The first dozen years of Mindon's reign had been marked by an increasing pace of reform. They had also been marked by increasing stresses and strains, as Burmese society entered an unprecedented period of social change. By the mid-1860s another problem, much more traditional in nature, reared its head. The failure of the House of Alaungpaya to regularise succession to the monarchy yet again threatened to divide the court. All sons of a king by a senior queen remained at least theoretically eligible. Among the fourth and fifth generations of descent from the founder were dozens of men with some claim to the throne. Mindon had clearly marked Kanaung as his successor and had appointed him Prince of the Eastern Palace, or crown prince. But now, many of Mindon's own numerous sons were reaching maturity and resented their uncle's position. Mindon had used Kanaung on at least one occasion to discipline some of the royal princes for bad behaviour. Two of the eldest, the Princes of Myingun and Myinhkondaing were among those who had been disciplined. Their personal ambitions would soon combine with the volatile atmosphere of the countryside to produce the worst fighting in the Irrawaddy valley in nearly a generation.

Princes and rebels

At noon on 2 August 1866, the Myingun and Myinhkondaing princes set fire to several buildings within the royal city to signal the start of their rebellion. Kanaung had been chairing a high-level meeting to review fiscal policies at a small pavilion near the palace. Halfway through the proceedings, the two princes, assisted by several dozen followers, entered the building, drew their swords and killed Kanaung, as well as six other senior officials.