The
History of Thailand
The region known as
Thailand today has been occupied since prehistoric times by various groups of
people. In the northeast recent excavations have discovered some of the earliest
bronze in the world being more than 5,000 years old and Neolithic sites in the
northwest indicate some of the first farming of crops dating from about 10,000
B.C. The first contact with people from other lands where traders came from
India bringing the Brahman and Buddhist religions in the 1st and 2nd century
A.D., and that two great empires, the Mon and the Khmer, dominated the region
for many centuries. But how about the Thais themselves? There are conflicting
theories about their origins. Some people claim they were here all along, but it
is generally thought that they were a Mongol race from China, who like the
Normans in Europe, migrated far afield finally settling in the northern hills
and central plains of what is Thailand today by the 8th or 9th century A.D.
SUKHOTHAI
A Golden Era 1240 ‑
1378. The first kingdom of the Thais was set up in about 1240 when two
chieftains combined forces and overran a military outpost of the powerful Khmer
empire. There they founded Sukhothai, which means The Dawn of Happiness'. Thai
means 'free' and that is just how they intended to remain forever. Many Thai
traditions date from this time especially the relationship between the monarch
and his subjects. You will see there is great respect and affection for royalty
still today.
Ramkhamhaeng the
Great, the third king, ruled an extensive area which stretched over most of
present day Thailand right down the Malay peninsula. The earliest records in the
Thai language inscribed on stones date from his time, and tell of an idyllic
kingdom with fish in the rivers, nice in the fields, justice and free trade
under a paternal monarch. A Buddhist revival, inspired by monks who came from
Sri Lanka, led to a high point in religious art at Sukhothali. The style of the
Buddha statues with beautiful simplicity of line has become a classic in Thai
art. The Walking Buddha, representing his missionary role, is specific to Sukhothai style and you can see a modem example of this just to the north of
Pattaya on Highway 3 inside the entrance gate to Wat Djittabhawan. The golden
age of Sukhothai lasted only 140 years as it was finally eclipsed by the new
powerful kingdom of Ayutthaya to the south becoming its vassal in 1378.
Ceramic Celadon
pottery was exported in large quantities from the Sukhothai area. More than a
dozen wrecks of ships of this period trading in pottery have been found in the
Gulf of Thailand, some not far from Pattaya.
AYUTTHAYA
The Glorious Age 1351
‑ 1767. Ayutthaya, the second great capital city of the Thais, developed to
become an amazing place according to all accounts. The wealth and splendour had
to be seen to be believed. Foreign merchants from the East and West who flocked
there to trade said it was greater than London or Paris and called it the
Venice of the East because of its numerous canals called klongs. It was also
called Siam and had a population of around a million. Three factors contributed
to its power and wealth flourishing trade, military power and a sound
bureaucracy. In the early phases of development, laws were set up relating to
royal status, land tenure, crime and punishment. A well structured military
administration and civil service laid the foundations for systems in operation
today. The King was viewed as a semi‑divine figure with great powers. This would
change in the Bangkok era 500 years later. They adopted Brahman ceremonies and
customs which had been practiced in the Sukhothai era, such as the coronation
and the ploughing ceremony, see Celebrations section, which still exist today.
The first European
traders, Portuguese, came in the sixteenth century, the English, Dutch and
French followed. Envoys came from the court of Louis XIV in 1688, and also
missionaries with vain hopes of converting the Siamese King Narai.
He was the protector of all religions
in his kingdom, and this is still seen as a royal duty today. King Narai was
impressed with foreigners, but senior Thai officials felt there were too many
for comfort in high places at court, which led to a revolution and a return to
more traditional ways with a new dynasty. Heroes of great battles with the
Burmese are remembered in folk stories of those times. The Thais were sometimes
defeated but always fought back to regain their freedom.
But the fall of Ayutthaya to the
Burmese in 1767, after a siege of 15 months, was simply devastating. Most of the
treasures of Ayutthaya, both material and cultural, were lost forever in the
conflagration and looting which followed. It was a terrible end to a glorious
era which had lasted more than 400 years.
THONBURI
The Incredible Revival 1767 ‑ 1782.
A hero emerged to win back the kingdom and bring the indomitable Thais to be a
major power in South East Asia again. A charismatic figure, General Taksin, who
later became King, rallied a band of followers at Chonburi, 50 kin north of
Pattaya. Taksin's first campaigns were in south east Thailand. He went on from
strength to strength to found a new capital on the western bank of the Chao
Phraya river at Thonburi. His palace was situated where the Temple of Dawn in
Bangkok stands today. In just fifteen years, he successfully expelled the
Burmese and reclaimed all the territory of the former Kingdom of Ayutthaya and
more.
There is a fine statue of General
Taksin in front of City Hall in Pattaya, as he actually stayed overnight in the
village (then known as Tapphraya), on his way south.
BANGKOK
Ratanakosin Era 1782 to present.
The crown passed to General Phya Chakri, who became known as Rama I, founder of
the present dynasty. April 6th, his coronation day, is still celebrated as a
public holiday called Chakri Day, see Celebrations section, and the present
monarch King Bbumiphol is Rama IX. Rama I, was also the founder of Bangkok,
which Thais call Krung Thep meaning 'City of Angels'. He decided to relocate the
capital across the river for strategic reasons and modeled it on Ayutthaya.
Bricks from the ruined city were brought down the river, temples and monuments
were erected, using names from those glorious times, and the wonderful Grand
Palace with the temple of the Emerald Buddha was constructed.
From Traditional capital to Modern
Metropolis. New legal and administration codes were drawn up, based on those
lost in the conflagration, and Buddhist scriptures recompiled following the
doctrines at Sukhothai. The kingdom which was refounded was firmly based on
traditions of the past. Rama I reestablished trade with Western powers, and this
brought wealth to the nation. His successors reaped rewards and Bangkok
prospered and expanded. One of the most outstanding kings in Thai history was
King Mongkut, Rama IV, who reigned from 1851‑68. He was a Buddhist monk for 27
years before he came to the throne, which enabled him to travel all over the
country, seeing the conditions and lives of ordinary people. When Mongkut became
king he introduced many farsighted reforms. He realized the importance of
education and hired foreign teachers for the royal children. A well known royal
governess was Anna
Leonowens whose Journals were a gross distortion of the
truth. They were further adopted as the musical and film 'The King and I' which
is banned in Thailand. Rama IV was fluent in 10 languages, among which were
Latin and English, which enabled him to study western sciences including
astronomy, in which he was especially gifted. He also corresponded in English
with world leaders ‑ Queen Victoria and President Lincoln ‑ and could conduct
delicate diplomatic relations without interpreters. This was a great asset at a
time when all the neighboring countries were being colonized by European powers
and he skillfully avoided a similar fate.
Chulalongkorn as Rama V succeeded
his father in 1868 and reigned for 42 years, a much beloved monarch. The date of
his death October 23rd, is a public holiday. King Chulalongkorn brought great
changes and rapid progress, launching the nation into the twentieth century. In
his reign, slavery was abolished, ritual prostration discontinued, a national
railway network and road system was constructed, postal and telegraph services
introduced, schools were founded (education was formerly just for boys in the
temples), hospitals were set up and local government reformed. You will see
little portraits of Chulalongkorn on gold medallions worn to keep his memory
alive, and statues or pictures on the walls in homes and shops.
Rama V was a skilful diplomat. In
difficult times when the powerful French and British in their colonies of Burma,
Laos and Malaya were leaning on his borders, he succeeded in keeping the heart
of the kingdom intact and autonomous, by ceding vassal border states to them. He
was determined, as his Father had been, that Thailand would remain free. Rama V
admired European fashions and built country palaces along the lines of Hampton
Court and Fontainebleau. He had one mansion, Vimanmek, constructed of golden
teak on Koh Si Chang, the island opposite Sriracha (30 kin north of Pattaya).
When a French invasion was feared, it was dismantled and moved to the grounds of
the Dusit Palace in Bangkok, where you can visit it today and you can still see
the garden terraces and a few scant remains on the island of Koh Si Chang. Rama
V was the first Thai King to travel abroad, visiting Asian countries during his
teens, and later in his forties went on a journey in his steam yacht to Europe.
He educated his sons in English schools and colleges in France, Germany and
Russia. Hundreds of Thai students followed in their wake and returned to their
country with new skills and perspectives.
A group of young Thais who had
studied abroad, staged a bloodless coup in 1932, overthrowing the absolute
monarchy and setting up a new form of government headed by an any general. The
deposed king, Rama VII, agreed to return and reign as a constitutional monarch.
In fact some years later he abdicated and his young nephew, brother of the
present king, succeeded him. In 1939, it was decided to call the country
'Thailand', meaning 'Land of the Free', rather than 'Slam' as formerly. The Thai
flag, originally red with a white elephant was changed in 1917 for an up to
date, horizontally striped red, white and blue version which you will see
everywhere. These colors represent the three pillars of the Thai nation: red for
the people, white for Buddhism and blue for the monarchy.
During the First World War, Siam
had gone in on the side of the Allies. The Second World War saw Japanese
occupation for nearly three years in Thailand. They landed silently overnight
along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Some elderly people in the Pattaya area
remember it well. It is a complex period of Thai history, during which thousands
of Thais perished alongside the allied prisoners, while building the Death
Railway on the River Kwai. When it was all over, it was a difficult time getting
the nation back on an even keel, and hanging on to precious independence.
Bhumipol Adulyadej, Rama IX, a much loved and respected monarch, became king 9th
June, 1946. Over the years, he has seen peace and prosperity with enormous
economic growth, but also troubled times. Since that first military coup in
1932, there have been many more, the latest in 1991 which was swift and
bloodless. After the elections which followed in 1992, there were massive sit
down demonstrations over the appointment of the new prime minister, who was an
un‑elected military general. Tragically, there were casualties and the situation
seemed to be at stalemate. His Majesty was greatly instrumental in resolving the
conflict. In a televised audience with the leaders concerned, speaking of the
distress and damage to the people, he urged a step down, which followed shortly
after. A new prime minister has been appointed and the people of Thailand pursue
their path to democracy and freedom.
In 1988, Bhumipol Adulyadej
surpassed his grandfather Chulalongkorn's reign of 42 years. In 1996, the King
celebrated his Golden Jubilee ‑ 50 years, and is now the world's longest
reigning monarch! To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession
to the Throne, there were celebrations all over Thailand, including a ceremonial
procession and fireworks in Bangkok, and a Royal Barge Procession along the Chao
Phraya River, held in early November the same year.
Those lucky enough to view the
Barge Procession ‑ witnessed a rare Thai cultural event ‑only 4 other
processions have taken place during the King's reign, the last was in 1987 to
help celebrate His Majesty's 60th Birthday. 53 exquisitely carved and decorated
vessels took part, along with hundreds of traditionally‑costumed oarsmen,
watched by thousands of spectators, to make this a truly spectacular ceremony.
