Martaban

Martaban, a town in Burma, on the right bank of the Salween, opposite to Maulmain (Moulmein). It is reputed to have been built in 576 by the first king of Pegu, and was down to the end of the first quarter of the 14th century the capital of the kingdom. It was taken by the king of Siam two centuries and a half later, and has been twice captured by the British, in 1824 and in 1852. Pop. 1781. The Bay of Martaban receives the rivers Irawadi and Salween.