A request that this article title be changed to Uthong is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
King U-thong[2][3] (Thai: พระเจ้าอู่ทอง; pronounced [ʔùː.tʰɔ̄ːŋ]) or King Ramathibodi I (Thai: สมเด็จพระรามาธิบดีที่ ๑; Rāmādhipatī; ⓘ, 1314–1369) was the first King of Ayutthaya, reigning from 1351[1] to 1369.
| Ramathibodi I รามาธิบดีที่ ๑ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Ayutthaya | |||||
 | |||||
| King of Siam | |||||
| Reign | 4 March 1351[1]–1369 | ||||
| Predecessor | Monarchy established | ||||
| Successor | Ramesuan | ||||
| King of Xiān's Ayodhya | |||||
| Reign | 1344–1351 | ||||
| Predecessor | Baramaraja | ||||
| Successor | Refounded as Ayutthaya | ||||
| Born | 10 March 1314[citation needed] | ||||
| Died | 1369 | ||||
| Issue | Ramesuan | ||||
| |||||
| House | Uthong | ||||
| Father | Baramaraja | ||||
Ramathibodi I was the son of Baramaraja, a prince of Si Satchanalai who subsequently ascended the throne of Xiān's Ayodhya, and Sunandhadevī, a younger princess of the court of Suvarnaraja, the ninth monarch of Xiān. Originally known by the title Varashreṣṭhakumāra (วรเชษฐกุมาร), he succeeded his father as king of Xiān in 1344. In 1351, he was formally enthroned as the founding monarch of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.[4] His maternal lineage can be traced back to the Dvaravati period, specifically under the ruling dynasty of the polity situated in the Phraek Si Racha region, which is referred to in Chinese sources as Xiū Luó Fēn.[a]
Origins and Reign
editHe was known as Prince U Thong (meaning "Golden Cradle") before he ascended to the throne in 1350. There are many theories about Uthong's background, including possibly being a descendant of Mangrai.[6]: 27 [7] The designation “Uthong” was initially attributed to Ramathibodi I by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, son of King Mongkut, who identified him with the figure of Uthong referenced in several chronicles. This identification was predicated upon the hypothesis that Ramathibodi I originated from Mueang Uthong.[8] Subsequent scholarly inquiries, however, have demonstrated the inaccuracy of this assumption.[9]: 1, 10
According to a better-known source, a seventeenth-century account by Dutchman Jeremias van Vliet, a Renowned Legend stated that Uthong was an ethnic Chinese, having sailed down from China. After succeeding in trade, he became influential enough to rule the city of Phetchaburi, (or Vajrapur in sanskrit ) a coastal town of the Gulf of Thailand, before travelling up to Ayutthaya. This monarch, which was previously believed to be Ramathibodi I, has now been identified with Uthong II, who was born to Pra Poa Noome Thele Seri, king of Phrip Phri, and Chandradevi (จันทรเทวีศรีบาทราชบุตรีศรีทองสมุทร), a Cham-Chinese princess.[10][11]
Ramathibodi I established four Great Officers of State. These were the Ministry of the Interior (Wieng), the Ministry of the Treasury (Klang), the Ministry for the King's Household (Wang), and the Ministry of Agriculture (Na). He also codified the T'ai laws. Finally, he formed an alliance with the Ming dynasty.[6]: 28
He established his own capital in the new city of Ayutthaya. King Ramathabodi's reign included Korat, Chantaburi, Tavoy, Tanintharyi, Tenasserim, and large parts of Malaya.[6]: 28
In 1352 he laid siege to Yasodharapura. He was successful the following year and placed one of his sons on the throne. However, they were only able to keep the throne until 1357, when the Khmers were able to regain it.[12]: 236
Conflict of two dynasties
editKing Ramathibodi's death sparked a conflict over succession. Initially, his son King Ramesuan became ruler of Ayutthaya, but his son later abdicated in favor of Ramathibodi's brother-in-law and the ruler of Suvarnabhumi, King Borommarachathirat I.[6]: 29 In 1388 Ramesuan took revenge by taking Ayutthaya back from Borommarachathirat I's son, Thonglan. and followed by Borommarachathirat I's nephew Intharacha took Ayutthaya back for Suphannaphum dynasty in 1408. From then on Uthong dynasty was then purged and became a mere noble family of Ayutthaya until the 16th century.
Note
edit- ^ As says in the Ayutthaya Testimonies that Indraraja or Pra Poa Noome Thele Seri, the progenitor of Ramathibodi I, was the son of Anuraja, ruler of the polity in Phraek Si Racha.[5]: 43–4
References
edit- ^ a b Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk (2017). A History of Ayutthaya: Siam in the Early Modern World. Cambridge University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-316-64113-2.
- ^ The Royal Institute. List of monarchs Ayutthaya Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. (in Thai)
- ^ Matichon TV (2023-05-17). "เมื่อ "พระยาลิไทย" ถูกยึดอำนาจและโดนบังคับบวช : ขรรค์ชัย-สุจิตต์ ทอดน่องท่องเที่ยว" [When "Lord Li Thai" was seized and forced to ordain : Khanchai-Sujit Travel]. YouTube (in Thai). Retrieved 2023-05-18.
- ^ Sujit Wongthes (21 April 2023). "พงศาวดารอโยธยาศรีรามเทพนคร ฉบับ มานิต วัลลิโภดม : อโยธยา เก่าแก่กว่าสุโขทัย ต้นกำเนิดอยุธยา ต้นแบบรัตนโกสินทร์" [The Chronicles of Ayutthaya Sri Ramathep Nakhon, Manit Vallipodom Edition: Ayutthaya is older than Sukhothai, the origin of Ayutthaya, the prototype of Rattanakosin.]. www.silpa-mag.com (in Thai). Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Phraya Pariyattithamthada (1968). Ayutthaya Testimonies (PDF) (in Thai). Rung Rueang Tham. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d Chakrabongse, C., 1960, Lords of Life, London: Alvin Redman Limited
- ^ "The Siam Society Lecture: A History of Ayutthaya (28 June 2017)". YouTube. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ Rome Bunnag (21 January 2019). "พระเจ้าอู่ทองเป็นใคร มาจากไหนกันแน่! โอรสพระเจ้ากรุงจีน กษัตริย์ขอมหนีตาย หรือลูกท้าวแสนปม!" [Who was King U Thong? Where did he come from? The son of the Chinese king, the Khmer king fleeing death, or the son of Lord Saen Pom?]. Manager Daily (in Thai). Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ Fine Arts Department. โบราณวิทยาเรื่องเมืองอู่ทอง [Archaeology of U Thong City] (PDF) (in Thai). Bangkok. p. 232. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-11-10.
- ^ van Vliet, Jeremias. "Jeremias van Vliet's DESCRIPTION of the KINGDOM OF SIAM" (PDF).
- ^ van Vliet, Jeremias. Van Vliet's Siam.
- ^ Cœdès, George (1968). The Indianized states of Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824803681.
Bibliography
edit- Wyatt, David K., Thailand: A Short History, New Haven (Yale University), 2003. ISBN 0-300-08475-7
- Srisak Vallipodom, Sheikh Ahmad Qomi and the History of Siam, Cultural Center of the Islamic City, Republic of Iran, Bangkok 1995, p. 209
- Plubplung Kongchana, The Persians in Ayutthaya, Institute of Asia Pacific Studies, Srinakharinwirot University. [ISBN missing]
