The King Taksin of Thonburi Era

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The Thonburi Era, when the Thonburi was the capital city of siam, started in 1767 and ended in 1782 with only one king.

King Taksin was born Sin from a Chinese descent father and a Siamese mother in 1734. He became the governor (Phraya) of Tak and became known as Phaya Tak (Sin). The name was there shorten to Phraya Taksin.

In April 1767, the Burmese army successful captured and ransacked the capital Ayutthaya after a year-long siege, ending the Ayutthaya era in Thai history. Taksin was part of the defending army; he thought that the situation was hopeless a few months before the fall and led a small force breaking through the encirclement. He captured the Chantaburi Province as his stronghold.

Instead of going back to the fallen capital, he selected the downstream port, Thonburi, as the new capital and was crowned king on 28 December 1767. His early reign was focused on unifying Siam by defeating other Siamese forces that arose in major provinces throughout the country. Then, the unified Siam managed to repel the Burmese invasion in 1775 and went on expanding the territory. The economy, trade, law, arts, and religions were also significantly strengthened.

In later years, there were troubles; King Taksin died in a coup in 1782. His mantle was taken up by his general, who was crowned as King Rama I. He moved the capital to the other side of the river, the current Bangkok. Thonburi became a province until merged into Bangkok in 1971.

King Taksin's main monument was the statue, depicting him riding a horse and holding an unsheathed sword, at Wong Wien Yai, Thonburi. King Taksin Memorial Day was on 28 December with a wreath-laying ceremony and a few days festival around Wong Wien Yai. There are many statues or memorials, many became Pokestops and gyms, including the main monument at Wong Wien Yai.

Listed in the Being Thai page.

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