The Rise of Ayudhya

1
The Rise of Ayudhya

• King Uthong(1314-1369) Ramathibodi I Founded
  Ayudhya in 1351
• Decline of two existing states Sukhothai and
  Angkor.
• Politics of successionNew pattern of the
  struggle for power, institutionalized, family
  claim. 2 families, Uthong and Suphanburi
  monopolized from 1351-1569.1

2
The Rule of law

• Thammasat law from Hindus Dhammasastra
• Law on Evidence, Offenses against govt and
  people, Receiving Plaints, Abduction,Robbery,
  HusbandWife, Slave
• Supreme, unchangeable
• Kings laws, palatine law, kings can revised,
  modified,i.e. execution of royalty
• Court system--within each department, based on
  personal relation, open for abuses

3
Politics of succession

• Uthong family-
• 1Uthong(r 1350-69)
• 2Ramesuan, son,69-70
• 5Ramesuan,2nd, 88-95
• 6Ramracha, son, 1395-1409

• Suphanburi family-
• 3Boromracha I, in-law, r 1370-88
• 4Thonglan,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

4
Sakdinafeudal 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.

5
Sakdina and ranking

• King--unlimited rai(2.5 rai1 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 officials50-400
• craftsmen50 peasant freemen25
• slaves and beggars5

6
Famous Kings of Ayudhya

• Ayudhya history divided into 2 periods
  1351-1569 1570-1767.
• 1st half, Uthong, Trailok(1448-63),politico-religi
  ous 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.

7
Ayudhya Sources of strength and instability

• Growing differences between Siam and its northern
  neighbors.
• Rebellion led by Thammathian, a retainer of
  Narais brother in 1690. Bun Khwang, a holy man
  rebel in 1698-70.
• China tradestrength of the king over noble

8
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.

9
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 nobles interest and power.
• Led to the general crisis from royal and noble
  powers