Narai
Narai the Great นารายณ์มหาราช | |
---|---|
King of Ayutthaya | |
Prasat Thong dynasty | |
Father | Prasat Thong |
Mother | Sirithida[3] |
King Narai the Great (
His reign was the most prosperous during the Ayutthaya period and saw the great commercial and diplomatic activities with foreign nations including the Middle East and the West. During the later years of his reign, Narai gave his favorite – the Greek adventurer Constantine Phaulkon – so much power that Phaulkon technically became the chancellor of the state. Through the arrangements of Phaulkon, the Siamese kingdom came into close diplomatic relations with the court of Louis XIV and French soldiers and missionaries filled the Siamese aristocracy and defense. The dominance of French officials led to frictions between them and the native mandarins and led to the turbulent revolution of 1688 towards the end of his reign.
Narai's reign was also known for the
The presence of numerous foreigners from the French Jesuits to the Persian delegates has left historians with rich sources of material on the city of Ayutthaya and its conflicts and courtly life in the seventeenth century that otherwise would not have survived the complete destruction of the capital in 1767.
Birth and name
Prince Narai was born on 16 February 1632 to King
The Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya: Royal Recension Version recorded that "In that year [1633], the princess consort gave birth to a son. When the royal family glanced at the infant, they saw the baby had four arms before having two arms as normal. Upon learning this, the king thought it was a miracle. He therefore named his son Narai."[4] The name Narai is from Sanskrit Narayana, a name of Hindu god Vishnu who has four arms.[5]
Succession
Upon Prasat Thong's death in 1656, Prince Chai succeeded his father as King Sanpet VI.
However, it was a Thai tradition to give brothers a higher priority over sons in succession. Prince Sudharmmaraja plotted with his nephew, Prince Narai, to bring Sanpet VI down. After nine months of ascension, Sanpet VI was executed following a coup. Narai and his uncle marched[6] into the palace, and Si Suthammaracha crowned himself king. Si Suthammaracha appointed Narai as the Uparaja, or Viceroy of the Front Palace. However, Narai was also an ambitious prince and had requested Dutch support against his uncle. Si Suthammaracha's rule was weak and he fell under the control of Chao Phraya Chakri, an ambitious mandarin who also wanted the throne.
In 1656, Narai and his uncle finally alienated each other. Si Suthammaracha lusted after Narai's sister, Princess Ratcha Kanlayani. He ordered his soldiers to surround her residence and entered the house. The princess hid in a book chest and it was smuggled into the Front Palace, where she reunited with her brother.
Enraged at his uncle's behavior, Narai decided to take action. He drew his support from the Persian and Japanese mercenaries that had been persecuted during his father's reign. He was also supported by the
Domestic policy
Domestic policies in King Narai's reign were greatly affected by the interference of foreign powers most notably the Chinese to the north, the Dutch to the South, and the English who were making their first forays into India to the west. Policies revolved around either directly countering the influence, or creating a delicate balance of power between the different parties.[7]: 58
In 1660, the Chinese invaded the Burmese capital at
Narai also handed over control of Mergui to French officer Chevalier de Beauregard and his small French garrison.[9] At the same time, he also granted a concession of the strategic port of Bangkok to Beauregard, with the view of countering Dutch influence.[10]
King Narai also built a
Foreign affairs
Although Catholic missions had been present in Ayutthaya as early as 1567 under Portuguese Dominicans, King Narai's reign saw the first concerted attempt to convert the monarch to Catholicism under the auspices of French Jesuits who were given permission to settle in Ayutthaya in 1662.[8]: 243–244 The conversion attempt ultimately failed and arguably backfired but Catholics were to remain in Siam up to the present day.
The most remarkable aspect of King Narai's reign were the diplomatic missions that he sent and received during his reign. Missions were sent as far afield as France, England, and the Vatican, although at least two missions were lost at sea. Ties with states closer to Ayutthaya were not neglected as missions were also sent to Persia, Golconda (India), China, as well as other neighbouring states.
Undoubtedly, the most celebrated of these missions were those to Europe, in particular France. In 1673, a French ecclesiastical mission arrived at the Siamese court with letters from Pope Clement IX and King Louis XIV of France. King Narai reciprocated by sending a mission to France in 1680 led by Phya Pipatkosa.[11] Although the mission was lost at sea near Madagascar,[12] the French would respond positively by sending a commercial mission to Ayutthaya headed by Monsignor Pallu in 1682.
Rising French influence
Most controversially, King Narai allowed the rise of
The second half of Narai's reign was a period of growing French influence as facilitated by Phaulkon. Under Phaulkon's guidance, King Narai balanced the influence of the Dutch by favouring the French. Phaulkon also encouraged French interest by initially leading them to believe that the king was about to convert to Catholicism. Although King Narai did display a degree of interest in Catholicism, he also displayed an equal interest in Islam and there is no concrete evidence that he wished to convert to either.[13] However, both Catholic and Islamic missions were to come to the conclusion that Phaulkon was responsible for their failures.[14][15] Siamese courtiers also resented Phaulkon's influence and he quickly became the focus of xenophobic sentiments at court, with the future King Phetracha at their head.
Narai responded the French by the dispatch of Siamese mission to France in January 1684 led by Khun Pijaivanit and Khun Pijitmaitri accompanied by missionary Benigne Vachet. They reached
sent his letter to Phaulkon to instruct him to persuade the Siamese king to concede to French requests with the promises of granting him the rank of count.Though he did not convert to Christianity, Narai agreed to allow the French troops to be stationed in Siamese ports.
Samuel White, the English governor of Mergui fort, appointed by Narai and a close associate of Phaulkon, entered into conflict with the English fleets from India in 1687, leading to the English blockade of Mergui. The Siamese native mandarins massacred the local Englishmen out of frustration. With English fleets threatening his kingdom, Narai decided to placate the English and executed the mandarins.
In 1687 the new French mission left
The "Revolution" of 1688
Narai spent his whole reign reducing the power of native mandarins that had caused much bloodshed during his predecessors’ time. He firstly supported Persian, and later, the French guards and advisors, against the Thai mandarins. Even his ascension to the throne was orchestrated by Persian mercenaries. The French eventually enjoyed special favors from religious affairs to the military activities. One of the critical turning points was concerned with the construction of the French forts and military barracks in Bangkok, near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. In dealing with the activities, the French mostly depended on Constantine Phaulkon, the king's favorite. The threat of the French military presence reportedly was felt among the court nobles. All in all, factionalism, favoritism and nepotism became widespread. The native mandarins somehow managed to retain their powers, most notably Kosa Lek.
Narai was said to fear fathering a son. He therefore ordered abortions to be carried out on any of his impregnated consorts. However he adopted the son of a minor mandarin with the name of Phra Pi and named him his successor. The young prince was embraced by the French, who managed to convert him to Catholicism.
Matters were brought to a head when King Narai fell gravely ill in March 1688 while staying in his Lopburi palaces. Aware of the coming succession dispute, in May 1688, Narai called together his closest councillors: Phaulkon, Phra Phetracha, and Phra Pi, and nominated his daughter, Kromluang Yothathep, to succeed him. The three councillors were to act as regents until the princess took on a partner of her choice from one of the two Siamese councillors.[17]
When Narai was seriously ill with no hopes of recovery, on 18 May 1688 Phetracha had a successful coup and arrested Narai himself, Phra Pi, and his half-brothers Prince Aphaithot and Prince Noi. Phaulkon was summoned to the palace, there he and his French officers were surrounded and disarmed. Phaulkon was thrown to the palace dungeon and brutally tortured.
After questioning Phra Pi, he discovered Phra Pi had conspired with Phaulkon to assume the throne, and Phra Pi was executed on 20 May. Further questioning of Phaulkon revealed a plot to raise a rebellion, and he too was executed by Phetracha's adopted son
Phetracha soon ordered his troops to attack the French troops led by
Legacy
Although King Narai's reign witnessed the greatest extent of foreign influence at the Siamese court, his diplomatic achievements were to be reversed by his successor. It is debatable whether the new introspective attitude of his successors contributed to the weakening and eventual fall of Ayutthaya. On the other hand, the curtailing of foreign influences in the court may have prevented the colonisation of Ayutthaya. Nevertheless, his reign's diplomatic achievements contributed to him being posthumously styled "the Great," one of seven recognised as such in the history of Thailand.
At the same time, the records of those involved in the diplomatic missions, particularly those from the west, have allowed historians to obtain a rare glimpse into the world of the Ayutthayan court as most original Ayutthaya records were destroyed with the city in 1767. These include the French accounts of the Chevalier de Chaumont, the Abbé de Choisy, Fr. Tachard, Claude de Forbin, de la Loubere and the Persian account of Muhammad Rabi' ibn Muhammad Ibrahim. Domestically, the relative stability during his reign also gave rise to the revival of Siamese literature during his reign.[19]
Further afield, one of the main streets of the city of
In addition, among the gifts that were exchanged between the Siamese and the French courts, two items from Siam were to have an unexpected impact on French history. The items were a pair of silver cannons that were eventually stored in the Royal Furniture Repository in Paris since they were classed as gifts rather than weapons. After failing to find usable weapons at the Arsenal, rioting Parisians broke into the Repository and discovered some 20 cannons. However, the Siamese cannons were the only ones that still functioned, and so they were hauled to the Bastille. The date was 14 July 1789.[21]
In King Narai's reign, Thai literature flourished, especially royal panegyrics. The "Eulogy of King Prasat Thong" about the king's father was probably composed early in the reign, and the "Eulogy of King Narai" around 1680.
King Narai Hospital, the main hospital of Lopburi Province is named after him.
Ancestry
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See also
- France-Thailand relations
- Constantine Phaulkon
- Claude de Forbin
- François-Timoléon de Choisy
Notes
- ^ "History of Ayutthaya – Historical Events – Timeline 1650–1699". www.ayutthaya-history.com.
- ^ "History of Ayutthaya – Historical Events – Timeline 1650–1699". www.ayutthaya-history.com.
- ^ a b M.L. Manich Jumsai (เขียน) ธิติมา พิทักษ์ไพรวัน (แปล). สมเด็จพระนารายณ์ และโกษาปาน. กรุงเทพฯ:คุรุสภาลาดพร้าว, 2531, หน้า 17 (in Thai)
- ISBN 9744171448.
ในปีนั้น พระราชเทวีประสูติพระราชบุตรองค์หนึ่ง พระญาติวงศ์เหลือบเห็นเป็นสี่กรแล้วปรกติเป็นสองกร สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวตรัสแจ้งความ เห็นมหัศจรรย์ ก็พระราชทานพระนามว่า พระนารายณ์ราชกุมาร
- ISBN 9781630411626.
- ^ Wyatt, DK (1984). Thailand: A Short History. Chiang Mai: Silkworm. p. 107.
- ^ a b c d Chakrabongse, C., 1960, Lords of Life, London: Alvin Redman Limited
- ^ ISBN 9747534584
- ^ Wyatt, DK. Thailand: A Short History. p. 115.
- ^ Cruysse, Dirk van der (2002). Siam and the West. Chiang Mai: Silkworm. p. 343.
- ^ "The Beginning of Relations with European Nations and Japan (sic)". Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
- ^ Smithies, M (1999). A Siamese Embassy Lost in Africa, 1686. Chiang Mai: Silkworm. p. 1.
- ^ Muhammad Rabi' ibn Muhammad Ibrahim (1972). The Ship of Sulaiman. Translated by J. O'Kane. London: Routledge. pp. 98–9.
- ^ Muhammad Rabi'ibn Muhammad Ibrahim. The Ship of Sulaiman. p. 59.
- ^ Cruysse, Dirk van der. Siam and the West. p. 429.
- ^ Smithies, M.; Cruysse, Dirk van der (2002). The Diary of Kosa Pan: Thai Ambassador to France, June–July 1686. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
- ^ Cruysse, Dirk van der. Siam and the West. p. 444.
- ^ "History of Ayutthaya – Historical Events – Timeline 1650–1699". www.ayutthaya-history.com.
- ^ Kings of Thailand Archived 2006-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ สิ่งแวดล้อมศิลปกรรม (in Thai). Lop Buri Province. n.d. Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
ปัจจุบัน ถนนฝรั่งเศส ซึ่งเป็นถนนที่ทางจังหวัดลพบุรีตั้งชื่อขึ้นเพื่อจัดงานฉลองความสัมพันธ์ทางการทูตไทย–ฝรั่งเศสครบรอบ 300 ปี ในปี พ.ศ. 2528 มีสภาพสกปรกมาก เพราะทุก ๆ เช้าจะกลายเป็นที่ขายของสดที่ชาวบ้านนำมาวางขาย และบนถนนสายนี้จะมีต้นมะกอกที่นำมาจากฝรั่งเศสปลูกไว้ บริเวณโคนต้นไม้กลายเป็นที่ทิ้งขยะของประชาชนที่อาศัยอยู่บริเวณถนนสายนี้ โดยไม่ให้ความสำคัญทางประวัติศาสตร์
- ^ Carlyle, T., The French Revolution, Section V
References
- Cruysse, Dirk van der (2002). Siam and the West. Chiang Mai: Silkworm
- Sportes Morgan (1993),Pour la plus grande gloire de Dieu, le Seuil, Paris
- Marcinkowski, M. Ismail (2005). From Isfahan to Ayutthaya: Contacts between Iran and Siam in the 17th Century. With a foreword by Professor Ehsan Yarshater, Columbia University . Singapore: Pustaka Nasional
- Muhammad Rabi' ibn Muhammad Ibrahim, J. O'Kane (trans.) (1972). The Ship of Sulaiman. London: Routledge
- Smithies, M. (1999). A Siamese Embassy Lost in Africa 1686: The Odyssey of Ok-khun Chamnan Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books
- Smithies, M., Bressan, L., (2001). Siam and the Vatican in the Seventeenth Century. Bangkok: River
- Smithies, M., Cruysse, Dirk van der (2002). The Diary of Kosa Pan: Thai Ambassador to France, June–July 1686. Seattle: University of Washington Press
- Smithies, M. (trans.), Cruysse, Dirk Van der (2002). Siam and the West 1500–1700. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books ISBN 974-7551-57-8
- Wyatt, D.K. (1984). Thailand: A Short History. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books
External links
- ISBN 9745711527.