Prince Ramesuan
Encyclopedia
Phra Ramesuan was a Siamese prince and military commander during the Ayutthaya period
in the 16th century. He was a son of Prince Thianracha (later King Maha Chakkraphat) and Suriyothai, thus he was a member of the Suphannaphum Dynasty. He was the first of five children: his younger brother Mahin (later King Mahinthrathirat
) and three sisters Sawatdirat
(who married Maha Thammaracha
of Phitsanulok
), Boromdilok and Thepkassatri. After the Burmese–Siamese war of 1563 he was taken as a prisoner of war
, and died in captivity.
of Siam. During the war of 1548 with Burma, Ramesuan together with the King, the Queen, Prince Mahin and Princess Boromdhilok left the walls of the city on their war elephants to engage the Burmese forces led by King Tabinshwehti
of Pegu in battle. In the combat with the Viceroy of Prome both his mother and his sister lost their lives. It was recorded in Siamese history that it was Ramesuan who returned his mother's lifeless body to the capital. After a failed siege of the capital city
, Tabinshwehti and his forces decided to retreat northward near Mae Sot
.
Ramesuan and Maha Thammaracha was ordered to pursue the retreating forces, costing many Burmese lives. Soon the Burmese decided to stand ground and ambush the Siamese forces near Kamphaeng Phet
, by dividing their forces on two sides of the road and outflanking Ramesuan's forces. As a result Ramesuan and Maha Thammaracha was captured by the Burmese. This prompted Maha Chakkraphat to negotiate a peace with Tabinshwehti, which resulted in the turning over of two great war elephants and a cease fire. Ramesuan and Thammaracha was released and the Burmese was allowed to retreat unmolested. After the war, the Prince was part of the party inside the Royal court that favoured the dismantling of the walls of the cities of Suphanburi
, Lopburi
and Nakhon Nayok, this was implemented as a way of depriving a future Burmese invasion with a fortified stronghold, only a day's march from the capital.
. A symbol of prestige as well as honour, their discovery was celebrated by the kingdom, as a sign of the king's righteousness and power. In 1563, Bayinnaung (who succeeded Tabinshwehti in 1551) upon hearing of this news, decided to use the elephants as a pretext for an invasion, by requesting for two of Maha Chakkraphat's white elephants. The 'war party' led by Prince Ramesuan urged the king not to fulfill the request and face certain invasion instead.
Following the advice of his heir, Maha Chakkarphat refused and soon enough Bayinnaung invaded Siam in the war of 1563. Unlike the previous invasion the Burmese invaded from the north with the intention of disabling Siamese power in the various cities of the north. Firstly the Burmese invaded and captured Chiang Mai
the capital of the independent Kingdom of Lanna, and use her as base in which to descend upon Siam. Soon the towns of Sawankhalok, Sukhothai
and Phichai fell to the invading forces. After holding out for many months the city of Phitsanulok surrendered to the Burmese forces, Ramesuan's brother-in-law, Maha Thammaracha decided swear his allegiance to Bayinnaung and threw his support behind the Burmese.
The city of Ayutthaya was able to withstand the siege by Burmese forces for many months. However with the help of Portuguese
mercenaries, Bayinnaung was able to constantly bombard the city with cannon fire and flaming projectiles. The inhabitants of the city fearful of the noise and exhausted by the war, petitioned the king to surrender to the enemy and end their suffering. By this time Ramesuan and the war party had lost all credibility within the war council, seeing no other choice the king obliged. And thus Siam became a vassal of Burma, with this submission, Bayinnaung was able to create the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia
.
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...
in the 16th century. He was a son of Prince Thianracha (later King Maha Chakkraphat) and Suriyothai, thus he was a member of the Suphannaphum Dynasty. He was the first of five children: his younger brother Mahin (later King Mahinthrathirat
Mahinthrathirat
Somdet Phra Mahinthrathirat was the King of Ayutthaya kingdom in 1568 and again from 1568 to 1569. Mahinthrathirat was the last monarch of the Suphannabhum dynasty as the kingdom fell to the Burmese in 1569...
) and three sisters Sawatdirat
Wisutkasat
Phra Wisutkasat , was a Siamese Queen and Princess during the Ayutthaya period in the 16th century, born Phra Sawatdirat to Prince Thianracha and Suriyothai...
(who married Maha Thammaracha
Maha Thammaracha
Phra Maha Thammarachathirat or Somdet Phra Sanphet I or formerly known as Khun Phiren Thorathep was the first King of Ayutthaya kingdom of the Sukhothai dynasty. As a powerful Sukhothai noble, Pirenthorathep gradually rose to power...
of 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...
), Boromdilok and Thepkassatri. After the Burmese–Siamese war of 1563 he was taken as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, and died in captivity.
First war
In 1548 his father ascended the throne as King of Ayutthaya, he immediately became heir and UparajaUparaja
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:...
of Siam. During the war of 1548 with Burma, Ramesuan together with the King, the Queen, Prince Mahin and Princess Boromdhilok left the walls of the city on their war elephants to engage the Burmese forces led by King Tabinshwehti
Tabinshwehti
Tabinshwehti was a king who unified Burma in 1539 and known as the founder of the Second Burmese Empire.Tabinshwehti succeeded his father Mingyinyo as ruler of the Toungoo dynasty in 1530...
of Pegu in battle. In the combat with the Viceroy of Prome both his mother and his sister lost their lives. It was recorded in Siamese history that it was Ramesuan who returned his mother's lifeless body to the capital. After a failed siege of the capital city
Ayutthaya (city)
Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya...
, Tabinshwehti and his forces decided to retreat northward near Mae Sot
Mae Sot
- External links :* * : an audio documentary.* *...
.
Ramesuan and Maha Thammaracha was ordered to pursue the retreating forces, costing many Burmese lives. Soon the Burmese decided to stand ground and ambush the Siamese forces near Kamphaeng Phet
Kamphaeng Phet
Kamphaeng Phet is a town in northern Thailand, capital of the Kamphaeng Phet Province. It covers the complete tambon Nai Mueang of the Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district. As of 2005 it has a population of 30,114.-External links:...
, by dividing their forces on two sides of the road and outflanking Ramesuan's forces. As a result Ramesuan and Maha Thammaracha was captured by the Burmese. This prompted Maha Chakkraphat to negotiate a peace with Tabinshwehti, which resulted in the turning over of two great war elephants and a cease fire. Ramesuan and Thammaracha was released and the Burmese was allowed to retreat unmolested. After the war, the Prince was part of the party inside the Royal court that favoured the dismantling of the walls of the cities of Suphanburi
Suphanburi
Suphan Buri is a town in central Thailand, capital of the Suphan Buri Province. It covers the whole tambon Tha Philiang and parts of the tambon Rua Yai and Tha Rahat, all within the Mueang Suphan Buri district...
, Lopburi
Lopburi
Lopburi ) is the capital city of Lopburi Province in Thailand. It is located about 150 km north-east of Bangkok. As of 2006 it has a population of 26,500...
and Nakhon Nayok, this was implemented as a way of depriving a future Burmese invasion with a fortified stronghold, only a day's march from the capital.
Second war
Maha Chakkraphat after the war of 1548, led a massive hunt for wild elephants (for use in future conflicts), which led to the discovery of seven white elephantWhite elephant (pachyderm)
A white elephant is a rare kind of elephant, but not a distinct species. Although often depicted as snow white, their skin is normally a soft reddish-brown, turning a light pink when wet. They have fair eyelashes and toenails....
. A symbol of prestige as well as honour, their discovery was celebrated by the kingdom, as a sign of the king's righteousness and power. In 1563, Bayinnaung (who succeeded Tabinshwehti in 1551) upon hearing of this news, decided to use the elephants as a pretext for an invasion, by requesting for two of Maha Chakkraphat's white elephants. The 'war party' led by Prince Ramesuan urged the king not to fulfill the request and face certain invasion instead.
Following the advice of his heir, Maha Chakkarphat refused and soon enough Bayinnaung invaded Siam in the war of 1563. Unlike the previous invasion the Burmese invaded from the north with the intention of disabling Siamese power in the various cities of the north. Firstly the Burmese invaded and captured Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
the capital of the independent Kingdom of Lanna, and use her as base in which to descend upon Siam. Soon the towns of Sawankhalok, Sukhothai
Sukhothai (city)
Sukhothai ) was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom.Sukhothai is 12 km from the modern city of New Sukhothai.Sukhothai, which literally means "Dawn of Happiness" with an area of 6,596 km2., is about 427 km north of Bangkok and was founded in 1238. Sukhothai was the capital of the...
and Phichai fell to the invading forces. After holding out for many months the city of Phitsanulok surrendered to the Burmese forces, Ramesuan's brother-in-law, Maha Thammaracha decided swear his allegiance to Bayinnaung and threw his support behind the Burmese.
The city of Ayutthaya was able to withstand the siege by Burmese forces for many months. However with the help of Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
mercenaries, Bayinnaung was able to constantly bombard the city with cannon fire and flaming projectiles. The inhabitants of the city fearful of the noise and exhausted by the war, petitioned the king to surrender to the enemy and end their suffering. By this time Ramesuan and the war party had lost all credibility within the war council, seeing no other choice the king obliged. And thus Siam became a vassal of Burma, with this submission, Bayinnaung was able to create the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.