HISTORY & POLITICSHISTORY1283
Early Thai script
invented by King
Ramkhamhaeng of
Sukhothai.1292
Chiang Mai becomes
the capital of Lanna.1351–
Reign of Ayuthaya.1511
Portuguese found
foreign mission in
Ayuthaya, followed
by other European
nations.sula was under the sway of the confederation of the Srivijaya which con-
trolled maritime trade between the South China Sea and Indian Ocean.
The Srivijaya capital is believed to have been in Palembang on Sumatra.
Of the series of Srivijaya city-states that grew to prominence along the
Malay peninsula, Tambralinga established its capital near present-day
Nakhon Si Thammarat and adopted Buddhism in the 13th century, while
the states further south fell under the infl uence of Islam, creating a reli-
gious boundary which persists to this day. Remains of Srivijaya culture
can be seen around Chaiya and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Many art forms
of the Srivijaya kingdom, such asnăng đà·lung (shadow play) and lá·kon
(classical dance-drama), remain today.
Emerging Tai Kingdoms
In the 13th century, the regional empires started to decline and prosper-
ous Tai city-states emerged with localised power and military might. The
competing city-states were ultimately united into various kingdoms that
began to establish a Thai identity. Scholars recognise Lanna, Sukhothai
and Ayuthaya as the unifying kingdoms of the period.
Lanna
The Lanna kingdom, based in northern Thailand, dates its formation to
the upper Mekong River town of Chiang Saen in the middle of the 12th
century by King Mengrai, who settled the bickering between neighbour-
ing towns by conquering them. He then migrated south to Chiang Mai
(meaning ‘new city’) in 1292 to establish his capital. The king was a
skilled diplomat and forged important alliances with potential rivals,
such as King Ngam Muang of Phayao andKing Ramkhamhaeng of Su-
khothai; a bronze statue commemorating this confederation stands in
Chiang Mai today. King Mengrai is also credited for successfully repuls-
ing the Mongol invasions in the early 14th century.
The Lanna kingdom is also recognised for its royal patronage of the
Sinhalese tradition of Theravada Buddhism that is now widely practised
in Thailand and of the distinctive northern Thai culture that persists in
the region. The Lanna kingdom didn't experience an extensive expansion
period as it was plagued by dynastic intrigues and wars with rival powers.
Sukhothai
During the 13th century, several principalities in the central plains unit-
ed and wrested control from the dying Khmer empire, making their new
capital at Sukhothai (meaning ‘Rising of Happiness’). Thais consider Su-
khothai the fi rst true Thai kingdom and the period is recognised as an
artistic and cultural awakening.
Top
History
Reads» (^) Thailand: A
Short History
(2003) by David
K Wyatt
» (^) A History of
Thailand (2009)
by Chris Baker
and Pasuk Phong-
paichit
» (^) Chronicle of
Thailand: Head-
lines Since 1946
(2010) by William
Warren