The first Thai or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the Buddhist Sukhothai Kingdom, which was founded in 1238. Sukhothai achieved independence from the kingdom of Cambodia.
Thai historians consider the foundation of the Sukhothai kingdom as the beginning of their nation because little was known about the kingdoms prior to 1238. Though historians agree that Thai history began before Sukhothai, the foundation of Sukhothai is still a celebrated event.
The Siamese warrior king Naresuan (1555/1556- April 25, 1605) is remembered as a heroic figure in Thai history for his military victories and contributions to the country's political and cultural development. One of his most famous victories was in the Battle of Nong Sarai, where he defeated the Burmese army in an elephant battle. This event is still celebrated today as a symbol of Thai strength and unity.
Thai historians consider the foundation of the Sukhothai kingdom as the beginning of their nation because little was known about the kingdoms prior to 1238. Though historians agree that Thai history began before Sukhothai, the foundation of Sukhothai is still a celebrated event.
 |
| Approximate extent of Sukhothai's zone of influence, late 13th century. By Nicolas Eynaud |
The Siamese warrior king Naresuan (1555/1556- April 25, 1605) is remembered as a heroic figure in Thai history for his military victories and contributions to the country's political and cultural development. One of his most famous victories was in the Battle of Nong Sarai, where he defeated the Burmese army in an elephant battle. This event is still celebrated today as a symbol of Thai strength and unity.
Naresuan is also known for his efforts to promote Buddhism and cultural traditions, including the establishment of a system of education and the promotion of traditional Thai martial arts. His reign marked a significant period of growth and prosperity for Thailand, and he is considered one of the greatest kings in Thai history.
The country's designation as Siam by Westerners likely came from the Portuguese. Portuguese chronicles noted that the Borommatrailokkanat, king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, sent an expedition to the Malacca Sultanate at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in 1455.
In 1511 Duke Afonso de Albuquerque dispatched Duarte Fernandes as an envoy to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, known then to Europeans as the "Kingdom of Siam".
Ayutthaya became in the 16th century one of the most prosperous cities in Southeast Asia. Contact with the British East India Company and the Dutch led to even more economic growth as lucrative trade routes were established.
In 1767, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was brought down by invading Burmese armies, its capital burned, and the territory split. Despite its complete defeat and occupation by Burma, Siam made a rapid recovery. The resistance to Burmese rule was led by a noble of Chinese descent, Taksin, a capable military leader.
Taksin the Great was crowned king of the newly established Thonburi Kingdom in Siam's new capital Thonburi, present-day Thailand, on December 28, 1768.
The city of Rattanakosin, now known internationally as Bangkok, was founded on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River by Phutthayotfa Chulalok (known as Rama I) in 1782.
Treaties of friendship and trade in 1826 and 1855 established Britain as the paramount power in the region and opened Siam to foreign commerce.
The Queen of Siam, Sunanda Kumariratana, drowned in 1880 as her subjects looked on because they were forbidden to touch her.
Ango-French diplomatic agreements of 1896 and 1906 established Siam as a neutral buffer kingdom between British Burma and French Indochina.
The Thai flag shows five horizontal stripes in the colors red, white, blue, white and red, with the central blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the other four. The design was adopted on September 28, 1917. The colors are said to stand for nation-religion-king, red stands for the blood spilled to protect Thailand’s land and people, white for the religion of Buddhism, and blue for the nation's monarchy.
Siam joined World War 1 when it was almost over. They sent men all the way to France to fight alongside Allies. A total of 19 Siamese died, nearly all by disease or accidents. Siam joined the victory parade and was awarded confiscated German ships.
In 1511 Duke Afonso de Albuquerque dispatched Duarte Fernandes as an envoy to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, known then to Europeans as the "Kingdom of Siam".
Ayutthaya became in the 16th century one of the most prosperous cities in Southeast Asia. Contact with the British East India Company and the Dutch led to even more economic growth as lucrative trade routes were established.
 |
| Siamese envoys presenting letter to Pope Innocent XI, 1688 |
In 1767, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was brought down by invading Burmese armies, its capital burned, and the territory split. Despite its complete defeat and occupation by Burma, Siam made a rapid recovery. The resistance to Burmese rule was led by a noble of Chinese descent, Taksin, a capable military leader.
Taksin the Great was crowned king of the newly established Thonburi Kingdom in Siam's new capital Thonburi, present-day Thailand, on December 28, 1768.
 |
| Taksin enthrone himself as the king of Siam, 1767-12-28. By Pitt Wikipedia |
The city of Rattanakosin, now known internationally as Bangkok, was founded on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River by Phutthayotfa Chulalok (known as Rama I) in 1782.
Treaties of friendship and trade in 1826 and 1855 established Britain as the paramount power in the region and opened Siam to foreign commerce.
The Queen of Siam, Sunanda Kumariratana, drowned in 1880 as her subjects looked on because they were forbidden to touch her.
Ango-French diplomatic agreements of 1896 and 1906 established Siam as a neutral buffer kingdom between British Burma and French Indochina.
The Thai flag shows five horizontal stripes in the colors red, white, blue, white and red, with the central blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the other four. The design was adopted on September 28, 1917. The colors are said to stand for nation-religion-king, red stands for the blood spilled to protect Thailand’s land and people, white for the religion of Buddhism, and blue for the nation's monarchy.
Siam joined World War 1 when it was almost over. They sent men all the way to France to fight alongside Allies. A total of 19 Siamese died, nearly all by disease or accidents. Siam joined the victory parade and was awarded confiscated German ships.
Siam was occupied by Japan during World War II. The puppet Thai government declared war against the United States and Great Britain on January 25, 1942 in a move to support its Japanese allies
During World War II, Siam suffered a rice shortage due to the war and floods. To reduce domestic rice consumption, the Siamese government promoted eating noodles instead, which inadvertently led to the miracle of pad thai.
Siam officially changed its name to Thailand for the second time on May 11, 1949. The name had been in use since 1939 but was reverted in 1945.
The word "Thai" comes from the ethnic group in the center of Thailand.
Although nominally a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, a coup in May 2014 established Thailand as a de facto military dictatorship. The National Council for Peace and Order has led the country since.
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an European country.
A 2015 survey found that 94% of people in Thailand are religious, making it the most religious country in the world— China is the least with 7%.
About 93.5% of the Thai population follow the Buddhist religion. The remaining 6.5% comprises of Muslims, Hindus, Christians and others.
The country has about 35,000 temples. A tourist must be dressed modestly while visiting any Thai temple – no shorts or sleeveless shirts!
The head is considered very important in Thailand, and Thai culture forbids touching another person's head.
The combined length of Thailand's coastline is 3219km long.
The Hollywood film The King and I was never shown in Thailand because it was felt that the movie was derogatory to the King.
Rice is the most important crop in the country and Thailand had long been the largest quantity of rice to other countries, until recently falling behind both India and Vietnam.
Thailand has more than 5,000 elephants, though more than half of them are domesticated. A hundred or so years ago, Thailand had about 100,000 elephants, a fifth of them wild.
Thailand used to have 23 types of Siamese cats originally, but now there are only six.
A Thai bride is traditionally given a pair of Siamese cats for good luck at her wedding.
Thailand's attractions include its bird life ans a tenth of all bird species call Thailand home. In fact, Thailand has more birds than the combined land mass of Europe and America.
Logging is completely banned in Thailand because over the last century, Thailand has lost three quarters of her forests.
Thailand's national flower is the orchid and there are over 1,500 species of orchids growing in Thai forests. Thailand is one of the world's largest orchid exporters.
Source Newsgram
During World War II, Siam suffered a rice shortage due to the war and floods. To reduce domestic rice consumption, the Siamese government promoted eating noodles instead, which inadvertently led to the miracle of pad thai.
Siam officially changed its name to Thailand for the second time on May 11, 1949. The name had been in use since 1939 but was reverted in 1945.
The word "Thai" comes from the ethnic group in the center of Thailand.
Although nominally a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, a coup in May 2014 established Thailand as a de facto military dictatorship. The National Council for Peace and Order has led the country since.
FUN THAILAND FACTS
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an European country.
A 2015 survey found that 94% of people in Thailand are religious, making it the most religious country in the world— China is the least with 7%.
About 93.5% of the Thai population follow the Buddhist religion. The remaining 6.5% comprises of Muslims, Hindus, Christians and others.
The country has about 35,000 temples. A tourist must be dressed modestly while visiting any Thai temple – no shorts or sleeveless shirts!
 |
| Chinese Maitreya temple in rural Chiang Rai Province. By Douglas Perkins |
The head is considered very important in Thailand, and Thai culture forbids touching another person's head.
The combined length of Thailand's coastline is 3219km long.
The Hollywood film The King and I was never shown in Thailand because it was felt that the movie was derogatory to the King.
Rice is the most important crop in the country and Thailand had long been the largest quantity of rice to other countries, until recently falling behind both India and Vietnam.
Thailand has more than 5,000 elephants, though more than half of them are domesticated. A hundred or so years ago, Thailand had about 100,000 elephants, a fifth of them wild.
Thailand used to have 23 types of Siamese cats originally, but now there are only six.
A Thai bride is traditionally given a pair of Siamese cats for good luck at her wedding.
Thailand's attractions include its bird life ans a tenth of all bird species call Thailand home. In fact, Thailand has more birds than the combined land mass of Europe and America.
Logging is completely banned in Thailand because over the last century, Thailand has lost three quarters of her forests.
Thailand's national flower is the orchid and there are over 1,500 species of orchids growing in Thai forests. Thailand is one of the world's largest orchid exporters.
Source Newsgram
No comments:
Post a Comment