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History
/ Ayutthaya
Small Bhuddha in Buriram
1350
- The leading general of Utong, upon the death of the
kingdom's ruler, becomes King of Utong himself and assumes
the title Rama Tibodi I. One of his first decisions
is to transfer his capital some 50 kilometers (31mi) to the
east, to the thriving trade town of Ayutthaya. (The similarity
to the beginning of the Bangkok period in Thai history is striking;
432 years later, it is again the leading general of a preceding
king who becomes king; at both instances, one of their first
tasks is to transfer their capitals; contrary to what
is often read in English language guide books, both towns, Ayutthaya
and Bangkok, are not "founded" by the two kings but were
already well established settlements, though with no political
functions.)
1350-1359
- King Rama Tibodi I introduces coded laws.
1352
- Ayutthaya engages Cambodia in war. Cambodia is seized
and its ruler, King Pasat, becomes the vassal of Siam.
Even though its the Khmers (or Cambodians) who are defeated
in this war, it's rather Khmer culture that penetrates Thai
society in the following decades and centuries than Thai
culture penetrating Khmer society. One example is that Siam
adopts the Khmer system of slavery as well as the concept
of absolute monarchy.
1357
- Cholera spreads in the kingdom of Siam and claims,
among thousands of others, the lives of two of its princes,
Chaokeo and Chaotai.
1361
- King Rama Tibodi I becomes a Buddhist priest.
1369
- King Rama Tibodi I dies aged 57, and his son, Prince
Ramesuan, succeeds on the throne. Incompetence displayed
during the Cambodian war makes him unpopular among his people.
1370
- Upon public clamor and advice of his ministers, Prince
Ramesuan abdicates his throne in favor of his uncle, Prince
Boromaraja (the brother-in-law of King Rama Tibodi).
1371
- King Boromaraja begins invading Sukhothai, capturing
several towns.
1375
- Phitsanulok, the substitute capital of Sukhothai, is
taken by Boromaraja's forces and prisoners are turned into slaves.
1378
- King Tammaraja II of Sukhothai is forced to become
a vassal of the King of Ayutthaya. This marks the end of the
independent Thai Kingdom of Sukhothai after 140 years
of existence.
1388
- King Boromaraja dies and his son Tonglan, 15
years old, succeeds the throne. 7 days thereafter, the former
King of Ayutthaya, Ramesuan, seizes the young king, most
probably has him killed and assumes the throne.
1390
- Senmuangma, the young king of Chiang Mai (Lannatai
Kingdom), attempts to overthrow the Ayutthaya Kingdom and to
regain Sukhothai for its King Tammaraja II but
the Chiang Mai army is defeated by the Ayutthaya forces. King
Ramesuan succeeds in invading Chiang Mai and resettles
parts of the city's population to other areas held by Siam (Ayutthaya),
some as far south as the Malayan Peninsula. Though the
people of Chiang Mai are ethnically Thais, they have at that
time a dialect quite different from the one spoken in Siam,
having migrated from what is now Yunnan in southern China several
centuries later than the Thais settling further south.
1393
- War breaks out again with Cambodia provoked by the
Cambodian King Kodombong who captures Chonburi and Chantaburi
taking much of the population of the two towns back to Cambodia.
King Ramesuan, upon learning of the event, sends his
troops to Cambodia, invades Angkor and takes almost 90,000
Cambodians as prisoners to Siam, leaving the Khmer kingdom
again as vassal of Siam. The year 1393 thereby established
a pattern that will be much adhered to in southeast Asia
for centuries to come. Victorious kings and generals
are not content with ransacking the towns of defeated
neighbors and imposing tributes. As the constant wars
between Thais, Burmese and Khmers take
heavy tolls on the populations of the kingdoms, gaining new
subjects to replace those killed in battle becomes an objective
of war. To judge such a population policy it has to be
noted that the wars between the three nations have often been
total wars. Occasionally, most of the men of a
kingdom were conscripted, from ages today considered as childhood.
Furthermore, women have also regularly fought in battles.
The population policy of capturing subjects has also
contributed to the ethnic mix found now in southeast
Asia. Racial descent is an insufficient criterion
to differentiate Thais, Mons, Khmers, Shans etc. Rather, it's
language and regional culture that make the difference.
1395
- Ramesuan dies at 62 and is succeeded by his son Ramraja
for 14 fairly peaceful but also uneventful years.
1409
- King Ramraja is deposed from his throne by Prince Nakonin,
governor of Sysan and the son of a younger brother of King Boromaraja
I. Nakonin later proclaims himself King with the title
Intharaja.
1424
- King Intharaja dies and his three sons fight over the
throne; two of them die. The youngest of the three brothers
is the survivor and is proclaimed King of Ayutthaya with the
title Boromaraja II.
1431
- After Cambodia has again gained kind of independence, a new
war between Ayutthaya and Cambodia breaks out.
It lasts for seven months during which Thai forces again invade
Angkor. King Tammasok of Cambodia dies during the war and
the King of Siam sets up his son, the Prince Intaburi as King
of Cambodia. Intaburi dies after just a few months in office.
Thereafter, Cambodia regains again its independence.
1432
- The Khmers vacate Angkor, considering it too close
to the border with Siam and relocate their capital in Basan
on the eastern side of the Mekong River.
1434
- The Khmers move their capital again, this time to Phnom
Penh. In the course of history they will switch several
times between the sites of Phnom Penh and Lawak near
Phnom Penh.
1438
- Sukhothai is fully incorporated into the Siamese Kingdom
of Ayutthaya. Prince Ramesuan is appointed governor of
Phitsanulok.
1442
- Ayutthaya is at war with Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai suffers
defeat but not to the extent that the Lannatai Kingdom of Chiang
Mai is integrated into Siam or becomes a real vassal.
However, the Ayutthaya forces again capture part of the Lannatai
population and resettle the people in their own realm.
1448
- King Boromaraja II dies and the Prince of Phitsanulok,
Ramesuan, becomes king of Ayutthaya. He assumes the title
King Trailok. During his extraordinarily long rule of
40 years, King Trailok reforms the administrative system
of Siam, giving it a stricter hierarchical structure.
The system of nobility in Siam, too, is founded by King
Trailok who creates seven grades of nobles. The grades
of nobility from the highest to the lowest are: 1. Phaya,
2. Phra, 3. Luang, 4. Khun, 5. Muen,
6 Pun, 7. Tanai. An additional grade, topping
the one of Phaya, is created later, the rank of Chao Phaya.
In all of the history of Siam, the above ranks of nobility are
not hereditary. The only hereditary rank is the one of
prince or princess for the offspring of kings
and princes. Ranks of nobility are given by the ruling king
who also can take them back. Also non-hereditary are
land possessions; while there are certain rules, established
by King Trailok, concerning the granting of land to nobles
according to their rank, land allocations are in principle at
the discretion of the king.
1456
- Conflict with the Lannatai Kingdom of Chiang Mai is
smouldering.
1462
- Sukhothai, temporarily occupied by forces of Chiang
Mai, is regained by Ayutthaya.
1463
- As the only external conflict of his reign is with the Lannatai
Kingdom, King Trailok of Ayutthaya transfers his capital
to Phitsanulok in the north of his realm, leaving his
son, Prince Boromaraja, in charge of Ayutthaya.
1465
- King Trailok enters a Buddhist seminary as a monk.
1471
- The first white elephant is captured in Siam. By
future definition, white elephants in the realm are all
owned by the king.
1474
- Open war between Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya breaks
out once again. The ruler of Chiang Mai, Maharaja Tilok,
has his army massacre all the members of the Siamese embassy.
As the war again doesn't produce a clear victor, Trailok
of Ayutthaya and Tilok of Chiang Mai both agree to a
peace settlement. In spite of the fact that the threat from
the north is no longer eminent, King Trailok does not
move his capital back to Ayutthaya and remains in Phitsanulok,
leaving Ayutthaya under the control of his son, Prince Boromaraja.
1487
- Maharaja Tilok dies.
1488
- King Trailok dies in Phitsanulok and is succeeded by
his son, Boromaraja III, who had been his deputy in Ayutthaya
for 25 years. As Boromaraja III has his personal base in Ayutthaya,
the city's traditional function as capital is restored.
Boromaraja's younger brother, Prince Jutta, becomes governor
of Phitsanulok.
1491
- Boromaraja III dies and is succeeded by Prince Jutta
who takes the title Rama Tibodi II.
1507
- A civil war breaks out in Chiang Mai and the local
ruler, Maharaja Yai, is deposed and succeeded by his
son Maharaja Ratna. The following years, until 1515,
there are a number of clashes between Siam (Ayutthaya)
and Lannatai (Chiang Mai) armies which however don't
change the power balance between the two kingdoms.
1511
- Duarte Fernandez, a Portuguese, lands in Siam and negotiates
a treaty with King Rama Tibodi II to permit Portuguese to reside
and carry on trade in Ayutthaya.
1515
- Sukhothai is invaded by the ruler of Laos, then
a principality covering roughly the area of present-day Laos.
1529
- King Rama Tibodi II dies after a reign of 38 years.
His son, Prince Atityawong, succeeds the throne as King
Boromaraja IV.
1533
- King Boromaraja IV dies early of smallpox, leaving
as successor to the throne his 4 year old son, Prince Ratsadatiratkumar.
After a reign of just five months in which his ministers rule
in his behalf, Prince Prajai (a half-brother of the former
King Boromaraja IV, sizes the throne in 1534 after having
the child king murdered. After the 15 year old King Tonglan
in 1388, Prince Ratsadatiratkumar is the second
child king to ascend to the throne, and like the former he is
disposed and killed by an older relative. In the next decades
and the next centuries, a similar fate will befall practically
all underage ascendents to the throne. Furthermore, palace
revolts and usurpations of the throne become a fairly
normal feature for the remaining centuries of the Ayutthaya
period in Thai history. While the Ratsadatiratkumar/Prajai
case doesn't interrupt the initial dynasty of Ayutthaya
(Prajai like Ratsadatiratkumar being a close relative of the
former king) palace revolts of the following centuries do interrupt
dynastic lines and none of the subsequent three dynasties
makes it to 80 years in power.
1545
- King Prajai intervenes in the affairs of Chiang
Mai leading to a short war between Burma and Ayutthaya.
The Siamese ultimately retreat after destroying Lamphun, then
in Burmese territory. The Lannatai Kingdom of Chiang
Mai elects to ally itself with Burma and will be on the
side of the Burmese more often than the side of Siam for most
of the time in the next decades and centuries.
1546
- King Prajai returns to Ayutthaya and dies there. The
King is said to have been poisoned by his wife, Tao Sri Sudachan.
King Prajai is first succeeded by his 11-year old son Kaeofa.
While Prince Tienraja acts as the Regent in behalf of King Kaeofa,
the dowager queen Tao Sri Sudachan wields considerable influence
and is able to widen her power base. After she succeeds in pushing
Prince Tienraja to become a monk, she rules pretty unchallenged.
In her private life she chooses a minor palace official as her
lover.
1548
- The 13-year old King Kaeofa, who is actually pretty
powerless, plots to do away with the lover of his mother. However,
his mother's lover discovers the plot and does away with the
young king. In consequence, King Kaeofa's younger brother, the
7-year old Prince Srisin ascends the throne. The lover of his
mother who meanwhile was elevated to the minor noble rank of
Khun, becomes Regent in behalf of the young child king - in
spite of the fact that he murdered the preceding king. It takes
just a few weeks, and the dowager queen Tao Sri Sudachan
and her lover, Khun Waraniongsu, dispose Tao Sri Sudachan's
son from the throne.
1548,
Nov 11 - Khun Waraniongsu proclaims himself King
of Ayutthaya.
1548
Dec - Khun Waraniongsu, his wife Tao Sri Sudachan
and their newly born daughter are killed in a palace revolt
led by a certain Khun Pirentoratep. The palace conflicts
of that time find their continuation even in modern Thai politics,
marred by probably more coup d'etats than the modern history
of any other country. Khun Pirentoratep could be seen
as the first of a line of exceptionally skillful coup
plotters of which Thailand will have a considerable number as
late as the second half of the 20th century.
1549,
Jan 19 - Khun Pirentoratep and his followers install
the former regent in behalf of the underage King Kaeofa, Prince
Tienraja, the brother of King Prajai, to the throne of Ayutthaya.
Tienraja takes under the royal name Chakrapat. For himself,
Khun Pirentoratep gets the position of Governor of Phitsanulok,
traditionally the second most powerful position in Siam as the
Governor of Phitsanulok basically controls the northern part
of the realm. Not enough with this, Prince Tienraja bestows
on Khun Pirentoratep (who made him King Chakrapat)
the old and prestigious title Prince Maha Tammaraja and
gives him his daughter, Princess Wisutkasatri as wife. Beyond
any doubt, king maker Khun Pirentoratep (Prince Maha
Tammaraja) is the second most powerful man in the realm.
1549,
Aug - A 4-month war breaks out with the Burmese,
who invade the territory of Siam and besiege Ayutthaya.
It is the first of several Burmese invasions and Thai-Burmese
wars, stretching over about 50 years. It is believed that the
first Burmese invasion was triggered by the palace conflicts
in Ayutthaya as the Burmese might have thought that Siam, weakened
by dynastic conflicts, would be easy prey. Unfortunately
for Siam, the period of dynastic conflicts in Ayutthaya coincides
with a period in which the neighboring Burma is ruled
by a sequence of very able warrior kings. First it is
the Burmese King Tabengshweti who rules from 1531 to
1550 and achieves the unification of a territory that
roughly resembles present-day Burma by subduing a number of
Burmese, Mon (in the south) and Shan principalities
(in the north). After King Tabengshweti is poisoned in
1550, he is succeeded by his general and brother-in-law who
becomes King Bhueng Noreng (also recorded under the name
King Hanthawadi) and is no less warrior than Tabengshweti.
1550
- Because of the previous Burmese invasion, King Chakrapat
orders the fortification of Ayutthaya by constructing
high walls enclosing the capital.
1561
- Rebellion in Siam is induced by Prince Srisin,
the youngest son of King Prajai who had been deposed by his
mother Tao Sri Sudachan and passed over when Prince
Tienraja was made King Chakrapat by Khun Pirentoratep
(Prince Maha Tammaraja) and his cohorts. After the palace
revolt of 1548 brought about by his natural mother, Prince Srisin
was adopted by King Chakrapat. Having been accused of plotting
against the King's life already three years earlier (1558)
at age 16, he was kept under strict surveillance. At the age
of 19, when about to be ordained as a Buddhist monk
(1561), he makes his escape, groups his followers and attacks
the palace. He is killed in the same incident by the men
of Prince Mahin, the natural son of King Chakrapat.
1563
- In the second Burmese invasion, the King of Burma, Bhueng
Noreng, with an army supported by the forces of several
vassal states reaching as far east as the principality of Laos
marches into Siamese territory. Historical sources put the strength
of the Burmese army at up to 200,000 soldiers. At first,
the towns of Sawankalok and Pijai are seized and
many hostages are taken.
1564,
Feb - As the Thais miscalculate the Burmese strategy,
the Burmese army makes a surprise attack on Ayutthaya.
For lack of preparation on the part of the Siamese, King
Chakrapat is pressed to agree to onerous peace terms dictated
by Bhueng Noreng.
1564,
Dec - The Burmese occupy Chiang Mai.
1565
- In an effort to strengthen Siam, King Chakrapat intends to
marry his younger daughter, Princess Tepkasatri, to King Jaijetta
of Laos. King maker Khun Pirentoratep (Prince Maha
Tammaraja) and his wife Princess Wisutkasatri who is the
elder sister of Princess Tepkasatri disapprove of the impending
marriage and kidnap Princess Tepkasatri with Burmese help when
she is about to be delivered to King Jaijetta of Laos. King
Chakrapat thereupon loses the pleasure in being king and appoints
his son, Prince Mahin, as the Regent of Ayutthaya in
preparation to retire to private life. However, this is oil
on the fire smouldering on the side of Khun Pirentoratep
(Prince Maha Tammaraja) who not only is angry over not
being consulted in family affairs but also feels he has been
passed over in the succession to the throne. The result is that
a split occurs in Siam in which each side is willing to bring
in outside forces to subdue the other; King Chakrapat and his
son Prince Mahin entertain a close relationship with the King
of Laos while Khun Pirentoratep (Prince Maha Tammaraja)
has a friendly relationship with the Burmese King Bhueng
Noreng.
1568
- Due to the obvious unpreparedness of Prince Mahin to
perform the kingly functions, King Chakrapat returns
to his throne.
1568,
Dec - Burmese King Bhueng Noreng invades Siam with
an army which is recorded to have been even bigger than the
previous one of up to 200,000 troops. Bhueng Noreng this
time doesn't choose classical Burmese entry point to Siam, the
Three Pagodas Pass, but moves in from the north. The
Siamese Governor of Phitsanulok, Khun Pirentoratep (Prince
Maha Tammaraja), joins his army with the Burmese force,
thereby putting Thai soldiers against Thai soldiers. The combined
army marches towards Ayutthaya.
1569,
Jan - At the most untimely moment, just when the combined
armies of Bhueng Noreng and Khun Pirentoratep
(Prince Maha Tammaraja) march towards Ayutthaya, King
Chakrapat dies and Prince Mahin succeeds on the Siamese
Throne. There are no historic indications that King Chakrapat
was murdered, even though an according assassination would have
fit very well into the strategy of the Burmese King Bhueng
Noreng and more so of Khun Pirentoratep (Prince
Maha Tammaraja).
1569,
Aug 30 - After a siege of 7 months, Ayutthaya falls for
the first time. But the victory of Bhueng Noreng and
Khun Pirentoratep (Prince Maha Tammaraja) is not
credited to brute force but treason, to a trap, probably devised
by Prince Maha Tammaraja. Bhueng Noreng and Prince
Maha Tammaraja achieved to smuggle into the besieged city
the traitor Pijai Chakri. Pijai Chakri had been taken
hostage by the Burmese in 1563 and since been completely
brainwashed. He made his entry to Ayutthaya by appearing
before the city's gate, dressed up as prisoner and claiming
to have escaped from the Burmese in order to help defend Ayutthaya.
He succeeds in winning King Mahin's trust and is put
in charge of vital defence installations. But instead of doing
his best to help in the defence of Ayutthaya, he gives out
information to the Burmese and deliberately weakens Ayutthaya's
defence at points through which the forces of Bhueng Noreng
and Prince Maha Tammaraja finally gain access.
1569, Dec
- 21 years after having led a palace revolt, after having installed
one king and having disposed of two, Prince Maha Tammaraja
himself ascends the throne of Ayutthaya and assumes the title
Phra Srisanpet. Bhueng Noreng who feels that his
mission is accomplished returns to Burma, taking with him King
Mahin and a substantial part of the population of Ayutthaya
as well as a big booty but refrains from finishing off
the Kingdom of Siam as he probably feels quite secure having
installed his ally Prince Maha Tammaraja (now Phra
Srisanpet) on the Siamese throne. However, Bhueng Noreng
obviously underestimated Maha Tammaraja who immediately
starts to rebuild the kingdom - with the obvious aim to make
it an independent power again. He appoints his son Prince
Naresuan who had grown up in Burmese custody after the
second Burmese invasion of 1563 and as Prince and Governor of
Phitsanulok, the position occupied by Maha Tammaraja
himself for more than 20 years. Both, king and prince, immediately
begin re-arming Siam as well as building new fortifications
for Ayutthaya and towns in the north.
1770
- The former Siamese ruler, King Mahin, dies as prisoner on
the way to Burma.
1575-1578
- Cambodia makes a series of attacks on Ayutthaya, but
none succeeds because of the strength of the newly organized
forces of the Siamese.
1581
- King Bhueng Noreng of Burma is peacefully succeeded
by his son Nanda Bhueng who isn't a military genius like
his father.
1584,
May 3 - 15 years after the fall of Ayutthaya, Prince
Naresuan openly denounces, with the consent of his father
King Maha Tammaraja, Siam's allegiance to Burma.
1584,
Dec - A Burmese army composed of about 300,000 men
attacks Siam but fails. In his defence of Siamese territory,
Prince Naresuan applies a strategy of scorched earth,
retreating but leaving Siamese towns and outposts burned down
to avoid that the Burmese can use them.
1586
- Prince Naresuan attacks Chiang Mai, then under Burmese
rule, and regains the kingdom as vassal of Siam.
1586,
Nov - Nanda Bhueng forms an army of 250,000 men,
preparing a new attack on Ayutthaya.
1587,
Jan - The Burmese army attacks Siam but the resistance
from the latter is so strong that heavy losses inflicted on
the Burmese ultimately force them to retreat.
1587
- Cambodia invades Siamese territory, again trying to
take advantage of a Burmese-Siamese war. Due to lack of supplies
on the side of the Siamese, conquest could have been possible
for the Cambodians but the strategies of Prince Naresuan save
Ayutthaya.
1590,
Jul - King Maha Tammaraja dies and Prince Naresuan
is crowned King of Ayutthaya.
1590,
Nov - A Burmese army of about 200,000 men attacks
Ayutthaya but is repelled.
1592,
Dec - With the attack of a 250,000 men army, Burma
makes its final effort to re-conquer Ayutthaya. During a skirmish,
Burmese Crown Prince Min Chit Sra is killed. Thereafter, Burmese
forces retreat. Thai troops refrain from chasing the
Burmese as another Burmese army in the north of the kingdom
is at the point of attacking Chiang Mai. However, the
attack on Chiang Mai is recalled when the Burmese King is informed
of the death of his son.
1593
- The turn has come for the Siamese to try their luck in foreign
conquest. At first, two Siamese armies attack southern
Burmese territories. The two armies are under the leadership
of Generals Chao Phaya Chakri and Phaya Praklong.
The former invades and occupies Tenasserim after 15 days
while the latter conquers Tavoy after 20 days (both now
southern Burmese cities). Because of their achievements, the
danger for Ayutthaya of being conquered by Burma becomes nil.
1593,
May - King Naresuan sends a 100,000-men expedition
to Cambodia. Knowing the strength of the invaders, many Cambodian
provinces surrender without resistance. The King of Cambodia
and his two sons flee. Cambodia is placed under a Siamese
military governor.
1594
- Because of King Nanda Bhueng's mental instability,
Burma's peace and order condition worsens. Many Burmese seek
refuge in Ayutthaya.
1596,
Dec - Ayutthaya invades Burma again. with the intention
of reducing her to a state of irrelevance. The invasion
is no particular success as some of Siam's allies fail to deliver
promised support.
1598
- Trade between Spain and Ayutthaya begins when
a Spanish envoy comes to Ayutthaya to conclude the Treaty
of Amity and Commerce between the two nations.
1600,
May - King Naresuan invades the Burmese principality
of Taungu. As the invasion is made when the Siamese forces
are under unfavorable conditions due to sickness and
starvation suffered in lower Burma, Taungu is able to
repel the attack.
1605,
May 16 - King Naresuan dies at Muang Hang, a Siamese
territory, during a military campaign, leaving behind neither
wife nor children. His brother Prince Ekatotsarot ascends
the throne.
1605
- King Ekatotsarot imposes the first money tax levied
in Ayutthaya. For this, he gains the reputation of being a covetous
man. Dutch merchants begin visiting Ayutthaya.
1608
- Siam (Ayutthaya) sends ambassadors to the Netherlands
to establish friendly relations.
1609
- The first Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Baltazar de
Seguerra, arrives in Ayutthaya.
1610
- King Ekatotsarot's reign ends and Prince Intharaja succeeds
under the royal title of King Songtam.
1612
- The first English trade factory is established in Ayutthaya.
At about the same time, the Dutch establish their first
trade outpost in Siam.
1612,
Jun 23 - The first English ship, Globe, arrives in
Pattani harbor in the extreme south of the Thai territory on
the Malayan peninsula, activating trade in Siam.
1618
- War breaks out between the Netherlands and England
and hostilities among the citizens of the two countries are
carried on even in Siam.
1619,
Jul 17 - 800 Dutchmen attack two British ships in
Pattani harbor.
1620
- Peace is restored between the Dutch and the English
in Ayutthaya.
1628-1630
- Questions on the succession to the Siamese throne are resolved
in what one may consider typical Siamese manner. First,
King Songtam, when seriously ill and upon feeling that
death is approaching at the age of 38, makes preparations to
secure that his eldest son, Prince Jetta, will be his
successor. Prince Jetta is at that time a boy of just 14. After
the death of his father, Prince Jetta is indeed installed
as king by a group of high palace officials around a certain
Phaya Sriworawong. Immediately thereafter, a large group
of other palace officials who were thought to have favored the
late king's brother, Prince Srisin, as new king, are
summarily beheaded. Again, the one who "made" the new
king, Phaya Sriworawong, is promoted, receiving the new
title of Chao Phaya Kalahom. As King Jetta is still a
boy, actual power rests with king maker Chao Phaya Kalahom.
The next step Chao Phaya Kalahom takes in order to clear
the way for himself to seize the throne openly, is to set up
a trap for Prince Srisin who later could otherwise turn
out to be a contender. However, Prince Srisin at that time is
a Buddhist monk, and it is customary not to murder monks. Therefore,
Chao Phaya Kalahom plots with the commander of the Japanese
palace guard (brought in by King Songtam) to lure Prince
Srisin into discarding the saffron robe by promising
him that he will be installed as the new king. But as soon as
Prince Srisin has taken off the robe, information is given to
the young King Jetta that his uncle has left the monastery to
rebel against him. Prince Srisin is tried and sentenced
to death. First being pardoned, then involved in another rebellion,
Prince Srisin is executed a few month later in what is described
as "royal manner" - tying him in a velvet sack and beating
him to death with a sandalwood club. King Jetta, disturbed by
the dominance of Chao Phaya Kalahom makes some preparations
to get rid of his chief minister but the latter is informed
and acts faster than the young king. Chao Phaya Kalahom
and his cohorts storm the king's palace and kill the young monarch.
Having strong backing at the court, Chao Phaya Kalahom
is offered to succeed King Jetta. But as the late king's younger
brother, Prince Atityawong, a boy of ten, is still around
and could later be regarded as King Jetta's rightful successor,
Chao Phaya Kalahom declines. On Chao Phaya Kalahom
advice, Atityawong is crowned King of Siam; Chao Phaya
Kalahom secures for himself the appointment as regent. Then,
while acting as the young king's regent, Chao Phaya Kalahom
undertakes to discredit King Atityawong for childish, un-kingly
behavior - until the assembly of ministers decides to depose
him. (He will be murdered only 7 years later.) Chao Phaya
Kalahom believes the time has come for him to ascend the
throne himself. He assumes the title King Prasattong
and will rule for 25 years, until 1655.
1632,
Apr - Chiang Mai, after having declared independence,
is again seized by the Burmese.
1631-1632
- Several Dutchvessels arrive in Ayutthaya to help the
King in his fight against the Portuguese and Cambodians.
1632
- Ayutthaya forces attack Pattani for its refusal to send tribute.
The Siamese army is repelled by Pattani's strong defence.
1634
- Siam again attacks Pattani but fails due to mismanagement.
1636
- Ayutthaya makes extensive preparations to subdue Pattani.
The Dutch interfere, advising Pattani to ask for forgiveness
from King Prasattong for her rebellious acts. The ruler
of Pattani follows the Dutch advice and Siamese authority over
Pattani is re-established.
1655-1656
- Again, transition of poweris a bloody affair.
King Prasattong dies in 1655 and is first succeeded by
his elder son, Prince or King Chao Fa Yai. However, the
new king's uncle, Prince Srisutammaraja, and his own
brother, Prince Narai, conspire against King Chao Fa
Yai, kidnap him and put him to death in the royal manner
(see entry on 1628-1630). Prince Srisutammaraja is next to be
crowned king, with Prince Narai becoming his deputy.
Just a few months later, Prince Narai who has earlier not shown
any scruples about participating in the murder of his elder
brother, starts a palace revolt that lasts for several days
and ends with King Srisutammaraja being done away with
in the royal manner. History records the reason for Prince Narai's
rebellion were the alleged advances his uncle, the king,
made towards Narai's younger sister. Be that as it may,
King Narai ascended the throne of Siam and reigned for 32 years,
until 1688. During his reign, Siam opens all it's doors to trade
with European powers, bringing about a considerable modernization
of the country.
1663
- King Narai conquers Chiang Mai.
1664
- The Burmese retake Chiang Mai.
1664,
Aug 10 - After the Dutch apply some gun boat diplomacy,
blockading the mouth of the Chao Phaya River, a treaty between
the Dutch and Ayutthaya is signed granting the
Dutch the monopoly of trade in hides in Siam.
1664
- Roman Catholic missionaries arrive in Siam. While King
Narai is not very interested in their religion, he uses the
abilities of a number of French missionaries in European
style constructions, especially fortifications. The Siamese
king is exceptionally interested in developing relations with
other European nations in order to avail of a counter force
against the Dutch.
1668
- Islamic missionaries arrive in Siam.
1675
- The Phoenix, the English ship of Captain George White,
arrives in Ayutthaya. It brings Constantine Phaulkon
as one of its trading staff. Phaulkon actually is Greek
and his original name is Gerakis which means Falcon in
English. For him, the arrival in Ayutthaya is the start of a
remarkable though not very long career. While not possessing
any education worth mentioning, he has an exceptional talent
for languages and becomes fluent in Thai in a matter
of a few years. At the time when he arrives in Siam, he is already
knowledgeable and can communicate in English, French, Portuguese
and his native Greek.
1679
- Constantine Phaulkon enters the Thai government service
as interpreter. In the course of a few years he climbs from
one Thai nobility rank to the next, starting as Luang Wijayen
and becoming Phra Wijayen, Phaya Wijayen and finally Chao
Phaya Wijayen. Enjoying King Narai's trust he is put in
charge of the foreign trade of Siam, virtually becoming
the kingdom's Foreign Minister.
1680
- Animosity develops between the English East India Company
and Phaulkon, mainly because Phaulkon encourages English traders
to transact business independently from the English East India
Company which would like to establish a monopoly on the
English Siam trade. Phaulkon himself conducts trade independently
from the company which has substantial backing in the English
government. Phaulkon and other private traders are defamed
as so-called interlopers. The dispute with the English
East India Company prompts Phaulkon to shift the emphasis of
the Siamese foreign policy to establishing trade and political
relations between with France.
1680,
Dec 25 - The first Siamese embassy to Europe leaves Ayutthaya
to offer the ceding of Singora (today's city of Songkhla
in southern Thailand) to France. But the vessel on which
the embassy travels never reaches Europe as it sinks while on
the way carrying everything and everybody on board to the bottom
of the sea.
1684,
Jan - A second Siamese embassy embarks for Europe.
1685,
Sep - A French embassy arrives in Ayutthaya. One
of its aims is to convert King Narai to Catholicism.
The Siamese king declines to become a Christian but is interested
in developing trade with France.
1685,
Dec 19 - In a convention between the French embassy
and King Narai, the French receive religious and commercial
concessions. The French East India Company is given complete
liberty of commerce, with extra-territorial jurisdiction
given over their staff. The French are also granted a monopoly
on the tin trade on Phuket. Singora (present-day
Songkhla) is ceded to the French with full power to fortify
it.
1685,
Dec 22 - A third embassy to France leaves Ayutthaya. It
carries a request of King Narai for French experts
in various fields, including architecture and defence.
It is a matter of historical dispute to what extent Siam wanted
French soldiers to man some of its garrisons. As King Narai
is interested in developing the relations to France in order
to have a counter force against the Dutch, an according
request would have made sense.
1686
- Armed conflict develops between Siam and the
English East India Company. The English East India Company
doesn't recognize English traders in Thai service and sailing
under the Thai flag as it views according activities
only as the utilization of loopholes to get by the trade
monopoly of the English East India Company. Feeling that
verbal protest alone isn't effective the English East India
Company sinks a ship of Captain White who has, on recommendation
of Constantine Phaulkon, joined the Thai government service
and sails under the Thai flag. The English East India also dispatches
two frigates from its possession at the Indian Coromandel
Coast to take the port town of Mergui (located on the
southern Burmese coast and then a Thai possession) and to put
a stop to any trade activities of Englishmen who are not part
of the English East India Company. Such free traders are to
be captured and court martialed on board of English vessels
on sea, the orders say.
1687,
Apr 28 - The English East India Company forwards
a claim against Siam in the amount of 65,000 ?for damage suffered
during the conflict between ships under Thai flag and Golconda,
the possessions of the company along the Indian Coromandel
Coast. Because of this the King of Ayutthaya orders all
Englishmen connected to the company to leave the territory at
once.
1687,
Jul 4 - Siamese defence troops open fire on the English
vessel James, one of the two frigates of the English
East India Company trying to capture the port of Mergui and
succeed in sinking the ship.
1687,
Aug 11 - King Narai, upon advice of Phaulkon, issues a declaration
of war against the English East India Company, though not
the English government.
1687
- Because of Phaulkon's service and allegiance to France,
he is granted by King Louis a patent of nobility. He
becomes a Count and a Knight of the order of St.
Michael and St. Peter.
1687,
Sep 27 - An embassy from France lands in Ayutthaya bringing
with it roughly 600 French soldiers and about 300 skilled
workers.
1687,
Dec 1 - Siam enters into another treaty with France
giving more privileges to the French East India Company.
1688,
Jan - The French soldiers become increasingly unpopular
with the Thais due to their display of racist and insolent
attitudes. Anti-foreign organizations are born and the religious
prejudices of the people are likewise aroused. It should be
noted that the term used by Thais until today for western foreigners
is farang, an abbreviation of the original farangse
- the Thai word for the French (Francais in French). The term
farang had a negative connotation until after World War
II.
1688,
Mar - In Lopburi, King Narai becomes seriously
ill; one of his generals, Phra Petraja, becomes the
most powerful man in the realm, acting in the following weeks
from Lopburi where he virtually keeps the ailing king
a prisoner. Clearly following two objectives, to put
himself on the throne and to expel the foreigners, he lures
into a trap King Narai's adopted minor son, Phra Piya,
and has him killed.
1988,
Jun 5- Phaulkon is executed for treason, allegedly
having conspired to put Phra Piya on the throne and having
aimed at the regency. In the following days, Phra Petraja
lures to Lopburi two brothers of King Narai, Prince Chao
Fa Apaitot and Prince Chao Fa Noi, having them both
killed two days after their arrival. To expel the French,
Phra Petraja orders a siege on the French fortification
at Bangkok, then only a minor settlement aside from having
a French fort. Note: all of this still happens during the lifetime
of King Narai.
1688,
Jul 11 - King Narai dies, leaving behind no close relatives.
Phra Petraja crowns himself King of Ayutthaya.
1688,
Sep 30 - All French troops leave Siam after negotiations
with the new Siamese king. Phra Petraja takes European
missionaries as hostages, pending the safe return of
a Siamese embassy still in Europe.
1689,
Dec - The Siamese embassy to Europe returns. In response,
King Phra Petraja releases all his European hostages
and restores religious freedom but implements a policy
of eliminating foreign political influence in the kingdom.
1690,
Jun - A rebellion breaks out in Nakhon Nayok,
a territory of Ayutthaya. The rebellion is headed by Tam
Tien, an impostor claiming to be a prince.
The rebellion is quelled when Tam Tien is captured and
later executed. However, the territory becomes largely unpopulated
because the people flee for fear of being implicated
and punished.
1691,
Dec - Khorat and Nakhon rise in rebellion
but are quickly brought back under the central rule of Ayutthaya.
1697
- Siam's sovereignty over Cambodia is acknowledged by
Cambodia when its King Sadit sends a white elephant to
King Phra Petraja.
1698,
Oct - A French envoy is sent to Ayutthaya with the
offer of a new treaty, but the offer is declined by King
Phra Petraja. France gives up her political interest in Ayutthaya.
1699
- Another rebellion breaks out in Khorat, headed by Bun
Kuan, a fanatic that had won the favor of the local governor
who provides some 4,000 men to support the rebellion.
Khorat surrenders after a short while; a large number
of participants in the rebellion are executed.
1699
- King Phra Petraja interferes with the affairs of the
united Laotian principality of Luang Prabang and Wieng
Chan (present-day Vientiane), dividing the country again into
two separate principalities under Siamese overrule.
1703
- King Phra Petraja falls ill and experiences himself
the sorrow he caused the sick King Narai. Luang Sorasak,
his son from a marriage before he became king, lures into a
trap the 14-year old Prince Chao Phra Kwan, one of the
later sons of Phra Petraja who had married after his ascend
to the throne King Narai's sister as well as King
Narai's daughter. Needless to say, that the trap served
to kill Prince Chao Phra Kwan. Enraged, Phra Petraja proclaims
a distant nephew, Chao Phra Pijaisurindr, as his heir.
But upon the king's death, Prince Chao Phra Pijaisurindr
hurries to offer the throne to Luang Sorasak. The second
youngest son of King Phra Petraja, Prince Tras Noi, escapes
certain death by becoming a monk. Luasang Sorasak crowns himself
king and assumes the official name Sanpet VIII. However,
to the Thai people he becomes Phrachao Sua, meaning King
Tiger, because of his wild manners.
1709
- King Phrachao Sua dies and for a change, accession
to the throne by his son, King Taisra, is not marred
by any killing of rivals.
1714
- Sri Timmaraja succeeds to the Cambodian throne
by ousting the ruling King Keong Fa with the help of
a Cochin Chinese army (Cochin China is the old designation
for an area which is now the southernmost part of Vietnam).
When himself dethroned, King Sri Timmaraja flees to Ayutthaya
for support. This incident gives rise to an armed conflict between
Siam and Cambodia, with Siam re-establishing its sovereignty
over Cambodia.
1733,
Jan - King Taisra dies and his brother succeeds him
on the throne under the title King Boromakot. Hardly
surprising, he first had to defeat two of King Taisra's sons
who also contended for the throne. This time it happened in
a short civil war within the city of Ayutthaya. A third
son of King Taisra escapes into the saffron rob.
1733
- Some 300 Chinese settlers attack the palace of Ayutthaya.
They are pacified and thereafter executed.
1753
- A Ceylonese embassy is sent to Ayutthaya with the objective
to borrow some Siamese Buddhist priests in order to purify
and reform Buddhism in Ceylon.
1758,
May - Prince Utumpon succeeds King Boromakot on the
throne. He is only the second born royal son of Boromakot.
However, his older brother, Prince Ekatat, was considered
as lacking intelligence by their father and therefore
ordered to become a monk. During his first weeks on the throne,
King Utumpon has three half-brothers arrested and executed.
However, when his elder brother, Prince Ekatat, shows ambitions
to become king, he refrains from drastic action and chooses
monkshood instead.
1758,
Aug - King Utumpon abdicates the throne and retires
at Wat Pradu. He is succeeded by Prince Ekatat who assumes
the title Boromaraja V.
1758-1760
- It is Siam's bad luck that while it is ruled by one
of its weakest kings, a new powerful dynasty rises in
neighboring Burma. After Burma had disintegrated
in the preceding decades, a determined former headman of the
Burmese village Moksobo (later Shwebo) becomes King
Alaungsaya and achieves to reunite the Burmese principalities
under his rule after a breathtaking series of battle
victories.
1759
- King Alaungsaya invades Siamese territory and regains
for Burma the cities of Tavoy, Mergui and Tenesserim
(on today's south Burmese territory).
1760,
Apr - King Alaungsaya lays siege on Ayutthaya. Siamese
King Ekatat who senses that he is not up to the task
of leading the defense of the city invites his younger brother,
the former King Utumpon to rule temporarily in his behalf.
However, it is not Utumpon's leadership but an accident
on the side of the Burmese that saves Ayutthaya for the time
being. When the Burmese King Alaungsaya is badly wounded
after handling himself a cannon in the bombardment of
Ayutthaya, the Burmese call off their siege and retreat to Burma.
King Alaungsaya dies on the way.
1760,
May - Alaungsaya's son Manglok succeeds the throne
of Burma.
1762
- With the Burmese danger contained, Utumpon retires
again and returns to his monastery, leaving the fate of Siam
in the hands of his older brother, King Ekatat.
1763,
Nov - The Burmese King Manglok dies and his brother,
Mongra, succeeds on the throne.
1763
- The Burmese invade Chiang Mai and the principality
of Luang Prabang (now part of Laos) is captured.
1764
- A rebellion against the Burmese breaks out in Chiang
Mai but is subdued after a while.
1765,
Jun - The Burmese begin a new campaign against Siam,
with one army moving south from Chiang Mai and another
heading east from Burma. The destination is Ayutthaya.
1765,
Oct - The Burmese army occupies much of the southern,
western and northern territories of Siam.
1765,
Dec - The Burmese army attacks Thonburi (Bangkok).
Captain Ponney, an Englishman who supports the Siamese,
inflicts heavy losses on the Burmese army. However, because
King Ekatat envies Ponney's popularity, the captain
is not given much support by the King which leads to the Burmese
conquest of many territories south of Ayutthaya.
1766,
Feb - The Burmese begin their siege of Ayutthaya.
King Ekatat again offers his brother Utumpon to lead
the defence of the city but this time Utumpon declines.
Several months later, one of Ekatat's leading generals, Chao
Phaya Taksin, accompanied by 500 troops, is able
to break through the Burmese lines and flees from Ayutthaya.
Taksin is the son of a Chinese father and a Siamese
mother. His original name is Hai Hong. However, he
was given the name Taksin because he had been the governor
of the Siamese Tak province for a while.
1767,
Apr 7 - After 14 months of siege, Ayutthaya falls
and King Ekatat flees. The Burmese know no mercy with
the city and its inhabitants. Unlike 198 years before,
they are not contented with making Siam a vassal state;
much rather it is the Burmese King Mongra's objective
to destroy completely the Siamese capital. Ayutthaya
is burned to the ground.
1767,
May - Believing that he as achieved his aim of annihilating
Ayutthaya, King Mongra retreats with his armies to Burma,
just leaving a minimal force behind. In the meantime,
Chao Phaya Taksin with his 500 Siamese troops remains
in eastern Siamese territories which have not been directly
influenced by the Burmese conquest and still have a functioning
Siamese administration. The governor of Chantaburi,
a province along the sea coast close to Cambodia befriends Taksin's
small army but upon seeing Taksin as a competitor for power,
he plans against Taksin's life. Being informed of this, Taksin
attacks and captures the governor. Thus Taksin effectively
becomes the ruler over the eastern Siamese provinces.
1767,
Oct - Siamese from other parts of the former kingdom join
Taksin. In the same month, Taksin attacks the Burmese
force at Ayutthaya, killing its general and liberating
the former capital from Burmese rule.
1767,
Dec - Taksin transfers his capital to Thonburi, where
he is crowned as new King of Siam. However, as he does
not have a large military force to hold the kingdom together
and to enforce central rule, Siam splits into 5 areas
which are for a while quite independent from each other.
These are:
1) Central
Siam under King Taksin (Bangkok, Ratchaburi, Nakhon
Pathom, Jaksi, Prachin, Chantaburi and Nakhon Sawan)
2) Peninsular provinces up to Chumphon under Phra
Palat
3) Eastern provinces including Khorat under Prince
Tep Pipit
4) Phitsanulok and part of Nakhon Sawan under Governor
Buang
5) Extreme northern part of Phitsanulok province under King
Kuan, the Priest King of Fang
1768,
May - King Taksin tries to subdue Phitsanulok
but fails. The governor is formally crowned as the King of
Phitsanulok. After a week he dies and his son who is supposed
to succeed him does not.
1768,
Jul - The Priest King of Fang puts Phitsanulok
under siege and becomes the ruler of all of northern Siam.
1768
- Because of his failure at Phitsanulok, King Taksin
focuses his attention on the Khorat district and invades
the area.
1769
- King Rama Tibodi of Cambodia flees to Thonburi to seek
refuge after being dethroned by his brother, who thereafter
assumes the title King Narai Raja.
1769,
Mar - King Taksin returns to Thonburi after a series
of successful invasion into the eastern provinces.
1774,
Nov - King Taksin moves north.
1775,
Jan 16 - King Taksin re-conquers Chiang Mai.
1775,
Feb - The Burmese, encouraged by their previous conquest
of the kingdom, try to subdue Siam again but fail.
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