Period Two

Ayuthaya Kingdom

The First Fall of Ayuthaya

In 1563 AD, the successor of Tabinshweti, King Bhueng Noreng invaded for another time Ayuthaya Kingdom after he had taken in 1556 AD Chiang Mai. First he seized the towns of Sawankalok and Pijai and then he turned his full attention on the capital. As the troops of 200,000 Burmese and vassal state warriors clearly outnumber the Thais, King Chakraphat has no other option than to agree on the Burmese peace conditions.1565 AD proved to be a tragic year for Thai history, as King Chakraphat and his previous right hand man Khun Pirentoratep (Prince Maha Thammaracha) have different interests, clashed and worked into different directions.

The reason had been the attempt of King Chakraphat to marry his daughter to the Laos King. As this was not in the interest of Khun Pirentoratep, him and his wife kidnapped the Princess. King Chakraphat who had already suffered a lot through loosing early his wife Suryothai was now no longer interested in the throne and gave it over to his son Mahin. The situation finally escalated that Khun Pirentoratep turned his back on the king as he saw himself as righteous heir and searched for the friendship of the Burmese king Bhueng Noreng.

King mahin himself proved as completely incompetent to lead the kingdom and so King Chakraphat returned in 1568 AD to the throne.

As in 1568 AD King Bhueng Noreng invaded again and this time he got support from Khun pirentoratep who turned his soldiers from Phitsanulok against the warriors of Ayuthaya and so for the first time Thais against Thais. One month later in January 1569 AD as the Burmese took Ayuthaya under siege, King Chakraphat died and so King Mahin ascended one more time the throne. The capital fell after seven months but only because the traitor Pijai Chakri who weakened the defence system at certain points so that the Burmese were able to gain entrance.

The motives of Khun Pirentoratep have never become clear to ascend the throne of Siam 21 years after he had successfully led a palace revolt. It is indeed clear that he had never thought of giving in to King Bhueng Noreng as he directly started to rebuild the kingdom after King Bhueng Noreng had returned to Burma with previous King mahin as war prisoner and a large booty. As a big strategist and tactician that he had proved that he was, Khun Pirentoratep might have really thought that he acted in the best interest of the kingdom.

As a result of his betrayal indeed he became King Maha thammaracha and his son who had finally returned from Burma, Prince naresuan, ascended to the position as governor of Phitsanulok.