Battle of Nong Sarai

The Battle of Nong Sarai was a Siamese (Thai) victory against the Burmese in 1593, which led to the end of the 1584-1593 Burmese-Siamese War and Siamese independence from Burmese vassalage. The battle is most famous for a supposed elephant duel where Naresuan, King of Ayutthaya, slew Mingyi Swa, heir (uparaja) to the Burmese throne. Due to limited sources and evidence, many details of the battle are uncertain - such as where it occurred - and the authenticity of many accounts have been questioned by historians. All sources do agree that a battle did happen between the two kingdoms in which Swa was killed.

The Toungoo dynasty of Burma had forced the Ayutthaya Kingdom into vassalage twice after two wars, first after 1564 then after 1569. Upon the return of Prince Naret (later called Naresuan), a rebellion against the Burmese were organised. Swa was sent by his father King Nanda Bayin with command over an army to suppress Naresuan's revolt. After a confrontation, Swa was killed and Siamese sovereignty was reaffirmed. Many aspects are unknown or contested. Based on findings by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, it was believed the battle occurred in modern-day Suphanburi province but Kanchanaburi province has been proposed as an alternative location. Many sources also do not mention an elephant duel between Swa and Naresuan. If an elephant duel did occur, it would've been among the last as Southeast Asian nations westernised their armies to use firearms.