Year
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Event
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Reign of King Süa (1703-1709)
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1705
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King Süa (r. 1703-1709) began excavating the first major canal in recorded history - the Khlong Khok (Ma)Kham (later renamed Khlong Maha Chai) to
connect the Chao Phraya and Tha Chin Rivers. Originally dug for transport purposes, the khlong chuam maenam would play an important role in enabling
Siamese troops to repel Burmese invaders after Bangkok was established as the capital in 1782. Begun in 1705 it was dug in two parts. The first, called
Khlong Phra Phuttha Chao Luang, extended from the Chao Phraya River to Khlong Khok Kham. The second section, called Maha Chai Cholamak, ran
13.6 kilometers from Khlong Khok Kham to the Tha Chin River. The excavation work remained unfinished after his death in 1709 AD.
[Reference: The Chao Phya, River in Transition - Steve Van Beeck (1995) - page 40/41.]
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Reign of King Phumintharacha aka Thai Sa (1709-1733)
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1715
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Death of Queen Yotha Thep, daughter and queen of King Narai (reign 1656-1688), consort of Phetracha (reign 1688-1703) and King Süa (reign
1703-1709) at the age of 55.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - p. 111]
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1721
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In 1721 King Phumintharacha (reign 1709-1733) pushed forward to finish the digging of the Khok (Ma)kham Canal. The remaining part was dug 3
meters deep and 16 meters wide in over 2 months by 30,000 conscripted men. A foreign engineer was employed to survey the entire route to ensure that
it ran straight. The canal was later renamed Khlong Maha Chai. The canal eased the passage from the Chao Phraya to the mouth of the Tha Jin at the
Gulf of Thailand.
[Reference: The Chao Phya, River in Transition - Steve Van Beeck (1995) - page 40/41.]
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1722
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The fifth Khlong Lat (short cut) on the Chao Phraya River was dug in 1722. Khlong Lat Kret Noi at the town of Pak Kret was dug reducing the journey
from 6 Km to 2 Km. The sixth Khlong Lat was below Bangkok at Ratburana, just south of Khlong Toey. A 600-metre-long canal called Khlong Pak Lat
was cut across a narrow neck, effectively cutting 19 kilometers from the journey. Unfortunately, because the Chao Phya is tide-affected, the canal
introduced saline water into the upper river, damaging marine and river-bank life. (A dam would be built across its mouth in 1784 to halt salt water
intrusion. Today, of the six Wong lat, only this one has failed to become the main channel of the river.)
[Reference: The Chao Phya, River in Transition - Steve Van Beeck (1995) - page 39.]
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1727
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Mueang Chiang Mai rebelled against the Burmese in the year 1727. The Burmese were unable to suppress the rebellion, and Lan Na became again
independent from Burma.
[Reference: Rajanubhab, Damrong (Prince) - Our Wars with the Burmese (1917) - White Lotus, Bangkok (2000).]
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Reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758)
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1752
|
1752 - A Siamese ambassador escorted a delegation of Siamese monks to Sri Lanka.
[Ref: The Chao Phya, River in Transition - Steve Van Beeck (1995) - Oxford University Press, New York]
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1755
|
Chaofa Thammathibet Chaichet Siriyawong (Chaofa Kroma Khun Senaphithak), eldest son of King Borommakot, who was appointed as Upparat, was
flogged to death for his affair with two of Borommakot's concubines being Chaofa Sangwan, the King’s third queen and granddaughter of King Petracha
and Chaofa Nim, the King’s first concubine. All three died of their punishment and were buried at Wat Chai Watthanaram. The foundations of the three
chedi can still be seen on the northern side.
[Reference: Cushman, Richard D. - The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya (2006) - page 445-7 / Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend
Phonnarat & Royal Autograph - Princely Insubordination.]
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1757
|
King Borommakot appoints Prince Phon Phinit aka Uthumphon as Upparat instead of his elder brother Prince Anurak Montri. The latter is obliged to
ordain at the Lamut Monastery.
[Reference: Cushman, Richard D. - The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya (2006) - page 458-9 / Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend
Phonnarat & Royal Autograph - Appointment of a New Heir Apparent]
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1758
29 Apr
|
Death of King Borommakot.
[Dutch East India Company merchants at the court of Ayutthaya - Bhawan Rangsilp - page 203]
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| |
Reign of King Uthumphon (r. 1758)
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1758
1 May
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Accession of King Uthumphon.
[Dutch East India Company merchants at the court of Ayutthaya - Bhawan Rangsilp - page 203]
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1758
1 Jun
|
Abdication of King Uthumphon and accession of King Ekathat.
[Dutch East India Company merchants at the court of Ayutthaya - Bhawan Rangsilp - page 203]
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Reign of King Suriyamarin aka Ekathat (1758-1767)
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1758
14 Dec
|
Death of Krom Phra Thephamat, the mother of King Ekathat and King Uthumphon. (Krom Luang Phiphit Montri).
[Dutch East India Company merchants at the court of Ayutthaya - Bhawan Rangsilp - page 203]
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1759
|
The Burmese king of Ava, Alaungpaya, retook and sacked the Peguan seaport of Siriam, after a Peguan commander tried to recapture it. The Peguan
commander had sent a letter to the French on the Coromandel coast on a French ship to ask for guns and military stores. Because of the contrary winds
the ship anchored at Mergui.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 127-8]
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1759
|
The Burmese king of Ava, Alaungpaya, marches on Martaban. The governor of Martaban, offering no resistance, surrendered. Shortly after Tavoy,
which had declared its independence, was made the Burmese headquarters.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 127-8; Rajanubhab, Damrong
(Prince) - Our Wars with the Burmese (1917) - White Lotus, Bangkok (2000) - When the Burmese invested the Siamese capital city of Ayutthaya. The
year of the hare, B.E. 2302 (A.D. 1759).]
|
1759
|
The King of Ava, Alaungpaya, demanded that the ship anchored at Mergui be restored to him. The Siamese court decided that the ship should continue its
voyage to Pondicherry in order to maintain the friendly relations existing between the Siamese court and the French stations. The Burmese attacked the
Siamese towns of Mergui and Tenasserim. A Siamese army was send to reinforce Tenasserim and Mergui, but arrived too late. A Siamese force halted
near the Singkhon Pass and was later attacked and annihilated by the Burmese. A second force was also slain after a harsh battle near Wa Ko. The
remnant of the army retreated from Phetchaburi and the Burmese reached the city without meeting any resistance on the way.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 127-8; Rajanubhab, Damrong
(Prince) - Our Wars with the Burmese (1917) - White Lotus, Bangkok (2000) - When the Burmese invested the Siamese capital city of Ayutthaya. The
year of the hare, B.E. 2302 (A.D. 1759).]
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1759/60
|
The Burmese king of Ava, Alaungpaya, invests Ayutthaya.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 127-8; Rajanubhab, Damrong
(Prince) - Our Wars with the Burmese (1917) - White Lotus, Bangkok (2000) - When the Burmese invested the Siamese capital city of Ayutthaya. The
year of the hare, B.E. 2302 (A.D. 1759).]
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1761
|
Tavoy, under Burman rule, declare its independence.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 138]
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1762
|
In May 1762, King Uthumphon (r. 1758) resigned again the crown in favour of the priesthood. King Ekathat resumed his reign.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 134]
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1767
28 Apr
|
28 April 1767 - Fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese on 28 April 1767.
[Ref: Turpin, M. (1771) - History of the Kingdom of Siam - American Presby. Mission Press, Bangkok, 1908 - page 167]
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