Historical excursion to Siam & Thailand E-Book

Wilfried Stevens

• Herausgeber: epubli
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Deutsch

Seitenzahl: 157

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

These articles do not claim to provide a complete and detailed account of the entire history of Siam, or indeed of Thailand. Here you will find some important periods of Siam's extensive past, and in this form they should be of great interest to German readers. The cultural awareness of the Thais and the associated return to the origins of their culture developed very late. The first attempts at scientific research date back to the 1970s; however, this was largely initiated by foreign institutions. Until then, research was limited to the preservation of important monuments and temple complexes. As a result, much of which would have been of great significance for Thailand's cultural development remains obscure. One important reason may have been the destruction of Sukhothai and Ayuthaya, where unimaginable treasures of cultural property were lost. But since around 1970, research has advanced with great strides, proving that Thailand is also a country with a rich past. This book focuses particularly on the development of the Sukhothai and Ayuthaya dynasties. It ends with King Chulalongkorn and the Kingdom of Siam and the beginning of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Leseprobe

Wilfried Stevens

Historical excursion to Siam & Thailand

Impressum

Texts: © Copyright by Wilfried Stevens, 40595 Düsseldorf Cover desiagn: © Copyright by Wilfried Stevens, 40595 DE-Düsseldorf

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Historical excursion to Siam & Thailand

Table of contents

Impressum

Foreword to Thai History

The early kingdoms of Aliao and Nanchao

Other kingdoms in Siam

Haripunchai Kingdom-the city of Lamphun

Development in Phuket

The Srivijaya Empire

The Sukhothai Dynasty

Sukhothai and King Rama Khamheng

King Rama Khamhaeng

The father of Thailand

The Ayuthaya Dynasty - Part I

The Europeans are coming

The Ayuthaya Dynasty II

The Adventures of Constantine Phaulkon.

Courageous women in history

The sisters Muk and Chan

The heroine Khun Ying Mo

King Chulalongkorn - Rama V

Abolition of slavery

The modernization of Siam

The Merits of Rama V

Queen Sri Bajarindra

A brief history of the Thai railway

Smaller projects-private railways

The political situation

Railway construction continues

Foreword to Thai History

These articles do not claim to provide a complete and detailed account of the entire history of Siam, or indeed of Thailand. Here you will find some of the most important milestones in the extensive Siamese past, and in this form they should be of great interest to German readers. The cultural awareness of the Thais and the associated return to the origins of their culture developed very late. The first attempts at scientific research date back to the 1970s; however, these were largely initiated by foreign institutions. Until then, efforts were limited to the preservation of important monuments and temple complexes. As a result, much of which would be of great significance for Thailand's cultural development remains obscure. One important reason may have been the destruction of Sukhothai and Ayuthaya, where unimaginable treasures of cultural property were lost. But since around 1970, research has made great strides forward, proving that Thailand is also a country with a rich past. Thailand's prehistory is also rich in evidence of the Stone Age. The prehistoric ceramics, skeletons, and bronze finds discovered in Ban Chiang in 1966 testify to a rich treasure trove for future archaeologists. The field paintings of Pha Taem, discovered above the Mekong in 1981, are further evidence of the early historical settlement of northern Thailand around 3500 BC. I have been traveling to Thailand and Southeast Asia for 45 years and am married to a Thai woman. So I know the kingdom, its people, its culture, and traditions quite well. I've been writing articles about Thailand since before the internet, Google, or Wikipedia existed. I also published a magazine, the Siam Journal, with a friend for many years. More on that in the last chapter.

The early kingdoms of Aliao and Nanchao

Thailand offers a wealth of cultural and historical evidence from a 700-year history, as well as an enigmatic world of myths and legends that are closely related to ancient Indian traditions. Much of this remains unexplored. According to this theory, the Thais originated from a "northern, cold mountainous region" (possibly from the Altai Mountains in northwestern Mongolia), which they left to migrate eastward and, above all, southward across China in long stages. The first migrations are said to have taken place around 2700 BC. This describes the emergence of the kingdoms of Aliao and Nanchao, which are considered precursors to the later Sukhothai Empire. There are no satisfactory sources regarding the emergence of Thai nationality and state formation prior to the founding of the Sukhothai Empire. Most Thai chronicles on this topic were destroyed during the destruction of Ayuthaya, so we must rely on Chinese sources. The most important sources for the history of Nanchao are Chinese accounts, particularly the regional history work Manshu. These accounts also tell of an empire called Tolopoti, probably the Dvaravati Empire of the Mon. The small kingdom of Aliao was likely just a collection of individual village communities. Since there were two developments that led to later state formation, one in southern China and one in present-day northern Thailand, there have been repeated attempts at interpretation and discrepancies as to which of the two developments was the decisive one. Today it is certain that the key phases of development arose in the kingdom of Nanchao (Chinese: southern land), which later led to the first large and complete Thai state community in Sukhothai. Under the Chinese King Hwang Ti, the Chinese conquerors succeeded in driving the widely scattered Thai tribes from their tribal territories. According to a Chinese historiography report from 2637 BC, however, nine Thai tribes had joined forces to resist Chinese expansion.

Around 2457 BC, both the Chinese and the Thai tribes were threatened by invading Mongols in their territories. Over the centuries, the Thai tribes allied themselves with the Chinese in order to drive out the Mongols. Around 2000 BC, the actual formation of the first ethnic groups in southern China began. These groups are considered the forerunners of today's Thais. Various tribes, still divided, spread throughout the Yunan region (western Yunnan) in southern China. Another theory assumes that various tribes were also native to the province of Kwangsi further east. Earlier Chinese sources from this period report the wild tribes of the Pa, Lung, and Mung, all of whom are related to today's Thais, and are the only historical sources from this period.

During the reign of the Chinese King Tai Ayh (Häh Dynasty, 1860-1763 BC), China's borders were redefined, and documented diplomatic relations were established with a Thai prince named Chung Ging, who ruled the city of Nakorn Pa. The Chinese called the Thai territory Law Tai Mung (Thai Territory). More than a thousand undocumented years passed, and around 800 BC, the Tartar people invaded the territories in southern China and drove isolated Lung tribes eastward. At this time, the Chinese Zhou Dynasty (1100-220 BC) existed, strengthening Chinese national identity and increasingly distinguishing itself as an independent culture from other tribes. The Zhou rulers further promoted this independence of the Chinese population and viewed all non-Chinese as barbarians. In the region where Han Chinese and Thai tribes once lived in harmony, a period of mistrust and persecution begins. Han Chinese armies expand their sphere of influence to the southern borders of China and India.

When the Chinese Qin Dynasty took power between 221 and 207 BC, a large Chinese cultural sphere had already developed. The Qin Dynasty united all existing Chinese principalities into one state. The newly gained independence of the Thais was suppressed, and their lands annexed. Large parts of the Thai population shifted their settlement area ever further south. Around this time, Thais who had migrated from southern China founded the city of Phrae. Later, Phrae became a city-state and also called itself the Principality of Wiang Kosai. It took a hundred years before the Thais were able to shake off Chinese servitude and establish the Kingdom of Aliao in southern China. This small kingdom became a magnet for all the scattered Thai tribes, but under pressure from their Chinese neighbors, it could only expand further south. Nevertheless, not all Thais were united under one kingdom. The first Thai state founded in South China initially developed independently of the other autonomous principalities and newly founded states in what is now Thailand. The majority of the ethnic group still lived as a minority in the Chinese sphere of influence or had been assimilated. Chinese chronicles mention other Thai tribes called Dai and Bai. In 87 BC, the Aliao kingdom became too influential for the Chinese rulers. Within a short time, the young Aliao empire was bloodily conquered, and the rulers were expelled or subjugated. The Thais would not recover from this blow for the next hundred years. Many small vassal principalities ruled over the Thais in South China during this time. The first large-scale migration to Northern Thailand began, strengthening the centers of power there. Migrations also began as far as midwestern Thailand, where the first Thai ethnic groups settled as early as 43 BC. Writings carved on stone tablets tell of King Rama Khamheng's history of the Suwannapum region (gold mining area), with its capital city, Suwannapum Raschatani (Nakhon Pathom), and four other cities: Ratchaburi, Singburi (near the Kwae River, Kanchaburi), Pethburi, and Dtranausr, which are said to have been founded by the Thais as early as 43 BC. In 9 AD, the Aliao Kingdom regained its independence. Because China had to resolve internal political unrest and withdraw troops into the interior, the renewal of the Thai Empire was tolerated. Forty years later, however, the Chinese conquered the Aliao Empire once again. However, it was no longer integrated into the Chinese Empire, but remained an independent vassal state that had to pay tribute to the Chinese. During the Chinese Age of the Three Kings (220-280), Chinese troops conquered Aliao again and incorporated it permanently into the Kingdom of Sichuan. During this time, there was no central government in China. Northern China was ruled by Turkish conquerors, while southern China had decayed into three kingdoms. These three kingdoms agreed to an alliance of convenience to protect their kingdoms from further invaders. Although China is a divided country, the Kingdom of the Three Kings retained sufficient power to continue to subjugate all non-Chinese people. This development led to a renewed, continuous migration of Thais towards the southeast. Around 650, the Thais rebelled against the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618-907) and regained their independence against a still-weakened China. The Thai principalities in southern China united to form the new Kingdom of Nanchao. The ruling Chinese Emperor Kao Tsung finally accepted the Thais' independence and concluded a friendship treaty with them. Both kingdoms became close allies. The Thais adopted much of Chinese culture and organized their kingdom according to Chinese models. During this period, another people entered the stage of world history. The Khmer founded the Kingdom of Chenla in the 6th century in the territory of present-day Isan and Cambodia. They were still building their own kingdom and had little influence on Thai development. A new conqueror now threatened southern China and the young Thai Empire. In 733, the continued expansion of Tibet was viewed with concern, which would destroy the long period of peace in the region. The Chinese Emperor Ming Li of the Tang Dynasty mobilized his tribes and all their allied tribes in southern China early on to counter the great threat. Nanchao also opposed the impending expansion of Tibet and entered into a military alliance with Emperor Ming Li. Two years later, King Pilaoko of Nanchao, the first king of Nanchao, allied himself with China. Preparations to oppose Tibet were underway. King Pilaoko's appointment as Prince of Junan was ceremoniously sealed at the court of Beijing in 738. The reorganization and mobilization of the joint armed forces and their training took many years. Nanchao was designated a military base. Fortresses and other defensive structures were built. Watchtowers and scouts kept King Pilaoko informed of every move by the Tibetan conquerors and military machine. Tibet was not yet a direct threat, but expansion to the south was evident. After years of preparation, in 745 the Chinese Emperor Ming Li commissioned the Prince of Junan to eliminate any possible threats to the borders. Pilaoko launched a campaign of conquest against Tibetan territory with a well-trained army. Through surprise attacks and clever strategy, he was able to cut off the enemy troops' lines of communication, inflicting significant damage on the scattered units and even occupying Tibetan territories. King Pilaoko died five years later. His son, Prince Kolofeng, succeeded him but, unlike his father, aspired to establish his own empire. When Kolofeng felt insulted by the governor of the Chinese province of Hunan, he annulled all treaties with China. Inspired by his father's successes, he ordered his troops to invade Chinese territory. Knowing this was a strategic balancing act, he sealed a secret alliance with their archenemy Tibet. This suited the Tibetans well, as they were still dealing with their own military defeats. For them, it was ultimately an alliance of convenience with King Kolofeng, so as not to expose their current weakness. The Chinese government was also aware of this weakness, so they waged war against the kingdom of Nanchao from 752 to 754, but ultimately failed. King Pilaoko had militarized his empire to such an extent that even the clumsy Kolofeng could still benefit from it. Since China could do nothing against Kolofeng, it began to expand its border fortifications and viewed Nanchao as its archenemy. Through his alliance with Tibet, he succeeded in conquering the valley of the upper Irrawaddy between 757 and 763, thus establishing a connection with the western empires. In 766, he had a stele with a Chinese inscription erected in Thai-ho. This inscription commemorated his victories over the Chinese, which he had won as an ally of the Tibetans; for this, the Tibetans awarded him the title "Emperor of the East." The stele also reveals that Nanchao not only used Chinese script, but also expanded the kingdom according to Chinese models. At this time, many Thais migrated further south. The Thai Yai, the Great Thais, settled in the Salween Valley and are thus likely the forerunners of the Shan. The Thai Noi, the Lesser Thais, settled in Laos and Siam and formed the core of today's Laotian and Siamese peoples. In 779, Kolofeng died, and his grandson Imoshun ascended the throne. After ascending to the throne, he continued the war against southern China, but was unsuccessful. The two equally powerful warring powers grew closer and exchanged diplomatic talks. In 794, King Imoshun finally concluded a peace and friendship treaty with the Chinese Emperor Tai Tsang. The two states became trading partners and allies. A war against Tibet, which Imoshun launched alone that same year, was unsuccessful. The three equally powerful powers—China, Tibet, and Nanchao— exchanged bilateral agreements and were henceforth preoccupied with domestic politics. The following three decades were a period of peace in the region. When King Imoshun died in 829, his successor continued the family's military doctrine and changed sides again. He undertook a treacherous raid against southern China. His goal was the destruction of the heavily fortified border fortifications, which he largely achieved. The capture of Chinese skilled workers enabled Nanchao to improve its technical level and thus integrate further Chinese achievements into its empire. The Thais were able to catch up with the Chinese, particularly in fortress construction. In 832, the kingdom conquered the city of Pagan, the capital of the Mon, which they plundered. They took thousands of prisoners to Yunnan Fu (alternatively spelled Arimmaddanapura), the eastern capital of Nanchao. This raid had a repercussions 30 years later. In the meantime, King Tsuiling was crowned King of Nanchao. As China has regained its former strength and has been able to further strengthen its border fortifications, border conflicts are increasingly occurring, which cannot be resolved even through negotiations. King Tsuiling then raised an army and marched against Chengdu, the capital of the southern Chinese Sichuan Empire, but was unable to capture the heavily fortified city. He ordered his troops to invade northern Vietnam, which was then largely under Chinese control, to destroy the Chinese outposts. However, without achieving any major military success, his army eventually withdrew.

In 870, Tsuiling attempted to conquer Chengdu again, but failed this time too. Five years later, he attacked the city again and besieged it for a while, but never conquered it. Tsuiling's successor was King Taiking, also referred to as King Fa in Chinese chronicles. King Taiking was a level-headed man and made peace with China. The two kingdoms lived side by side as peaceful neighbors for centuries. Since the Nanchao Kingdom is rarely mentioned in Chinese chronicles after this treaty, it is assumed that the two kingdoms lived in such peaceful coexistence that Chinese historians had little reason to write about the Nanchao Kingdom. Thai sources about the old Nanchao Kingdom were destroyed during the conquest of Ayuthaya. In 1096, the minor Thai city-state of Phayao was founded. Another small city-state was founded in present-day Chiang Saen. While Nanchao and individual Thai principalities had developed in southern China and the area of present-day northern Thailand up to that point, apart from various migrations, there was still no unification of all Thai kingdoms. The decline of Nanchao began. The Thais formed further administrative districts and principalities. Since they still lacked a significant culture and writing of their own, and could not compete with either the powerful southern kingdom of Angkor or the powerful northern kingdom of the Chinese, they regularly placed themselves in their service. They can be seen on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat as scouts for the Cambodian troops. An important factor was the penetration of the Mon kingdom of Dvaravati during the 11th and 12th centuries. The Thais intermingled with the Mon, from whom they adopted many cultural elements. In 1215, the Thais founded the principality of Modaung in the north of Bhamo, and in 1223, the principality of Muong Nai on a tributary of the Salween. In 1229, they conquered Assam. This changed, however, when two Thai princes rebelled against the Khmer in Sukhothai in 1238. 1253 was the decisive year for the future development of Thai history. The Mongolian military leader and Chinese emperor Kublai Khan conquered the kingdom of Nanchao with his war machine and completely destroyed its armed forces. The kingdom of Nanchao ceased to exist.

A large-scale expulsion and migration of peoples began again towards the south and southeast of Thailand. They followed the valleys, as they were able to practice the flood-fed rice cultivation method they had brought with them from their homeland. Several large ethnic groups of the Thai lek (small), who are now considered the true Thais, united with principalities in what is now northern Thailand, particularly with the small kingdom of Chiang Mai. Most of the refugees settled in the Sukhothai area, thereby significantly strengthening Sukhothai's population and power base. Larger groups of the Shan (Thai jaj) also settled in Upper Burma. During their advances and migrations, the Thais encountered the advanced cultures of the Khmer and Mon, which, however, had already passed their peak by this time. This made it easy for the Thais to initially settle in the peripheral areas of these former powers. They were finally able to expel the weakened Khmer from the city of Sukhothai in 1257. Sukhothai was developed as the new capital of a young, new Thai state and was able to establish itself as a new power. The Sukhothai Empire ultimately became the epitome of Thai independence and the nucleus of the later Thai Kingdom of Siam.

Other kingdoms in Siam