History

          With long periods of Thailand’s History, according to evidences and studies, Sukhothai was the first kingdom of Thailand.  At that time, an early Thai script was invented by King Ramkhamhaeng, the great king of Sukhothai, and there also were records about events in the king’s reign.  After Sukhothai period, the new kingdoms arose that are Ayuthaya, Thonburi and Rattanakosin which is the present kingdom of Thailand.  Each period owns its important historical events and interesting cultural changes.

          In Sukhothai period, King Sri Indraditya founded Sukhothai in 1238 governed by the monarchy system.  The glorious era was in the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great and after his death, it came to the fall of Sukhothai Kingdom.

          In Ayuthaya Period, King U Thong founded the kingdom in 1350, and the kingdom then became powerful in politics and economy of Southeast Asia.  Ayuthaya became stronger by firmly gathering groups of Thai and connecting to foreign countries such as Portugal, France, Netherlands, China, and Japan.  In 1569, Ayuthaya’s glories fell to Burmese, then King Naresuan regained the city’s independence and expanded more territories.  In the era of King Narai was the rise of international relations, but later because of the big war, Ayuthaya Kingdom was destroyed by Burmese troops in 1767.  That was the end of Ayuthaya period.

          After the destruction of Ayuthaya period, King Taksin collected his troops to defeat Burmese troops and chose Thonburi as the new capital.  After his death, King Yot Fa (Rama I) founded Chakri dynasty and decided to move the capital to Bangkok, so it was beginning of Rattanakosin period.

          King Rama I was the first king of Rattanakosin.  In the early period, there was an invasion from Western countries.  The kings at that time solved the problems by trading and making agreements with the Western countries for preserving the independence even the country lost some territories.

          In 1932, Thailand had a big change of the country’s government system, from the absolute monarchy system to the present democratic system with the King as the Head of State.