.

In the year 1287, the Mongol armies invaded Burma. Narathigapate, then the king of Pangan, fled to Lower Burma, while the three Shan brothers gathered their forces and attacked the Mongols at Tagaung. This success later led to their capture of Pagan and King Narathihapate’s successor, KyawZwa, in 1298. And after 1301, when they had successfully repulsed another invasion of the Mongols who had come in support of the deposed Burmese king, they set up the Shan dynasty which ruled Burma-then called the Ava Kingdom-for more than two and a half centuries.

In 1311, there came to the Mao throne the greatest Shan King of all, Surh Khanfah (1291-1364) who carved out a vast empire that stretched from part of Yunnan of China in the north, Tenasserim of Burmaa in the south, Assam of India in the west and Western Laos and Northern Thailand in the east.

In the latter part of the 16th century, the Burmese became strong. Ava thus fell to the Burmese in 1555. So did Mao to the Chinese fifty years later, thus bringing to and end the Shan monarchy. Even so, the Shan had been recognized by both Chinese and Burmese regimes as a separate entity.

Under Burmese Rule
After BHyinnanng’s death in 1581, his successors were so weak that the Shans became free one more. Especially during the years 1740-1752, the Burmese kings had so little power that the Mons in lower Burma were able to wrest back their former lands and even managed to capture Ava.

Then came another Burmese leader, U Anung Zeya, who fought against the Mons and re-established the Burmese monarchy. He styled himself Alaungphya (1753-63) and during his reign and that of his son, Sinbyushin (1763-1778), many of the Shan States came under Burmese power. And many Shans died fighting the Burmese wars against Laos, Thailand and China.

The policy of divide-and-rule, a favorite accusation of the Burmese against the British, was applied to the Shan by the Burmese themselves. Many Shan minor chiefs were encouraged to rebel giant the Saopha (pronounced Sawbwa in Burmese) and any Saopha kings. In this way, many smaller principalities arose e.g. from Mongmit came another state called Tawngpeng or Namhsan: from Yawnghwe came Lawksawk, Samkar and others: from Mongnai came Laikha, Mawkkmai, Mongkung, MongPan, and Mongpawn and all of these principalities pledged allegiance only to the Burmese king.

Relot
Though the divide-and-rule policy of the Burmese worked for a time, in the end, their lack of goodwill and a good system of government bred revolt. Deep inside the hearts of every people there is the burning desire to live in peace and freedom. This desire manifested itself when a Shan chief by the name of Khun Sanghai rose in open revolt in 1850. In 1879, Khun Sangtonhoong, his son-in-law, how succeeded him, managed to liverate the Hsenwi State, keeping it independent until the British enter in 1887.

The spark of revolt spread to other states: Sao Khunseng of Hsipaw broke off his allegiance in 1881. So did Sao kawngtai, of kengtung, in the same year, Sao Khunkyi of Mongnai followed the next year. He was soon joined by the neighboring states of Lawksawk, Mongpiang, Mongnawng, Mawkmai, Hsatung, Wanyen, Nawngwawn, Namkhoke and Hopong. Summoning the states of Mongkung, Laika, Kesi and Yawnghwe, King Hsibaw set out to suppress the revolt. But joined by Kengtung and Mongpawn, the Shan rebels became a formidable force against the Burmese.

By 1882, the whole the Shan states with a few exceptions, had virtually freed themselves of the Burmese yoke. Their plan was first to repel the Burmese military from Shan sail, then to proceed to capture Mandalay and overthrow Hsibaw, replacing him with their protégé, Prince Linbin. However, before the second part of their plan-the capture of Mandalay-could be implemented, the British declared war on the Burmese, defeating them in a brief but bloody campaign and taking Upper Burma including Mandalay. King Hsibaw was taken as prisoner and sent to Calcutta, where he spent the rest of his life in exile.
Under British Protection

British Conquest
Country studies of the Shan States by the British started five decades before British troops even set foot in the Shan soil. They were mage first by Captain J.F.Hunnay in 1835 and later in the following year by Captain W.C.Macleod and Dr D.Richardson.

After upper Burma was taken, the British made known to the Shans that “The British Government do not in the least wish to make war influence in the Shan States during the open season of 1887’. Here, the noted Shan scholar, Saao Saimong Mangrai, observes: ‘It will be noticed that the paper speaks not of annexation but of establishing influence..’

First the British entered the States west of the Irrawaddy: Kalay, Songsop, Mongkawng, Bhamo, Katha, Sengkaling, Wuntho etc. Their entry was stopped by the stiff armed defence by the Saophas of Wiangsurth (Wuntho in Burmese) and Kalay, but not for long. Sao Aung Myat of Wiangsurth retreated into China while the Prince of Kalay surrendered to the British, who took possession of all the Shan territories west of Irrawady. They were later incorporated into Burma, thanks to the British.

To take control of the Shan States east of the Irrawaddy, the British force commanded by Col E.Stedman, with Mr Hildebrand as political officer and J.C.Scott, later to be known as Shweyoe or Scott of the Shan Hill, as deputy political officer started out on January 3, 1887 in two columns-one going to the northern states and the other to the southern states. The British force met much resistance from the Shans and there occurred many notable battles such as the Battle of Kalakwe Nam Khong on Madaya-Mogok road, the Battle of Loi Nattaung, the Battle of Tigit and the Batte of Mongnai. But the Shans were no match against the disciplined British force equipped with superior weaponry. Although some retreated across the Salween to die bloody but unbowed, most of the Saophas found it wise to accept British protection.

In February 1890, J.C.Scott led the expedition into Kengtung. The previous year, the Chinese had invaded and taken the neighboring state of Kenghung (Jinghong) leav\ing it in a precarions position. Thus Kengtung welcomed the British, who offered its Saopha protection in return for his pledge to the British Crown.
Thus by March 1890, the British conquest over the Shan States was complete.s

Border Demarcation
1980 – Recognition of the border between Mongpan (British Shan State) and Chianmai(siam).
1982 - British recognition of Jinghong annexation by the Chinese.
1894 - (April) Recognition of the Namhok as the border between British Kengtung and Siamese Chiangsaen.
- (17 October) King Chulalongkorn of Siam and British Governor signed the border demarcation agreement in Bangkok
1895-96 -Recognition of the Mekong as the Border between British Shan States and French Laos.

Life Under the British Rule
The British, in accordance with their agreements, recognized all the Shan States except those west of the Irrawaddy as being under British protection. In 1890, they presented the Saophas with Sanads or Patents at Mongsok near Inlay Lake as symbols of authority over the people in their respective territories. Each Saopha was empowered to govern his territory in all matters whether criminal, civil or financial, and he retained the right to nominate his successor. In return, the Saophas were to pay annual tributes, give up their rights to the forests and minerals in the their respective domains. And allow the British Superintendent to advise in the peaceful settlements of disputes which might develop among the states. The British also expected them to treat their subjects ‘justly and wisely’ so as to promote peace and happiness.