History
Wat Rong Khong is mentioned as a location where Cambodian troops were positioned in an attack on Ayutthaya in 1570 CE. The Cambodian incursions during the reign of King Chan Reachea (1516-1566 CE) into Siam started after the Siamese-Burmese war of 1548/9 CE. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1569 CE to the Burmese, Siam became suzerain to Burma. The Cambodians under King Barom Reachea I (1521-1576 CE) saw new opportunities in the weakened Siamese and relaunched several offensives against Siam, recapturing the northwest provinces. Based on the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya, the Cambodians attempted an unsuccessful attack on Ayutthaya in 1570 CE. The Cambodians repeatedly took advantage of the weakened situation of the Siamese and invaded Siam six times in the next two decades (1570, 1575, 1578, 1582 twice, and 1587 CE), each time sweeping up war captives from the prosperous eastern and gulf provinces from Chanthaburi to Phetburi to populate their territory.
"Meanwhile, the King of Lawæk advanced with his army to the Capital and Royal Metropolis of Ayutthaya and encamped his army in the vicinity of Kathum Village. At that moment, the King ordered Müang Nakhòn Phrom and the three thousand troops of the men of Hongsawadi to man the positions on the front wall, and all the high-ranking officials of the provincial cities to examine and post soldiers to the positions on the walls and at intervals around the Royal Metropolis. The King of Lawæk advanced with his army and halted his elephant in Sam Phihan Monastery. And the enemy troops were posted at intervals to Rong Khòng Monastery and Kuti Thòng Monastery. Then they brought about thirty elephants and halted them in Na Phra Meru Rachikaram Monastery with about four thousand men. The King of Lawæk had soldiers board five boats and cross the river to attack Prince Sanuk’s corner of the wall. The King proceeded there and, halting his palanquin, sent his soldiers up to fight. The enemy being vanquished, the King then ordered a carong cannon fired on the enemy elephants which were standing in Sam Phihan Monastery. Phra Campathirat, who was the [commander of the] vanguard of the King of Lawæk, was hit and killed on the neck of his elephant. The King of Lawæk withdrew and returned to his army at Kathum Village. Three times they advanced to attack in that way but were unsuccessful. So the King of Lawæk, ending the campaign and returning, swept up the families in the vicinity of the villages in the paddy fields and in Nakhòn Nayok and took them to Lawæk. At that time the King of Lawæk repeatedly organized troops to scout about, both by land and by boat, and the inhabitants of Canthabun, the inhabitants of Rayòng, the inhabitants of Chachoengsao and farmers were speedily lost to the Lawæk enemy in great numbers." [1]
In the manuscript "Testimony of the king from Wat Pradu Songtham", a document likely compiled in the early Rattanakosin period, it is written that there was a land market at Wat Rong Khong. There was a village beside Wat Rong Khong along the road in front of Chaophraya Jakri’s house. In the village, women traders bought raw bananas to ripen and boil for sale. [2]
There was also a boat ferry between Wat Tha Sai (Sand Landing) to Wat Rong Khong. In the Ayutthaya era, twenty-two ferry routes were between the mainland and the city island. The northern side had seven ferries. The six other crossings were: Tha Nuea to Wat Khun Yuan, Tha Khan to Sala Trawen, Tha Sip Bia to Wat Pho, Wat Song to Wat Pa Khonthi and Tha Khun Nang to Wat Mae Nang Plum. [3]
Wat Wong Khong is in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 51.23" N, 100° 33' 59.60" E.
Footnotes:
(1) Khlong Mueang, or the City Canal, is a stretch of the old Lopburi River on the northern side of Ayutthaya's city island. Many people believe it is a manufactured canal. The Lopburi River descending from the north, ran in the Ayutthaya period around the city and joined the Chao Phraya River near Bang Sai (below Bang Pa-In). Khlong Mueang is a remnant from that time. Today, the canal starts at Hua Ro and has its exit at the confluence with the Chao Phraya River near Hua Laem.
(2) The renaming of "Rong" by "Wong" seems to come from the following: "rong", which means building, also sounds like a coffin (Th: long). The word "rong" was not felt as a very auspicious name for a temple, hence the name change. The same occurred to Wat Pradu Songtham, two merged temple sites: Wat Pradu and Wat Rongtham. Here also, Rongtham was changed into Songtham.
References:
[1] Cushman, Richard D. & Wyatt, David K. (2006). The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. Bangkok: The Siam Society. p. 77.
[2] Pongsripian, Vinai, Dr. (2007). Phanna phumisathan Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya: Ekasan jak Ho Luang. Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the palace. Bangkok: Usakane. & Baker, Chris (2011). Before Ayutthaya Fell: Economic Life in an Industrious Society. Markets and Production in the City of Ayutthaya before 1767: Translation and Analysis of Part of the Description of Ayutthaya. Journal of the Siam Society. Vol. 99. pp 52-4
[3] Rachathanin, Phraya Boran. Athibai Phaenthi Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya kap khamwinitjai khong Phraya Boran Racha Thanin. Explanation of the map of the Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Ton Chabab print office. Nonthaburi (2007). p. 92.
