Prasat Thong
Encyclopedia
King Prasat Thong (reigned 1629-1656) was the first king of Prasat Thong dynasty, the 4th dynasty of Ayutthaya kingdom
. He was the Defense minister (ออกญากลาโหม) of King Songtham
.
It is said that Prasat Thong was a secret son of King Ekathotsarot and a villager. He came to power by a coup, murdering a young king.
Jeremias Van Vliet's History of Siam tells his story in great details. He was known as an able leader but also brutal. As he rose by violence, he then crushed any suspects who could be a threat. Many officials and even some royal relatives of previous reign were arrested and executed with high treason charge.
As a powerful and decisive leader, he promulgated many criminal laws and sometimes, according to Van Vliet, he even executed prisoners by himself.
Siam was a major trading center attracting Europeans merchants. Prasat Thong was interested in controlling the towns in the southern peninsular, perhaps, because of profits from oversea trade. Ayutthaya lost northern subjugated principalities such as Chiangmai.
His son, Narai
, eventually began a significant relationship with European countries.
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...
. He was the Defense minister (ออกญากลาโหม) of King Songtham
Songtham
Somdet Phra Boromma Trailokanat Songtham was the King of Ayutthaya from 1611 to 1628 of the House of Sukhōday. His reign was marked as prosperity after the First Fall of Ayutthaya and saw the commencement of trade with foreign nations especially the Dutch and the Japanese...
.
It is said that Prasat Thong was a secret son of King Ekathotsarot and a villager. He came to power by a coup, murdering a young king.
Jeremias Van Vliet's History of Siam tells his story in great details. He was known as an able leader but also brutal. As he rose by violence, he then crushed any suspects who could be a threat. Many officials and even some royal relatives of previous reign were arrested and executed with high treason charge.
As a powerful and decisive leader, he promulgated many criminal laws and sometimes, according to Van Vliet, he even executed prisoners by himself.
Siam was a major trading center attracting Europeans merchants. Prasat Thong was interested in controlling the towns in the southern peninsular, perhaps, because of profits from oversea trade. Ayutthaya lost northern subjugated principalities such as Chiangmai.
His son, Narai
Narai
Somdet Phra Narai or Somdet Phra Ramathibodi III was the king of Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688 and arguably the most famous Ayutthayan king. His reign was the most prosperous during the Ayutthaya period and saw the great commercial and diplomatic activities with foreign nations including the...
, eventually began a significant relationship with European countries.