The Rise of Ayudhya

• King Uthong(1314-1369) Ramathibodi I Founded Ayudhya in 1351

• Decline of two existing states: Sukhothai and Angkor.

• Politics of succession=New pattern of the struggle for power, institutionalized, family claim. 2 families, Uthong and Suphanburi monopolized from 1351-1569.1

The Rule of law• Thammasat law from Hindu’s Dhammasastra• Law on Evidence, Offenses against gov’t and

people, Receiving Plaints, Abduction,Robbery, Husband&Wife, Slave

• Supreme, unchangeable• King’s laws, palatine law, kings can revised,

modified,i.e. execution of royalty• Court system--within each department, based on personal

relation, open for abuses

Politics of succession

• Uthong family-• 1:Uthong(r 1350-69)• 2:Ramesuan, son,69-70• 5:Ramesuan,2nd, 88-95• 6:Ramracha, son, 1395-

1409

• Suphanburi family-• 3:Boromracha I, in-law, r

1370-88• 4:Thonglan,son,r 88-88• 7: Intharacha, nephew of 3,

r. 1409-24• 8: Boromracha II, son of 7,

r 1424-48• 9: Trailok, son of 8,48-88

Sakdina[feudal] system• Sakdina= field power

– from two laws; law of the Civil Hierarchy, law of the Military and Provincial Hierarchies, issued by K.Trailok

– Two chief ministries; Kalahom(military) and Mahatthai (civilian)• Under Mahatthai were 4 ministries: capital,

palace, agriculture, and treasury.

Sakdina and ranking

• King--unlimited rai(2.5 rai=1 acre)• Uparat--100,000• Chief minister--10,000• Minor department head--400• Sakdina 400 and up began the bureaucratic

nobility or the ‘khunnang’: below is commoner• petty officials=50-400• craftsmen=50; peasant freemen=25• slaves and beggars=5

Famous Kings of Ayudhya• Ayudhya history divided into 2 periods: 1351-1569;

1570-1767.• 1st half, Uthong, Trailok(1448-63),politico-religious

integration of Ayudhya and Sukhothai; Ordain. Naresuan(r.1590-1605) War with Burma, fell in 1569

• Declared independence in 1590• 2nd half: uneven institutional development exacerbated

by increasing relations with Western European powers. Portugese, Dutch, French, English

• Narai (r 1656-88) sent missions to France 1680s.• Succession came from strong nobles. Song Tham 1611;

Prasat Thong 1656; Phretracha 1688.

Ayudhya: Sources of strength and instability

• Growing differences between Siam and its northern neighbors.

• Rebellion led by Thammathian, a retainer of Narai’s brother in 1690. Bun Khwang, a holy man rebel in 1698-70.

• China trade—strength of the king over noble

The Burmese and Thai war

• 1760 Burma attack the Thai kingdom, from north to southwest.

• Unsuccessful expedition, ended.• 1764 started again. From north to central.• Ayudhya fell in 1760, unable to mount

manpower to resistance the attack.

weaknesses

• Every royal succession in the two centuries from 16th to 18th turned into a political crisis.

• Became dangerous as stakes grew higher.• Cut into noble’s interest and power.• Led to the general crisis from royal and

noble powers