"In the heart of Southeast Asia, as the 19th century neared its closing chapter, the tides of imperial ambition lapped at the gates of the ancient Kingdom of Burma. The British Empire, having already tasted victory in two previous engagements, cast its covetous gaze once more upon Burma, and thus was set the stage for the Third Anglo-Burmese War, a confrontation that would echo the inexorable march of Empire.

The casus belli of this confrontation was woven from the fabric of geopolitical strategy and economic ambition. The British, ever watchful of the French manoeuvres in the region, viewed with growing concern the increasing interactions between the Court of King Thibaw of Burma and French representatives. British commercial interests, keen to exploit the teak forests and rice paddies of Burma, also played their part in fanning the flames.

The British forces, drawn from the jewel of the Empire, India, stood poised under the experienced leadership of General Harry Prendergast. Armed with modern weaponry and backed by the might of the Royal Navy, they were a formidable force to be reckoned with.

Arrayed against this colossus was the Royal Burmese Army, loyal to King Thibaw, the last in the line of the Konbaung Dynasty. Though valiant and fighting on home turf, they were hampered by outdated weaponry and tactics.

The war, swift in its execution, saw a series of engagements that rapidly tilted in favour of the British. The Battle of Minhla on 17 November 1885 stands out in this campaign. The Burmese, fortified in redoubts, sought to halt the British advance. Yet, British artillery, combined with a coordinated assault, overran these positions, marking a significant victory for Prendergast's forces.

Yet, the defining moment was not a battle, but a swift march on the royal capital, Mandalay. By 28 November 1885, British troops entered the city, encountering scant resistance. King Thibaw, that unfortunate monarch, was dethroned and exiled, marking the end of the Burmese monarchy.

With Mandalay under their control, the British swiftly annexed the entirety of Burma, incorporating it into the Raj by January 1886. The echoes of resistance, however, would linger for years, with various ethnic and royalist factions continuing to defy British rule.

In the annals of the British Empire, the Third Anglo-Burmese War stands as a testament to the blend of strategic foresight, military might, and economic ambition. Burma, with its golden pagodas and verdant fields, would remain under British rule until the winds of change ushered in the era of decolonization in the mid-20th century."