The Kingdom of Arakan was established in 1431 with Mrauk U as its capital. It was conquered in 1783 by the Burmese Empire. Arakan was a seafaring nation, engaging in maritime trade and piracy. Arakan was majority Hindu, with a minority Muslim population. Relations with Bengal were poor because the King of Arakan claimed to rule over Bengal, and because of the Arakanese sale of abducted Bengali as slaves. Arakan was in contact with Arabs, Persians, the Portuguese, later the V.O.C. Following the First Anglo-Burmese War, Burma in 1826 ceded Arakan (and Tenasserim) to the E.I.C.; after the British acquisition of the remainder of Burma (1852-1886), Arakan was reintegrated into Burma. Since 1948 part of independent Burma (in 1989 renamed Myanmar). In 1989 Arakan was renamed Rakhine State.

Spelling varieties : Arrakan, Rakan, Arakan, Aracan, Arracan, Aracaon, Arracaon, Arracao

Timeline : Arakan
List of Wars, Burma