Ayutthaya, the Grand Kingdom
Kim Jones |
Ayutthaya, just a few hours by car from Bangkok,
was an important Southeast Asian kingdom from the 14th to 18th centuries. Merchants,
diplomats, craftsmen and artisans flocked to this center of trade, learning and
civilization. King U-thong established Ayutthaya as the capital of his kingdom in 1350 at
a time when the land had already been settled by Thai community. Ayutthaya was protected on all sides by waterways as well as by strong brick walls 60 feet high. The King set out on a mission to conquer the entire Chao Phraya River basin including the northern kingdoms of Sukhothai and Chiang Mai, the Khmer kingdom of Angkor and major city states to the west and the south. He recorded the laws of the Kingdom in chronicles and established government departments to take care of the Royal Household, internal and external affairs as well as justice, finance and agriculture departments. |
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During the height of its power the Ayutthaya kingdom stretched from the central and lower Chao Phraya river basin, parts of Burma and the Malay peninsula. The kingdom's economy was based mostly on rice, teak, spices and other basic commodities. The Kings of Ayutthaya maintained diplomacy with China, continually sending gifts to the Ming Court. In return they acquired trade privileges. Ayutthaya imported Chinese silks and porcelains. Later, Europeans began arriving. The Portuguese, the-first Europeans to make contact with Ayutthaya, came in 1511. |
| Throughout the Ayutthaya period, the Burmese
intermittently attacked the city and at various intervals claimed sovereignty over
Ayutthaya. King Naresuan, Ayutthaya's illustrious king, was able to expel the Burmese and
restore Thai independence. Seventeenth century Ayutthaya was quite cosmopolitan, with
Thai, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and French residents. The foreign settlements flourished
south and southeast of the walled city, occupying both banks of the river. During the reign of King Ekathotsarot, a band of Samurai worriers was attached to the King's guards. Yamaday the chief, was bestowed a high rank by the King. However in 1620, King Songdhamrna seized the throne of King Ekathotsarot's son and the Samurai guards were forced to flee. They took refuge in Phetchburi and then to Nakhon Sri Thammarat |
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| In the mid 1600's Ayutthaya's king Narai, seized control of the
throne from his nephew. King Narai set about to reform the rules and regulations of trade.
He levied taxes on imports and started to control foreign cargo. He sent a diplomatic
entourage to France but the ship and its cargo sank. Later, he sent another mission which
successfully made the journey to France and back to Ayutthaya again. Ayutthaya's subsequent kings were weak. Ultimately, in 1767, Burmese troops razed the city to the ground. In a struggle that lasted more than a decade, Ayutthaya troops, under the leadership of King Taksin, were able to expel the Burmese and finally set up a new capital in Thonburi, now a section of Bangkok but the glory that was Ayutthaya was gone forever |
