Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya was known among 17th century foreign mariners under the Persian epithet of Shahr-e Nav. Utilising parts of the Ship of Sulayman, and works by European explorers, the writer unfolds the circumstances, influences and impact resulting from contacts between the Safavid and Siamese Kingdoms and the visible effects in present-day Thailand.

This book deals with the early modern Dutch-Thai interactions as told by the merchants of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) who concurrently tried to find a balance between their 'partnership' with and 'sense of differences' from the Thai elite.

The first full history of a great commercial and political center that rose in Asia over almost five centuries.

The ancient city of Ayutthaya or Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya the Thai capital for 417 years, is one of Thailand’s major Attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen in a city that was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong when the Thais were forced southwards by northern neighbours. During the period of Ayutthaya being the Thai capital, 33 Kings of different dynasties ruled the kingdom until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767.

Gale Researcher Guide for: The Ayutthaya Kingdom is selected from Gale's academic platform Gale Researcher. These study guides provide peer-reviewed articles that allow students early success in finding scholarly materials and to gain the confidence and vocabulary needed to pursue deeper research.

Part fact, part fiction, part myth, and part legend, this book brings to life the kingdom of Ayutthaya from its roots in the kingdom of Sukhothai to its eventual destruction by the Burmese in the year 1767. It is the turbulent story of both the kings and their kingdom, from its birth to its downfall. Robert Smith retells the history of Ayutthaya by reimagining and dramatizing the exploits of its rulers, building his account around a framework of documentary evidence and hints in the historical record. Intrigues, honor, and deception wind through the tale as do ingenuity, determination, and the will to greatness that made Ayutthaya a major regional power for centuries. This account of the development of a nation—and the myths and legends that have gone with it—shows how Ayutthaya and its kings laid the foundation of modern-day Thailand. Highlights • Engages readers with its presentation of the history, myths, and legends of the Ayutthaya kingdom • Shows the development of cultural heritage, kingship, and governance of Thailand • Narrates the stories of the kings and ruling dynasties of Ayutthaya • Dramatizes famous figures and events in Ayutthaya history through dialogue, narration, and description

This book contains the first academic translations of key legal texts from the Ayutthaya era (1351–1767), along with an essay on the role of law in Thai history. The legal history of Southeast Asia has languished because few texts are accessible in translation. The Three Seals Code is a collection of Thai legal manuscripts surviving from the Ayutthaya era. The Palace Law, probably dating to the late fifteenth century, was the principal law on kingship and government. The Thammasat, a descendant of India's dharmasastra, stood at the head of the Code and gave it authority. Here these two key laws are presented in English translation for the first time along with detailed annotations and analyses of their content. The coverage of family arrangements, court protocol, warfare, royal women, and ceremonial conduct in the Palace Law presents a detailed portrayal of Siamese kingship, reaching beyond terms such as devaraja, thammaraja, and cakravartin. Close analysis of the Thammasat questions the assumption that this text has a long-standing and fundamental role in Thai legal practice. Royal lawmaking had a large and hitherto unappreciated role in the premodern Thai state. This book is an important contribution to Thai history, Southeast Asian history, and comparative legal studies.