Nine Armies War
Encyclopedia
The Nine Armies Wars, so called in Siamese
history because the Burmese came in nine armies, is also called the Burmese-Siamese War of 1785–1786. King Bodawpaya
of Burma pursued an ambitious campaign to expand his dominions into the lands of the former Ayutthaya Kingdom
. His armies attacked Lanna
in northern Siam, where the governor of Lampang
managed to partly halt the Burmese, waiting for the troops from Bangkok. As Phitsanulok
was captured, Rama I led an army to the north, himself.
In the south, Bodawpaya lie waiting at Chedi Sam Ong. The Front Palace
(Maha Sura Singhanat
)led his troops to the south the counter-attack the Burmese that came from Ranong
through Nakhon Si Thammarat
— the engagements occurred at Kanchanaburi
. The Burmese also attacked Thalang (Phuket), where to governor had just died. Chan, wife of the governor, and her sister Mook gathered people to defend Thalang against the Burmese. Today, Chan and Mook
are revered as the two heroines, Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Seesunthon.
The Burmese proceeded to capture Songkhla
. Upon hearing the news, the governors of Phatthalung Province
fled. However, a monk named Phra Maha headed a force of villagers against the Burmese. Phra Maha was later raised to Phraya Thukkharat by Rama I.
As his armies were destroyed, Bodawpaya retreated, only to renew attacks the next year (1786). Bodawpaya, this time, didn’t divide his troops but instead formed into single army. Bodawpaya passed through the Chedi Sam Ong and settled in Ta Din Dang. The Front Palace marched the Siamese forces to face Bodawpaya. The fighting was very short and Bodawpaya was quickly defeated. This short war was called “Ta Din Dang campaign
”.
The campaign is commemorated by a park established by the Royal Thai Army 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the town of Kanchanaburi
.
Siam (disambiguation)
Siam is an exonym that was used as the name of Thailand before 24 June 1939 and again from 8 September 1945 to 20 July 1949; see History of Thailand...
history because the Burmese came in nine armies, is also called the Burmese-Siamese War of 1785–1786. King Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya
Bodawpaya was the sixth king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Shwe Waing and later Badon Min, he was the fourth son of Alaungpaya, founder of the dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. He was proclaimed king after deposing his nephew Phaungkaza Maung Maung, son of his oldest brother...
of Burma pursued an ambitious campaign to expand his dominions into the lands of the former Ayutthaya Kingdom
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
. His armies attacked Lanna
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...
in northern Siam, where the governor of Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
managed to partly halt the Burmese, waiting for the troops from Bangkok. As 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...
was captured, Rama I led an army to the north, himself.
In the south, Bodawpaya lie waiting at Chedi Sam Ong. The Front Palace
Front Palace
Krom Phra Rajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol ) or the Front Palace was a royal title granted by the Siamese monarchy until the nineteenth century. The holder of the title of Front Palace was considered the heir to the throne and second only to the King. The title originated in the Ayutthaya period and...
(Maha Sura Singhanat
Maha Sura Singhanat
Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat was the younger brother of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty of Siam. As an Ayutthayan general, he fought alongside his brother in various campaigns against Burmese invaders and the local warlords...
)led his troops to the south the counter-attack the Burmese that came from Ranong
Ranong
Ranong ) is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Ranong Province and the Mueang Ranong district. The town covers completely the area of the tambon Khao Niwet . As of 2005 it has a population of 16,163, and has town status .The town is located at the estuary of the Pak Chan River, opposite...
through Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and the Nakhon Si Thammarat district. It is about south of Bangkok, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The city was the administrative center of southern Thailand during most of its history. ...
— the engagements occurred at Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi ) is a town in the west of Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327...
. The Burmese also attacked Thalang (Phuket), where to governor had just died. Chan, wife of the governor, and her sister Mook gathered people to defend Thalang against the Burmese. Today, Chan and Mook
Chan and Mook
Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon were styles awarded to Than Phuying Chan , wife of the then recently deceased governor, and her sister, Khun Muk , who defended Phuket Province in the late eighteenth century. According to popular belief, they repelled a five-week invasion by Burmaese in...
are revered as the two heroines, Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Seesunthon.
The Burmese proceeded to capture Songkhla
Songkhla
Songkhla is a city in the Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. As of 2006 it had a population of 75,048...
. Upon hearing the news, the governors of Phatthalung Province
Phatthalung Province
Phatthalung is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Satun and Trang.-Geography:...
fled. However, a monk named Phra Maha headed a force of villagers against the Burmese. Phra Maha was later raised to Phraya Thukkharat by Rama I.
As his armies were destroyed, Bodawpaya retreated, only to renew attacks the next year (1786). Bodawpaya, this time, didn’t divide his troops but instead formed into single army. Bodawpaya passed through the Chedi Sam Ong and settled in Ta Din Dang. The Front Palace marched the Siamese forces to face Bodawpaya. The fighting was very short and Bodawpaya was quickly defeated. This short war was called “Ta Din Dang campaign
Ta Din Dang campaign
“Ta Din Dang campaign” was a short conflict, occurring in 1786. As his armies were destroyed, Bodawpaya retreated, only to renew attacks next year . Bodawpaya, this time, did not divide his troops but instead formed into single army. Bodawpaya passed through the Chedi Sam Ong and settled in Ta Din...
”.
The campaign is commemorated by a park established by the Royal Thai Army 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the town of Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi ) is a town in the west of Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327...
.