| Thailand Travel Information: Thai
History
Literally means "Land of the Free", Thailand can
boast its distinction being the only one country in Southeast
Asia that has remained independent and never been colonized
throughout its history. Thailand's 800-year-history can be
divided into five major periods, each of which has founded
typical characteristics of Thai culture today.
| Nanchao Period (A.D.650-1250) |
According to Chinese historical records, Thai people founded
Nanchao Kingdom in the southern part of China which is the
present-day Yunnan, Kwangsi, and Canton provinces. Later, due to
the invasion of people from the north, a flood of Thai people
migrated southwards into Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, and
as far as Chao Praya Basin. They settled down in the peninsula's
Central Plain under the sovereignty of the Khmer Empire whose
culture influenced on the fundamental Thai culture in those
early times. After a course of time, Thai people accumulated its
power and finally founded their independent state of Sukhothai
around A.D.1238 which marks the beginning of the Sukhothai
Period.
| Sukhothai Period (A.D.1238-1378) |
While the two existing Khmer and Mon Kingdoms were facing
their waning power, the Thais began to emerge as a dominant
force in the region in the 13th century, and finally set up the
independent city-state in the upper area of central Thailand,
given the name as "Sukhothai" or "the Dawn of
Happiness". During the Sukhothai Period, Thai cultures came
to its golden age, particularly under the reign of King
Ramkamheng the Great. He led Sukhothai to its prosperity of
power, economy, religion, and arts. The state's territory under
him extended to most of Malaya, Laos, eastern and central
Thailand as well as some vassals of the Mons in Burma. Theravada
Buddhism was also introduced to the kingdom. Trades with China
and other parts of region prospered. On the top of things, Thai
alphabet was invented in this period, marking the first written
historical record of Thailand and also the typical Thai
civilization. However, under the successive kings after
Ramkamheng, Sukhothai declined and was eventually subdued to the
mightier state of Ayutthaya in 1350.
| Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767) |
Established by King U Thong (renamed King Ramathibodi I),
Ayutthaya came into its dominance over other Thai principalities
in the mainland Southeast Asia. Ayutthaya kingdom is centered on
the western side of the Chao Praya River basin, expanding its
territory to the whole central Siam, from Sukhothai to the north
to Malay Peninsula in the south. For the next 417 years,
Ayutthaya had been a capital of Thai state in which Thai people
had strengthen their identity both as a unique group of people
and as a nation through language, art, and culture. In the 17th
century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial relations with
the western countries. However, in parallel of flowering age,
Ayutthaya had experienced constant struggles for the throne
inside the court itself as well as the external conflicts with
its neighbors among which Burma was the chief enemy. The
conflicts came to the head in 1767 when Burmese troops invaded
Ayutthaya and succeeded in capturing the capital. Despite their
overwhelming victory, the Burmese did not retain control of Siam
for long. A young general named Phraya Taksin and his followers
broke through the Burmese encirclement and escaped to Chantaburi.
Seven months after the fall of Ayutthaya, he and his forces
sailed back to the capital and expelled the Burmese occupation
garrison.
| Thonburi Period (1767-1772) |
After breaking through the Burmese siege, Praya Taksin united
his force and decided o transferred the capital from Ayutthaya
to the site closer to the sea for a reason of more defensive
position and benefits from trades that were then necessities for
the re-establishment of the kingdom; hence the new capital of
Siam-Thonburi on the west bank of the Chao Praya River, just
opposite the present-day Bangkok. Due to the aftermaths of
disunity and chaos of Ayutthaya's collapse, Thonburi could not
avoid the constant battles both with Burma and also the uprising
rebellions throughout the kingdom. Despite the unification of
most provinces, Thonburi, as a capital of Siam lasted only 15
years. Taksin, reportedly go insane, was forced to abdicate the
throne by his ministers and generals, and eventually executed.
The event marked the beginning of a new shift which oversaw the
present-day Thailand.
| Rattanakosin Period (1782-present) |
After Taksin's death, the former general of Thonburi, Chao
Praya Chakri, ascended to the throne, claiming himself, King
Rama I, the first king of Chakri Dynasty of Rattanakosin Period.
Fearful of Burmese attack, King Rama I transferred his capital
from Thonburi across the Chao Praya River to the present site of
Bangkok, and gave it a Sanskrit name as "Krung Tep" or
the "City of Angels". The kingdom with its
re-established capital and its boundary secured from warfare
paved the way for arts, architecture, and culture to flourish
again. The Grand Palace, magnificent temples and many other
constructions are a result of the attempt of King Rama I to
revive the splendor of Ayutthaya in his new capital. The
succeeding kings also led Siam to its prosperity of religion,
arts and international trades.
During the reign of King Rama IV and King Rama V, Thailand
entered the modernization and the diplomatic relations with the
western world, overseeing the dramatic development of the
nation. Even in certain volatile situations in the worldwide
globe such as during the Colonialism, Thailand with its rulers'
shrewdness in diplomacy could manage to retain its independence
through that era. Thailand changed from the absolute monarchy to
a constitutional monarchy in 1932; the country's was also
changed from Siam to Thailand with the advent of democratic
government in 1939. The present king of Chakri Dynasty is King
Rama IX, King Bhumipol Adulyadej.
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