Naveen’s Travel Blog

History of Thailand

Thursday, April 3, 2008 – 11:33 pm

Before we go any further into our tour of Thailand, i have to introduce you to the History of Thailand. Yes, its my favourite subject !

The prehistory and the early kingdoms of Thailand couldn’t be ascertained clearly due to lack of any written records. Mostly Thailand consisted of agricultural communities along the river valley called “Meuang“s which are independent city-states ruled by “Jao Meuang” (chieftains).

During Ashoka period in India, Theravada Buddhism entered and flourished among these agricultural communities of Thailand. The Indian missionaries are said to have been send to a land called “Suvannabhumi“, Land of Gold which mostly corresponds to the fertile area of Central Thailand and surroundings. The new modern airport of Bangkok has taken this name as Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Until sometime in the 19th century, the actual name of Thailand was Siam whose name origin is unknown. Thai is considered to mean “free” but also the Tai ethnic race of people.

Sukhothai Kingdom

In 13th and 14th centuries, several Thai city-states along the Mekong river valley united to form Sukhothai. Sukhothai which means Rising of Happiness is considered to be the first true Thai Kingdom. It formed the basis of a national identity for the country.

Under the third Sukhothai king, Ramkhamhaeng the Great, Sukhothai achieved it golden age of prosperity. He codified the Thai form of Theravada Buddhism which is borrowed from the Sinhalese. A famous passage from Sukhothai inscription reads: Fish in the water, rice in the fields…. It was a sentimental one liner for many thais to describe about the Sukhothai period.

The ruins of Sukhothai capital located in northern Thailand is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ayutthaya Kingdom

In 14th and 15th centuries, a powerful Thai kingdom - Ayutthaya emerged absorbing Sukhothai and neighbouring Khmer kingdoms. Ayutthaya became one of the greatest and wealthiest kingdoms in Asia sustaining for a unbroken 400 years of monarchy through 34 reigns !

A significant aspect of difference from Sukhothai period was the ascension of Thai monarch to an absolute authority which continues to prevails until now. In Sukhothai period, the King assumed the title of “dhammaraja”; “thammaraat” in Thai (dharma-king) whereas in Ayutthaya period, the King assumed the title of “devaraja”; “thewaraat” in thai (god-king).

During this long peaceful period, Ayutthaya established contacts with Asian and European countries. It had a thriving port capital and the magnificence of Ayutthaya court was recorded by many visiting European missionaries.

As nature balances, the wealth of Ayutthaya attracted the attention of Burmese who invaded the country repeatedly. In 1767, Ayutthaya finally fell and the brutal invaders destroyed everything reducing the whole country to chaos. The massive scale of destruction and the grandeur of the Ayutthaya Kingdom can be seen in its impressive ruins of its capital. The historic city of Ayutthaya and its surroundings are named as Ayutthaya Historical park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

At the end of Ayutthaya dynasty, a general named Phraya Taksin made himself the King overcoming the Burmese and established a new capital in Thonburi. Unfortunately his good wisdom failed soon and he started believing himself as the next Buddha! His ministers unhappy with his religious fantasies, deposed and executed him !!

Chakri Dynasty

In 1782, Chao Phraya Chakri, one of Taksin’s generals came to power, moved the capital of Thonburi across the river, built the new capital of Bangkok and founded the Chakri dynasty. The Chakri dynasty has prevailed since then and has adapted as a Constitutional monarchy.

The first two Kings of the reign restored the culture which had been severely damaged by the Burmese invasions. The third Chakri King established a new royal title system, “Rama” taking the title himself as “Rama III” and his predecessors were posthumously honored as “Rama I” and “Rama II”.

Rama IV, the fourth King and commonly known as King Mongkut has an interesting history. He actually gave up his throne for his half-brother, Rama III and lived as a Buddhist monk for 27 years. He studied Western sciences and several languges. When King Rama III deceased of ill health, Mongkut took the throne in 1851. He instituted several reforms and cautiously opened diplomatic relations with Europe. His activities are of vital importance in keeping Thailand successfully out of European colonial rule. According to me, its a rare achievement and a much-missed historical significance when the whole of South and Southeast Asia was under some colonial power. King Mongkut was also the first monarch to show his face to Thai commoners in public.

King Rama V continued his father’s reform especially on education and further westernized the nation. Popularly he abolished slavery, prostration before the King; decreed compulsory Thai surnames in the style of European family names.

King Rama VII’s period saw troubled times, as absolute monarchy was overthrown by a coup d’etat leading to a system of constitutional monarchy. The coup of 1932 was mounted by a group of Thai students from Paris. Ofcourse, France - the mother of democratic revolution had sourced their democratic ideology. The group met regularly in cafes in Paris to discuss the ideas and thus interestingly called as Cafe-brewed COUP !!

One important act of King Rama VII was the abolition of Polygamy from Thai society but unfortunately in fine print they had exempted the royal family !?

King Rama VIII was only 9 years old when he was crowned and even before he attained his youth, he was murdered under mysterious circumstances.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej crowned in 1946 is the current King of Thailand. Titled King Rama IX, he is one of the longest serving monarch; most revered and commands the popular respect & authority of many Thais.

The Democratic side of Thailand was still a puzzle to me. The sequence of events could be worth a book but in brief for this post…

My rejoice that this country had attained democracy in 1932 much before many Asian nations were fully spoiled by the fact that about 17 constitutions have been charted since then!! The current one was promulgated in 2007. The government is held by either military rulers or influential persons. Frequent military coups have led to a high degree of political instability and seems to become a chance to abrogate the old constitution and promulgate a new one.

Just a day before my exit from Thailand, another political drama unfolded… The former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra who was overthrown by a military coup in 2006 and fled; returned to Thailand kissing the ground outside Airport in full media view. What a dramatic re-entry ?!

So life goes on and stacking up plies of history for the future….