Thailand means "land of the free", and
throughout its 800 - year history, Thailand can boast
the distinction of being the only country in Southeast
Asia never to have been colonized. Its history is
divided into five major periods :
The
Thai people founded their kingdom in the southern part
of China, which is Yunnan, Kwangsi and Canton today. A
great number of people migrated south as far as the Chao
Phraya Basin and settled down over the Central Plain
under the sovereignty of the Khmer Empire, whose culture
they probably accepted. The Thai people founded their
independent state of Sukhothai around 1238 A.D., which
marks the beginning of the Sukhothai Period.
Thais began to emerge as a dominant force in the region in the13th
century, gradually asserting independence from existing Khmer and
Mon kingdoms. Called by its rulers "the dawn of happiness", this is
often considered the golden era of Thai history, an ideal Thai state
in a land of plenty governed by paternal and benevolent kings, the
most famous of whom was King Ramkamhaeng the Great. However in 1350,
the mightier state of Ayutthaya exerted its influence over
Sukhothai.
The
Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very
beginning. No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that the
kings of Sukhothai had been, Ayutthaya's sovereigns were absolute
monarchs and assumed the title devaraja (god-king). The early part
of this period saw Ayutthaya extend its sovereignty over neighboring
Thai principalities and come into conflict with its neighbours,
During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial
relations with western countries.
In 1767, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya.
Despite their overwhelming victory, the Burmese did not retain
control of Siam for long. A young general named Phya 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.
General Taksin, as he is popularly known, decided to transfer the
capital from Ayutthaya to a site nearer to the sea which would
facilitate foreign trade, ensure the procurement of arms, and make
defence and withdrawal easier in case of a renewed Burmese attack.
He established his new capital at Thon Buri on the west bank of the
Chao Phraya River.
The rule of Taksin was not an easy one. The lack of central
authority since the fall of Ayutthaya led to the rapid
disintegration of the kingdom, and Taksin's reign was spent
reuniting the provinces.
After
Taksin's death, General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri
Dynasty, Rama I, ruling from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king
was to transfer the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri to
Bangkok and build the Grand Palace. Rama II (1809 -1824) continued
the restoration begun by his predecessor. King Nang Klao, Rama III
(1824-1851) reopened relations with Western nations and developed
trade with China. King Mongkut, Rama IV, (1851-1868) of "The King
and I" concluded treaties with European countries, avoided
colonialisation and established modern Thailand. He made many social
and economic reforms during his reign .
King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1869-1910) continued his father's
tradition of reform, abolishing slavery and improving the public
welfare and administrative system. Compulsory education and other
educational reforms were introduced by King Vajiravudh, Rama VI
(1910-1925). During the reign of King Prajadhipok, (1925-1935),
Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional
monarchy. The king abdicated in 1933 and was succeeded by his
nephew, King Ananda Mahidol (1935-1946). The country's name was
changed from Siam to Thailand with the advent of a democratic
government in 1939.
Our present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is King Rama IX of the
Chakri Dynasty.
