Period Two

Ayuthaya Kingdom

Downfall of Ayuthaya

It is controversial if Ayuthaya after the accession of Ekhathat had ever the chance to survive. But, as in Burma a new dynasty of warrior kings claimed the throne and united Burma, the Burmese expressed their interest in Siam by invading it in 1759 AD a first time under King Alaungsaya. He was able to take the regions of Mergui, Tavoy and Tenesserim. In April 1760 AD, Ayuthaya was under siege and only survived as the Burmese king wounded himself fatally handling a cannon.

In 1763 AD, the second son of King Alaungsaya, Mongra invaded Chiang Mai and captured Luang prabang. Only two years later, he turned his interest again on Siam and quickly occupied much of the northern, southern and western parts of Siam. The Burmese were nearly stopped twice on their way to Ayuthaya, the first time in December 1765 AD as the English Captain Ponney gave them a beating at Thonburi and the second time at the village of Bang Rayan. But both times King Ekhathat showed his complete incompetence as he did not accredit much more competent people than him with his support.

In February 1766, the Burmese began their final siege of Ayuthaya. During this time, General Chao Phraya Taksin and 500 of his troops were able to flee the city and built a resistance at Chantaburi. But for Ayuthaya any help came to late as on April 7, 1767 King Ekhathat fled and offered surrender of the city in the weak hope of becoming a vassal state of Burma as 198 years earlier. But the Burmese King Mongra had learnt his part of history and so he knew that he had to destroy the Siamese and not cutting deals of surrender with them. King Mongra continued of bombing Ayuthaya for more than one month until he thought that he had fulfilled his target, filled his pockets and destroyed the Siamese. then he returned to Burma and left behind a tormented Ayuthaya.