Period Two

Ayuthaya Kingdom

King Trailok - A Time of Reforms

King Borommatrailokanat or in short Trailok was the first reformer of the empire. He structured the kingdom stricter hierarchical, including the introduction of nobility. There were seven different ranks of nobles which were the Pahayas, the Phras, the Luangs, the Khuns, the Muens, the Puns and finally as lowest class of nobility the Tanais. These ranks showed the efforts and awards gained for the kingdom, the rank of Chao Phaya was established later on. All of these ranks are not based on heredity so different from the prince or the princess which referred to the offspring of kings and princes. Additionally, as the ranks of nobility are awarded by the king, he took himself as well the right to withdraw these ranks in the case of misconduct. At the top of the social order, directly beyond him, the king established the rank of the uparaja which meant he determined at his own lifetime his successor. Still, conflicts about the throne succession should continue to exist.

King Trailok did not only structure the nobility in different ranks but also the other civilians. This systemizing of the whole society promised more social discipline and made it easier to mobilise manpower.

The whole social system was legitimised as the sangha, the order of monks, was established as well under royal patronage and oversight.

This concept of social structure, called sakdina, have had their impact on the way of Thai thinking and in the Thai language. It is a fact that there was never a perfect and complete obedience thinking of all parts of the society but still the system proved successful. The social structures were strong and helped the kingdom to survive and the easy way to mobilise manpower made it possible that Ayuthaya expanded and dominated the region over a long time.

The new social system made every person register as a phrai with the local officials or as a nai for military services and the corvee system.The phrai could only change his overlord by giving up his free status and selling himself as a slave.

Laws connected with the rank of nobility were concerning the land possession. The king took himself the right to give or withdraw lands to nobles on his own discretion.

Further, King Trailok established administrative divisions and made his army more proficient after Khmer example.