History of Thailand

Welcome to Thailand!

First some interesting facts…

Did you know that…

• Thailand was the only Southeast Asian country that didn`t turned into a colony, unlike its neighbouring countries Laos, Cambodia and Burma.

• I`ve read the history of Thailand and was just amazed by the fact that the country has been through 19 military coups from 1932-2006! That`s just chaos!

• King Bhumibol, the current king of Thailand, has been the longest reigning current monarch worldwide.

• Thailand was known by the name, Siam until 1939.

History doesn`t necessarily need to be boring. When I read the history of Thailand, I found some interesting parts: cultural, military, political and social aspects.

So, I have divided the history into a timeline -- focusing on the main events which formed the country of Thailand.

Let`s get started!

Early Thai History

Before Christ (BC): 2nd or 3rd Century

The history of Thailand -- The Mon People -- Image credit: wikipedia.org

• The exciting Theravada Buddhism is introduced to the region by Indian Missionaries.

  It is said that the first group known to be impacted by Buddhism was the Mon people, originally from Burma. From the Mon, Buddism spread to other ethnic groups in the region, including the Thais.

After Christ (AC): 6th Century

• The Theravada Buddhist Dvaravati civilization occupies Northern Thailand. The people of Dvaravati used the ancient Mon language, but whether they were ethnically Mon is unknown.

8th Century

• Siam stands face to face with foreign control.

  Peninsular Thailand comes under the control of the Srivijaya Empire (ancient Malay kingdom), a Mahayana Buddhist state centered on Sumatra.

9th Century

• The Khmer Empire, based at Angkor, conquers Thailand. Lopburi becomes the Khmer`s headquarter in present Thailand.

  But in the 13th century -- The Khmer domination is weakened from various reasons: bad economy, conflicts, malaria, plague and other diseases.

1238

History of Thailand -- Sukhotai -- Image credit: travel.webshots.com

• The Thais in the upper Chao Phraya Valley capture a Khmer outpost at Sukhotai. They establish a Siam kingdom at Sukhotai.

1278-99 -- The History of Thailand begins?

• The reign of King Ramkhamhaeng.

  He seizes control of much of the Chao Phraya Valley and establishes the capital of the first kingdom of Siam at Sukhotai.

  Sukhothai is considered by most Thai historians to be the first true Thai kingdom.

  This is what King Ramkhamhaeng did for his country...

  • The Theravada Buddhism becomes state religion.

  • In 1283, King Ramkhamhaeng invents Thai written language.

  • King Ramkhamhaeng was also building Angkor-inspired temples that defined Thai art.

  When he died in 1299, his empire declined.

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  1351-1369

  History of Thailand -- Ayutthaya

  
  
  • The successor of Sukhotai kingdom, King Ramathibodi, founds the city of Ayutthaya.

    Ayutthaya creates a center for trade -- attracting European nations. By 1540 it rules most of the area of modern-day Thailand.

  1529-1785

  • Wars with Burma

  17th Century

  • Ayutthaya makes a comeback with foreign trade -- first with Portugal, then Spain, England and Holland.

  1767

  History of Thailand -- Muay Thai founder: Nai Kanom Tom -- Image credit: thaiboxingguide.com

  
  
  • Ayutthaya is recaptured by the Burmese, who burns it to the ground. The Burmese takes tens of thousands of prisoners and abandon the city to the jungle.

    Here`s something interesting which I picked up for you...

  • The legendary Muay Thai boxer, Nai Kanom Tom was one of the prisoners.

    Boxing matches between Thai prisoners and Burmese fighters were arranged, and Nai Kanom Tom was included in the group of Thai boxers. He defeated the Burmese boxers in a short time. The Burmese monarch then offered him his freedom if he could fight
    9 other Burmese champions. And so he did.

    The Burmese monarch was impressed, he was freed and went back to Ayutthaya.

    Today, his great victory is still well recognized by the Thai people.

    "National Muay Thai Day" is entitled on March 17 to honor Nai Kanom Tom. He is regarded as one of the great founders of Muay Thai.

    Wow... I would love to meet this guy who kicked some Burmese ass! Action!

  1768

  • Phraya Taksin (a general) is crowned king at his new capital of Thonburi.

    Within two years, he conquers the territories of Ayutthaya, Cambodia and Laos... Yep, history does really go back and forth, back and forth...!

  
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  1782 -- Beginning of Rama Period

  • But...

    General Taksin is ousted in a coup led by his military commander, Chao Phraya Chakri (Rama the 1st), and Taksin gets executed.

  1782-1809

  History of Thailand -- Rama the 1st -- Image credit: smcm.edu

  
  
  • The military commander, Chakri -- reigning as
    Rama the 1st -- moves the capital across the river to Bangkok and builds a new royal palace and monasteries in Ratanakosin.

  1809

  • Rama the 1st`s son, Rama the 2nd, succeeds the throne. He secures the Chakri dynasty which is still in place today.

  1824-1851

  • Rama the 3rd increases the trade between Siam and China.

    He defends Siam successfully against Vietnamese troops and conquers parts of Cambodia and almost all of Laos. Rama the 3rd also builds and restores some of the most important temples in Siam.

  What is the Chakri Dynasty?

  The Chakri Dynasty is the current ruling Royal House in today`s Thailand. The Chakri Kings started from Rama the 1st.

  1851-68

  • The reign of Rama the 4th, known as Mongkut.

    The intelligent King Mongkut speaks English almost fluently. He signs treaties with the British, then France and the US. By avoiding a close relationship with just one power, he protects Siam from colonisation. This is still a fact which makes Thai people proud.

    Unfortunately, King Mongkut got infected by malaria and died in October 1868.

  1868

  History of Thailand -- Rama the 5th -- Image credit: www.wa.austhai.biz

  
  
  • Mongkut`s son (Chulalongkorn), knows as Rama the 5th, takes the throne.

    King Chulalongkorn abolished slavery in Siam and started the work with the extensive railway system you find in Kanchanaburi (Western Thailand) today.

    In many Thai businesses, shops and restaurants you will find the portrait of King Chulalongkorn as respect for his highly appreciated deeds.

  The Crisis of 1893

  • The two most aggressive European powers, Britain and France, threaten Siam.

    Siam comes under increasing pressure from Western powers, especially during the Franco-Siamese Crisis. France claims Laos, and Chulalongkorn has to let go of almost half of Siam`s territory.

  1910-1925

  • The reign of Rama the 6th.

    Siam experiences an economic crisis under the 1920's and some people are not satisfied with the progress of Siam.

    A number of young officers plan a Coup d'état against the King. The coup fails and the young soldiers are arrested.

    King Rama the 6th introduces the obligation of public education and he also founds the famous Chulalongkorn University, named after his father.

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  June 24, 1932

  • During the reign of Rama the 7th.

    An army major, Luang Phibunsongkhram (Phibun) and lawyer Pridi Phanomyong lead a peaceful coup.

    This means that Siam`s absolute monarchy comes to an end, as the country is converted into a constitutional monarchy, based on the British model.

    The chaos (military coups) was about to begin...

  1938 -- Birth of Thailand

  • The major Phibun is elected as prime minister.

    A year later, in 1939, he renamed the country Siam to Thailand, meaning Land of the Free.

  December 8, 1941 - The Japanese Invasion

  History of Thailand -- Death railway in Kanchanaburi province in 1941 -- Image credit: roll-of-honour.com

  
  
  • Phibun`s government allies with Japan (after some resistance). The agreement is based on that Tokyo will help Thailand regain territories lost to the British and French.

    The lawyer Pridi secretly coordinates the resistance movement.

    The Japanese General Headquarters directs its army to build a railway from Thailand to Burma. 16,000 prisoner of wars and 100,000 Asian laborers die building the Death Railway. Most of the deaths are caused by sickness, exhaustion and malnutrition.

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  January 1946

  • The lawyer Pridi is elected prime minister.

  June 9, 1946

  History of Thailand -- Young King Ananda -- how was he killed? -- Image credit: wikipedia.org

  
  
  • King Rama 7th`s successor, King Ananda (Rama the 8th), is shot dead in his bed.

    Three palace servants are convicted, but the murder remains a mystery. One theory is that he shot himself while playing with his gun.

    If you ask me -- something`s not right in this theory...

    He is succeeded by his younger brother, King Bhumibol, the current king of Thailand (Rama the 9th).

  April 1948

  • Phibun becomes prime minister, and allies with the US against communism.

  1957

  • Phibun wins a general election. He is later overthrown by army chief
    General Sarit Thanarat -- an eager anti-communist. Phibun retired to exile in Japan where he died in 1964.

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  1963

  History of Thailand -- Master of corruption -- General Thanom -- Image credit: wikipedia.org

  
  
  • Sarit dies and is succeeded by General Thanom.

    Thanom continued Sarit`s pro-American and anti-communist strategies which helps to ensure massive US financial aid during the Vietnam war. His dictatorship is a symbol of massive corruption.

    The Thais, with US back-up, conduct military operations in Laos. Thailand allows US bases on its territories to be used for raids on both North Vietnam and Cambodia. By 1968, around 45,000 US military personnel are in Thailand.

  • It is believed that one of the results of this war is the beginning of prostitution - centered in Bangkok`s Patpong district.

    On the other hand, there`s some indication that prostitution excisted 1000s of years before the Vietnam war. It is said that Khmer emperors had thousands of concubines at their service.

  1971

  • Thanom stages a coup against his own government because he wanted to suppress communist infiltration...! (-- Who does that?!)

    Muslims insurgents of the Pattani National Liberation Front, a Thai separatist group composed of ethnic Malays -- gain hold in the south.

  1973

  • Student demonstrations, fighting for a return to constitutional government, lead to dissolution of Thanom`s regime. He leaves for exile.

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  Massacre of October 1976 -- The Brutal Part of History of Thailand

  History of Thailand -- October Massacre 1976 -- Image credit: dic.academic.ru

  
  
  • General Thanom is welcomed back by the Royal Family and returns to Thailand as a novice monk.

    This leads to angry student protests who are protesting the return of Thanom.

    Students demonstrate in Bangkok, and hundreds are brutally beaten by the police -- the military take control and suspend the constitution.

    Many activists went underground and joined armed communist insurgency groups hiding in the jungle of northeast.

  1977-1980

  • Kriangsak Chomanan becomes prime minister.

  1980-1988

  • Kriangsak is ready to retire in 1980, and his successor, General Prem Tinsulanonda becomes prime minster with broad popular and parliamentary support.

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  1988 - February 23, 1991

  • Prem`s successor, Chatichai Choonhavan, is overthrown in a coup. General Suchinda becomes prime minister.

  May 1992 -- Black May

  • Suchinda`s appointment as prime minister results in mass demonstrations.

    The demonstrators are brutally crushed, with hundreds killed or injured - this event is also known as Black May. But Suchinda is forced to resign when King Bhumibol expresses his disapproval.

  1997 - Asian Financial Crisis

  • The currency Thai baht collapses, causing a currency crisis across the region. OUCH!

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides Thailand a US 17.2 billion rescue package.

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  2001-2006

  History of Thailand -- Thaksin, prime minister -- Image credit: wikipedia.org

  
  
  • One of the Thailand`s wealthiest men, Thaksin Shinawatra, and his new party, Thai Rak Thai (Thai loves Thai), win the elections.

    But in September 2006 Thaksin`s government is overthrown in a bloodless army coup. A group of generals claim that Thaksin is corrupt, dividing the country and had disrespected Thailand`s monarchy.

    Thaksin went to exile for 18 months in different countries.

  2003

  Diseases enter the Kingdom of Thailand...

  • Outbreak of SARS virus.

  2004

  A massacre is reborn...

  • Violence in the Islamic southern provinces escalates with frequent attacks on police, soldiers, teachers and also Buddhist monks.

    Thailand's Muslims are largely concentrated in the four southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Songhkla and Yala. Many of the region`s inhabitants complain they`re at a disadvantage compared to the country`s Buddhist majority.

  More diseases...

  • Birdflu outbreak

  December 26, 2004

  • Mother Nature comes in with a devastating natural disaster.

    Remember the tsunami?

    The Indian Ocean tsunami hit the Andaman Coast, killing more than 200,000 people (locals + tourists) from 11 different countries. Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India were heavily affected.

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  December 2007

  • The Pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP) wins parliamentary elections.

    In February 2008 Thaksin and his wife, Pojaman, returns to Thailand to face corruption charges.

    Another sign of corruption...

    In July 2008, three of Thaksin's lawyers were sentenced to six months in jail for attempting to bribe officers at the Constitutional Court.

  May-December 2008

  History of Thailand -- Political demonstrations -- Image credit: latimes.com

  
  
  • The beginning of political demonstrations, is led by People`s Allicance of Democracy (PAD). The PAD`s followers are dressed in yellow, the color of King Bhumibol.

    The PAD demonstrators demands the resign of the former prime minister Samak Sundaravej -- well, can`t blame them -- he declared himself as a nominee for Thaksin.

    Stubborn Samak didn`t resign, so the PAD seizes the Government House. Samak was eventually resigned in September 2008 because of a court order.

    PAD`s protests escalates when Somchai Wongsawat (from PPP) is elected as prime minister by the Parliament.

    The demonstrations lead to occupation of the airports of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang, leaving thousands of tourists stranded.

    The protests ends when the Constitutional Court dissolves the PPP, and bans them from the political office. This means that Somchai was no longer the prime minister.

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  April 2009

  • Dressed in red -- the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protest group storms the Fourth East Asia Summit in Pattaya, forcing it to be cancelled. There`s even violent clashes in Bangkok.

    The new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva uses military force to end the protests. Abhisit declares a state of emergency in Bangkok and in five neighbouring countries.

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  So, what can we learn from the history of Thailand?

  I love Thailand. I love the beaches, the parties, the shopping and the great food -- but there`s more to it!

  From where I standing (remember that I`m not a historian or a politician. I`m just using my freedom of speech and common sense), Thailand has gone through a lot. From natural disasters to military coups.

  After reading this article, you`re probably thinking: "Why the h*** has there been so many coups?!"

  ... Is it because of the lack of democracy? Too much democracy? Too much dictatorship? Is it because of the constitutional monarchy?

  There are laws in Thailand -- no doubt about that.

  But why aren`t the laws being used?

  Where is that firm hand?

  • It seems that the endless military coups seems to be result of different ideologies of democracy + the lack of a stronger use of laws -- which can lead to instability. Instability + underpaid workers might lead to corruption. Corruption usually leads to coups.

    When it comes to democracy in Thailand -- every human being has their own definiton of democracy. Whoever steps into the role of Thailand`s prime minister, someone is always going to disagree with the choice. Democracy can`t satisfy each person -- it`s just the way it is.

    And corruption...

    Don`t get me started on this...

    Corruption does not only exist in Thailand. Corruption is everywhere -- existing on different levels -- from low to high. From invisible to visible corruption.

    The positive side of history of Thailand?

  • Even if the history of Thailand has shown a sense of instability -- Thailand has for centuries fought wars to regain territories, and to regain its honor. My impression is that the Ramas have done what they could to build today`s Thailand.

    And it has survived on what they considered as tactical strategies -- Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia that didn`t get colonized, right?

    Conclusion?

    Up to this day, we see proof of that instability in Thailand -- resulting in on-going political demonstrations. Will this result in another coup?

    Well, from where I`m sitting I think that The Land of Smiles has been fighting to do the right thing -- or what they believe is the right thing.

    ... Today, the problem seems to lie within the government

    ... and how it executes its power in Thailand.

    It doesn`t seem that the issues have arisen from its constitutional monarchy.

    In my country (Norway) we have a constitutional monarchy as well. But there are no such political issues here, neither in Great Britain, Sweden, Canada or other countries that holds a Parliament...

    The future question is: How are they going to stabilize the country...?

    ... If they don`t stabilize the country, the coups will probably continue...

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