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Thailand Ayutthaya: The Final Phase
After a bloody period of dynastic struggle, Ayutthaya entered
into what has been called its golden age, a relatively peaceful
episode in the second quarter of the eighteenth century when art,
literature, and learning flourished. Ayutthaya continued to
compete with Vietnam for control of Cambodia, but a greater
threat came from Burma, where a new dynasty had subdued the Shan
states.
In 1765 Thai territory was invaded by three Burmese armies
that converged on Ayutthaya. After a lengthy siege, the city
capitulated and was burned in 1767. Ayutthaya's art treasures,
the libraries containing its literature, and the archives housing
its historic records were almost totally destroyed, and the city
was left in ruins.
The country was reduced to chaos. Provinces were proclaimed
independent states under military leaders, rogue monks, and cadet
members of the royal family. The Thai were saved from Burmese
subjugation, however, by an opportune Chinese invasion of Burma
and by the leadership of a Thai military commander, Phraya
Taksin.
Data as of September 1987
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