Borommatrailokanat
Encyclopedia
Somdet Phra Ramesuan Boromma Trailokanat Bopit (1431–1488) was the king of Ayutthaya from 1448 to 1488. He was also known as Phra Chao Chang Pueak for his gain of auspicious white elephant. His reign was also known for a massive reforms of Siamese bureaucracy and a successful campaign against Lanna
. He was also revered as one of the greatest monarchs of Siam.
Trailokanat reformed the Siamese bureaucracy – the system lasted well into the 19th century. He separated civil and military officials, giving them titular ranks and feudal ranks to create the hierarchy of nobility. He also established the circle of cities
ranging from the Inner Cities, Outer Cities, to Tributaries. Trailokanat also ceased the tradition of appointing royal princes to govern cities, as they had always clashed with each other in times of succession. Trailokanat promulgated the Ayutthayan Law in 1458.
The traditional ministries of Thailand - the Kalahom for the military and the Mahatthai for civilian duties - were introduced by Trailok.
Also in his reign in 1454, the Thai royal and noble titles
were first codified under the "field-power" system called sakdina . Fields (na) were reckoned in rai
(a plantation
, equal to 1600 square metres under metrificattion of traditional measures.) Petty officials were accorded a sakdi (power), of 1, 50 or 400, extending up to 100,000 rai for the uparat (heir-apparent). This system continued until the reforms of King Chulalongkorn at the beginning of the 20th century.
Trailokanat adopted the position of uparaja
, translated as "viceroy" or "underking", usually held by the king's senior son or full brother, in an attempt to regularize the succession to the throne — a particularly difficult feat for a polygamous dynasty. In practice, there was inherent conflict between king and uparaja, and frequent disputed successions.
tributary
system, and ranked the cities recognizing him as overlord.
Phitsanulok
and Nakhon Sri Thamarat
were listed among the eight great first-rank cities (Phraya maha nakhon).
Mueang Sing, Mueang In and Mueang Phrom were downgraded to be the level four cities (เมืองจัตวา) under Lopburi
.
The Lanna kingdom under Tilokaraj was so powerful that he led armies down south to subjugate Ayutthaya. In 1456, Yuttittira sought Tilokaraj’s support and led Lanna armies to capture Sukhothai and proceeded further towards Ayutthaya. Trailokanat, however, led Ayutthayan armies to successfully defeat the Lanna armies.
In 1461, Tilokarat and Yuttittira led the Lanna armies to invade Ayutthaya but without achieving fruitful results and retreated. Trailokanat then took this opportunity to retake Sukhothai. Trailokanat, upon seeing the seriousness of the wars, crowned himself as the king of Pitsanulok in 1463 – thus moving his base from Ayutthaya to Pitsanulok – to be able to cope with Lanna wars.
Trailokanat, accompanied by more than 2,000 followers, was the first Siamese king to be ordained as a monk. The ordination took place at Wat Chula Manee
in 1461.
In 1463, the Lanna invaded again. Trailokanat sent his son, Prince Indraracha, to crush the invading armies. Indraracha defeated Yuttittira but was in turn killed during battles against Nagara – Tilokaraj’s uncle.
Lanna then, however, was plunged by her own internal princely conflicts. In 1474, Trailokanat finally expelled the Lanna out of his kingdom. Next year, Tilokaraj sought peace settlements.
In Phitsanulok, Trailokanat ordered the establishment of new temples, as well as the restoration of existing older ones. He ordered the construction a chedi and other buildings on the campus of Wat Ratchaburana
, for example.
) as the Uparaja and King of Sukhothai. The title "King of Sukhothai" then became a title for Ayutthayan Crown Prince. However, upon Trailokanat's death in 1488, his two sons inherited the two kingdoms, thus separating the union once again.
Among the institutions named for Trailokanat include:
Lanna
The Kingdom of Lanna was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the people of Lanna, the Tai Yuan people, had begun long before as successive Tai Yuan kingdoms preceded Lanna...
. He was also revered as one of the greatest monarchs of Siam.
King of Sukhothai
Prince Ramesuan was born in 1431 to King Borommaracha Thirat II or Chao Sam Phraya and his queen from the Kingdom of Sukhothai. He became the Uparaja (lit. Vice-king of crown prince) in 1438. When his cousin, Maha Dhammaracha IV of Sukhothai died in 1438, Ramesuan was then technically the king of Sukhothai – though he was too young to be crowned. Upon reaching majority, Borommaracha II sent Ramesuan to Pitsanulok to assume the Sukhothai throne.Reforms
Boormmaracha II died in 1448, Prince Ramesuan was then crowned as the king of Ayutthaya – thus a personal union between Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.Trailokanat reformed the Siamese bureaucracy – the system lasted well into the 19th century. He separated civil and military officials, giving them titular ranks and feudal ranks to create the hierarchy of nobility. He also established the circle of cities
Mandala (Southeast Asian history)
Mandala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". The mandala is a model for describing the patterns of diffuse political power in early Southeast Asian history when local power was more important...
ranging from the Inner Cities, Outer Cities, to Tributaries. Trailokanat also ceased the tradition of appointing royal princes to govern cities, as they had always clashed with each other in times of succession. Trailokanat promulgated the Ayutthayan Law in 1458.
The traditional ministries of Thailand - the Kalahom for the military and the Mahatthai for civilian duties - were introduced by Trailok.
Also in his reign in 1454, the Thai royal and noble titles
Thai royal and noble titles
Thai royal and noble titles are the royal and noble styles signifying relationship to the King introduced by King Trailokanat, who reigned 1448 to 1488. The system is rooted in the Thai language equivalent of feudalism, .It is somewhat similar to that of peerage, but is complicated and usually not...
were first codified under the "field-power" system called sakdina . Fields (na) were reckoned in rai
Rai (area)
A rai is a unit of area, equal to 1,600 square metres , used for measuring land area. Its current size is precisely derived from the metre, but is neither part of nor recognized by the modern metric system, the International System ....
(a plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, equal to 1600 square metres under metrificattion of traditional measures.) Petty officials were accorded a sakdi (power), of 1, 50 or 400, extending up to 100,000 rai for the uparat (heir-apparent). This system continued until the reforms of King Chulalongkorn at the beginning of the 20th century.
Trailokanat adopted the position of uparaja
Uparaja
Uparaja or Ouparath, also Ouparaja , was a royal title reserved for the vice royal in the Buddhist dynasties in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos and Thailand as well as some of their minor tributary kingdoms.-Burma:...
, translated as "viceroy" or "underking", usually held by the king's senior son or full brother, in an attempt to regularize the succession to the throne — a particularly difficult feat for a polygamous dynasty. In practice, there was inherent conflict between king and uparaja, and frequent disputed successions.
Tributary relationships of Cities
In 1468, Trailok adopted a Mandala-styleMandala (Southeast Asian history)
Mandala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". The mandala is a model for describing the patterns of diffuse political power in early Southeast Asian history when local power was more important...
tributary
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
system, and ranked the cities recognizing him as overlord.
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
and Nakhon Sri Thamarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat kingdom
Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom was one of the major constituent city states of the Siamese kingdoms of Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya and controlled a big part of the Malay peninsula...
were listed among the eight great first-rank cities (Phraya maha nakhon).
Mueang Sing, Mueang In and Mueang Phrom were downgraded to be the level four cities (เมืองจัตวา) under Lopburi
Lopburi Province
Lop Buri is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri and Nakhon Sawan.-Geography:...
.
Expedition to Malacca
In 1455, Trailokanat sent Siamese to the Sultanate of Malacca. The Siamese had been suspicious of the sultanate since its conversion to Islam. The expedition was mentioned in Portuguese chronicles, written several years later, as not of great significance.Wars with Lanna
Yuttittira – a Sukhothai royalty and Trailokanat’s relative - was a close childhood friend of Trailokanat. Trailokanat himself promised him the title of Uparaja. However, after Trailokanat’s reformes, Yuttittira ended up in the title of the Governor of Pichit. Yuttittira also claimed to be the rightful king of Sukhothai.The Lanna kingdom under Tilokaraj was so powerful that he led armies down south to subjugate Ayutthaya. In 1456, Yuttittira sought Tilokaraj’s support and led Lanna armies to capture Sukhothai and proceeded further towards Ayutthaya. Trailokanat, however, led Ayutthayan armies to successfully defeat the Lanna armies.
In 1461, Tilokarat and Yuttittira led the Lanna armies to invade Ayutthaya but without achieving fruitful results and retreated. Trailokanat then took this opportunity to retake Sukhothai. Trailokanat, upon seeing the seriousness of the wars, crowned himself as the king of Pitsanulok in 1463 – thus moving his base from Ayutthaya to Pitsanulok – to be able to cope with Lanna wars.
Trailokanat, accompanied by more than 2,000 followers, was the first Siamese king to be ordained as a monk. The ordination took place at Wat Chula Manee
Wat Chula Manee
Wat Chula Manee is a Buddhist temple in Ban Wat Chula Manee, Tha Thong Subdistrict, Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand-History:Wat Chula Manee is the oldest standing temple in Phitsanulok Province. It was built in the Sukhothai era....
in 1461.
In 1463, the Lanna invaded again. Trailokanat sent his son, Prince Indraracha, to crush the invading armies. Indraracha defeated Yuttittira but was in turn killed during battles against Nagara – Tilokaraj’s uncle.
Lanna then, however, was plunged by her own internal princely conflicts. In 1474, Trailokanat finally expelled the Lanna out of his kingdom. Next year, Tilokaraj sought peace settlements.
In Phitsanulok, Trailokanat ordered the establishment of new temples, as well as the restoration of existing older ones. He ordered the construction a chedi and other buildings on the campus of Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Ratchaburana, Phitsanulok
Wat Ratchaburana is a Buddhist temple in Phitsanulok, Thailand.-Geography:Wat Ratchaburana lies in the center of Phitsanulok, on the west bank of the Nan River, and to the south of the main temple of the province, Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan...
, for example.
Legacy
In 1485, Trailokanat appointed his son Prince Chaiyachetta (later Ramathibodi IIRamathibodi II
Somdet Phra Chettathiraj or Somdet Phra Ramathibodi II was the King of Sukhothai from 1485 and King of Ayutthaya from 1491 to 1529. His reign was marked by the first Western Contact with the Portuguese.-King of Sukhothai:Prince Chettathiraj was the youngest of Trailokanat's three sons...
) as the Uparaja and King of Sukhothai. The title "King of Sukhothai" then became a title for Ayutthayan Crown Prince. However, upon Trailokanat's death in 1488, his two sons inherited the two kingdoms, thus separating the union once again.
Among the institutions named for Trailokanat include:
- Fort Somdetphra Boromma Trailokanat (Royal Thai Army Base) in Samo KhaeSamo KhaeSamo Khae is a subdistrict in the Mueang Phitsanulok District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.-Geography:The topography of Samo Khae is fertile lowlands. The subdistrict is bordered to the north by Don Thong, to the east by Wang Thong of Amphoe Wang Thong, to the south by Wang Phikun of Amphoe...
, Phitsanulok ProvincePhitsanulok ProvincePhitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
.