History of Thailand

Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand has a history as sovereign state dating back more than 700 years. The modern name means literally Land of the Free, and although this sounds suspiciously trite the Thais have experienced exceptional historical freedom. Unlike its neighbors, Thailand never been suffered the fate of colonization by a European power.

Pre-Thai Era

Knowledge of the prehistory of the area is still scant, though it appears that the earliest inhabitants were displaced by diverse waves of immigration until, ultimately, the Thais, originally from what is now part of southern China, and became dominant. Prior to their ascendancy, however, various influences were at work.

Fundamental to the development of Southeast Asia was the impact of ancient India. Stimulated by a kind of cultural osmosis affected during the first centuries AD, whereby aspects of Indian civilization were acquired, a number of indigenous independent kingdoms arose. Three were especially formative on what would later become Thailand.

The first, Dvaravati, was a vaguely united group of Mon people settled in a collection of city states with most likely, a power base at what is now Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok. The Varavati kingdom flourished in the Chao Phraya river basin from the 6^th or 7^th to the 19^th century. It embarrassed Theravada Buddhism; it is generally assumed the Thais were initially converted to the faith through contact with the Mon.

The second formative kingdom was that of Sriwijaya, an approximate contemporary of Dvaravati which help sway in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesian archipelago from the 8^th to the late 13^th century. Sriwijaya molded the early culture of southern Thailand.

The third and most influential was the kingdom of Khmer, whose vast empire was centered on Angkor. By the 11^th century the Khmer dominated not only what is now Cambodia but also large tracts of eastern and central present-day Thailand. They were master builders and traces of the achievement are still readily discernible in Lop Buri and various sites in the Northeast.

Sukhothai

By the early 13^th century the power of the Khmer was waning while the Thais, who had been migrating steadily southwards from China, were gaining strength and setting up small autonomous settlements. In c1238 the chieftains of two such Thai groups united their forces and founded the first sovereign Thai capital at Sukhothai. One of the chieftains, Phor Khun Bang Klang Thao, was proclaimed king, taking the title Sri Intradit and establishing the first Thai dynasty, Phra Ruang.

Gradually Sukhothai exerted its influence and during the third reign, that of King Ramkamhaeng (c1279-99), the kingdom was consolidated, politically through territorial gains and culturally through the adoption of Theravada Buddhism; strong links were established with neighboring China, and extensive trading relations with Cambodia and India. A cultural flowering came during the reign of King Lithai (1347-c68)l when distinctive Thai art and architectural styles achieved their first and, some say, their finest expression.

Ayutthaya

Founded by King U Thong (later crowned Ramathibodi) in 1368, Ayutthaya rapidly gained power and after absorbing Sukhothai, remained the heart of the Thai state for the next 400 years, exercising control over virtually all Thai territory except the North.

After territorial expansion in the 15^th century, the 1500s witnessed a succession of wars, mainly against Burma, which defeated Ayutthaya in 1569. Only 15 years later, however, King Naresuan the Great not only defeated the Burmese but also succeeded in pushing his national boarders even further than before.

Ayutthayas glory peaked in the 17^th century, most spectacularly during the reign of King Narai the Great (1656-88). Aided by his colorful first minister, a wily Greek known as Phaulkon, he attempted an alliance with French, but was ultimately defeated by conservative elements at court that compounded international intrigues of Byzantine complexity. He was lucky to die a natural death; the French were unceremoniously expelled from the country.

In 1767 that perennial enemy, Burma made all-out attack and after a lengthy siege captured Ayutthaya, systematically looted it, killed or took off into slavery all but 10,000 inhabitants and razed the city. Ferocious though this attack was, the invaders were unable to consolidate territorial gains. The Thais quickly rallied under General Taksin, who had established a resistance base at Thanburi on the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River from Bangkok. Before the close of the year that had seen the destruction of Ayutthaya, he had established a new capital, Thonburi, had been crowned kind and had begun to reunite the people.

The Kingdom of Lanna

Running parallel to the history of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya is that of the Lanna kingdom, which ruled the mountain valleys of the North. This was also a Thai state, friend of Sukhothai but foe of Ayutthaya, and maintained a largely separate development until the modern era.

The earliest inhabitants of the North were probably the Lawa, who were subsequently forced into the highlands when the valleys were take over by lowland people. First came an offshoot of the Mons, led by the legendary queen, Chama Devi, who founded a capital in AD660 at Haripunchai, presend-day Lamphun.

Later, migrating Thais settled in parts of the North, setting up petty city state. By the 13^th century the most powerful of these was Chiang Saen, on the banks of the Mekong river, and in 1259 its ruler, King Mengrai, set about exerting his control over neighbouring Thai principalities. Through patience and guile, he eventually became ruler of a state he was to call Lanna, meaning a million rice fields, for which he build a new capital, Chinag Mai, in 1296. By the time he died in 1317, reputedly struck by lightning, he had brought much of what is now northern Thailand into one fold, Lanna, which Chinag Mai as its power base.

Immediate successors were kings of lesser structure and there were some troubled times, but the power of Lanna became such as to attract the hostile interest of Ayutthaya. A see-saw kind of conflict persisted between Lanna and Ayutthaya from the mid-15^th century onwards. This did not prevent Chiang Mai from experiencing its golden age during the reign of Kind Tilokaraja (1442-72). He fought to a stalemate with Ayutthayas equally forcefull King Trailok, but scored notable successes elsewhere, conquering the state of Nan in 1449. He was also a stalwart upholder of Buddhism and a patron of the arts, and several distinguished Chiang Mai temples and Buddha sculptures date from his reign.

In 1557 Lanna was conquered by the Burmese. Independence was lost for the next two centuries. The form of the eclipse, however, was erratic: sometimes there were puppet Lanna kings; at other times there was a direct rule from Burma This state of affairs persisted until the late 18^th century when King Taksin succeeded in expelling the Burmese from all Thai territory. Lanna, although now part of the Thai fold, retained a certain autonomy under a line of hereditary rulers until the early 20^th century when the central government assumed direct rule.

The Ratanakosin Era

The modern period, the Ratanakosin era, begins with the founding of Bangkok as the capital in 1782. Although King Taksin from his capital at Thonburi had led the Thais to a remarkable recovery from the Burmese invasion and had largely reunified the nation, his reign was short-lived. By 1782 he had reputedly become insane and was overthrown in a coup and executed. The Commander of the Army, General Chakri, was then popularly proclaimed King, being crowned Rama I and so founding the Chakri Dynasty which reigns to this day. One of his first acts was to transfer his power base across the Chao Phraya river from Thonburi to Bangkok, at the time little more than a customs post and huddle of Chinese traders huts. The reason for the move was a apartly symbolic as Rama I wished to restore national pride by constructing a city that would recreate the lost glory of Ayutthaya.

During the first three reigns of the Chakri dynasty, Bangkok was transformed from a riverside village into an impressive capital. The construction of canals effectively turned it into an island city, while the building of the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the other building which today constitute Bangkoks major sights successfully reflected material and spiritual wealth.

The pattern of development shifted with the succession of King Mingkit, Rama IV, in 1851. The idea of recreating Ayutthaya was abandoned, along with nations introspective stance. Mongkut had spend 27 years in the monkhood and had proved himself a scholar of considerable attainment. As an enlightened monarch possessed of an intelligent and inquiring mind, he was to set the country on a path of modernization by opening the door to Western influence.

The first major step was taken in 1855 when he signed a mutually favorable trade agreement with Sir John Bowring, envoy of Queen Victoria. Similar accords with the European countries and with the USA followed in quick succession. In tandem with expanding international trade, the country embarked upon a programme of modernization of far-reaching proportions. Infrastructure was expanded and developed to meet new needs (notably, roads for wheeled traffic began to replace canals), and the machinery of state was overhauled with ministries organized along European lines. Art and architecture also began to reflect an interest in things Western, as can be noticed today in Bangkoks several Italianate building of the period, such as the former National Assembly.

Mongkuts son and successor, King Chulalongkorn (reigned 1868-1910), furthered the policies of modernization. He successfully introduced voarious weeping reforms, including the abolition of slavery, and broadly adopted European concepts of administration, justice, education and public welfare. In the following reign, that of King Vijiravudh (1910-25), compulsory education was established, among other developments. On the international front, Vajiravudh, who had been educated in the UK, brought Thailand into World War I of the side of the Allies.

With such fundamental change and material development it was almost inevitable that traditional concepts of power would be questioned. For centuries Thai kings had been literally Lords of Life, but that ended in 1932 when a bloodless revolution changed the system of government to a constitutional monarchy. The reigning monarch, King Prajadhipok (reigned 1925-35), accepted a fait accompli, though he abdicated to be succeeded by his nephew, King Ananda.

In the present era, Thailand has moved slowly and, at times, with difficulty towards establishing an effective democracy. Since 1932 the constitution has been changed many times, and military coups, successful and abortive, were until recently requent occurrences. But although the peaceful evolution of popular government has been disturbed, it has not been halted.

Throughout, the monarchy has been valuable stabilizing effect. After King Anandas tragic death in 1946, his brother, the present King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, succeeded to the throne. Kind Bhumibol has shown himself to be model of a modern constitutional monarch, both preserving regal traditions and taking an active part in working towards the greater social and economic well-beeing of his people.