Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Golden Age of Siam
Several Thai principalities in the Mekong valley united in the 13th and 14th centuries to
create Sukhothai (Land of Rising Happiness). Thai princes wrested control of the territory
from the Khmers, whose all-powerful empire at Angkor was slowly disintegrating. Suk-
hothai is considered by the Thais to be the first true Thai kingdom. It was annexed by Ay-
uthaya in 1376, by which time a national identity of sorts had been forged.
The Thai kings of Ayuthaya grew very powerful in the 14th and 15th centuries, taking
over the former Khmer strongholds in present-day central Thailand. Even though the Kh-
mers had been their adversaries in battle, the Thai kings of Ayuthaya adopted many facets
of Khmer culture, including court customs and rituals, language and culture. The cultural
haemorrhage that took place with the sacking of Angkor in 1431 continues to strain rela-
tions between the two neighbours. Some Thais claim Angkor as their own, while the Kh-
mers bemoan the loss of Khmer kickboxing, classical Khmer dance and Khmer silk to the
all-powerful Thai brand.
Angkor's loss was Ayuthaya's gain and it went on to become one of the greatest cities in
Asia. It's been said that London, at the time, was a village in comparison. The kingdom
sustained an unbroken monarchical succession through 34 reigns from King U Thong (r
1350-69) to King Ekathat (r 1758-67).
By naming his kingdom Lan Xang Hom Khao, Fa Ngum was making a statement. Elephants
were the battle tanks of Southeast Asian warfare, so to claim to be the kingdom of a million ele-
phants was to issue a warning to surrounding kingdoms: 'Don't mess with the Lao!'
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