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st_swithin
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10069
Nov 2002
time: 05:21
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Happy Birthday, Mr. Cornelius
 Attachment: newswk.jpg
This has been downloaded 299 time(s).
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st_swithin
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10069
Nov 2002
time: 05:21
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"I am not a crook!! I am not a crook!!"
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st_swithin
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10069
Nov 2002
time: 05:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Harry Seldon
It looks like him. |
Kinda looks like Silent Bob too.
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Asmodean
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Aarhus, Denmark
Aug 1999
time: 06:21
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Well, it's very intricate and complicated. First of all, the etnic composition of modern day Thailand is both Thai (whick I'll get into later), Khmer and Chinese. These are the main groupings, but there are others. What is today Thailand is actually a result of many years of colonial policies by the Thais and a few years of stupidity during the thirties and WWII which resulted in Thailand losing what is today Cambodia.
But to return to the ethnicity. Thailand was never really a unified country with set borders. Rather is was 5 or 6 kingdoms constantly expanding into each other. This meant that sometimes the Capital was a one location, sometimes at another. During the last 400 years, at least 4 cities have been capital of Thailand. But the sacking you refer to, Locutus, was done by the Burmese. The northern kingdom of Lanna was at that time dominated by the Burmese, and they were out to get the kingdom of Ayutthaya.
Timeline:
The Khmer period in Thailand last untill roughly 1200, when Sukhothai became the dominant kingdom. They had a brief but very prosperous time that lasted until 1321, when they lost a big part of their kingdom to the Lanna. Then some 30 years later, Ayutthaya emerges as the new capital of Siam (a name actually given to the area by the Chinese, but later adopted by the Siamese themselves).
For the next 170 years there is constant warfare between Siam and Lanna, always with Siam (Ayutthaya) having the upper hand. But in 1564, Lanna (now Burma controlled) invades Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is under Lanna control untill 1593 when they lose everything in the battle of Sarai.
Through the 1600's control of both Ayutthaya and Lanna is firmly in the hands of Ayutthaya, but in 1688 the strong king Narai dies. This leads to a revolution in Ayutthaya and the Burmese seize the opportunity and reestablishes control over Lanna. But worse is to come for Siam. In 1766, the Burmese take first Chiang Mai, and then march on towards Ayutthaya where the lay a siege. In 1767, they eventually sack and burn Ayutthaya. This leads to two things. First, the Siamese capital is moved to Thon Buri (inside modern day Bangkok) and second, the Siamese and the Lanna unite to drive the Burmese out of the combined Siam and Lanna territories. Lanna was independent until ca. 1800 when it was annexed by Siam.
After the sacking of Ayutthaya, the general who relocated the Capital became king. He made Siam into a regional power again within 10 years. Internal unrest, however led to his downfall, and another general, Chao Phraya Chakkri took over the reigns of power. He moves the capital across the river, founding what is today Bangkok, and then he was proclaimed king Rama 1, thus instigating the Chakkri dynasti, which continues to this day.
So yes, the Khmer was a dominant factor in Thailand, but it was a long time ago. There really is no telling what my wifes heritage is, since the Thai history is so chaotic.
Asmodean
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03-09-2003 22:45
Just joking. Yes it is my little one. 
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