The
Thai kingdom, like many other countries, was based on a system
of nobility. The highest position, of course, was king. The
children of the king gained the rank of prince or princess,
and this title was passed on down to their children, but no
other ranks were hereditary as among the European noble families.
Noble rank was given out--and could be taken away--by the king.
The levels of nobility, from highest to lowest, are 1. Chao
Phaya, 2. Phaya, 3. Phra, 4. Luang, 5. Khun, 6. Muen, 7. Pun,
and 8. Tanai. Rough equivalents in Europe would be arch- duke,
duke, marquis, earl, count, baron and knight.
In 1549, the first of a long series of wars breaks out between
Burma and the Thai kingdom of Ayuthia, also called Siam. The
Khmer kingdom and the smaller northern Thai state of Chiang
Mai are often drawn in. The Burmese, with armies as large as
200,000 to 300,000 people, are at first successful, taking the
Siamese capital Ayuthia in 1569. By 1600, however, Burma suffers
serious defeats, and Siam becomes a major regional power, usually
dominating Chiang Mai and the Khmer kingdom. After 1600, European
influence began to overshadow the regional rivalries between
Burma, Siam, Khmer and Vietnam.
Thai, Burmese and Khmer warfare was directed not so much at
taking over territory but at capturing people. The new "subjects"
gained replaced those killed in battle or lost in previous wars.
The wars between the three states were usually what would now
be called total wars. Occasionally, most of the men of a kingdom
were conscripted, from ages today considered as childhood. Furthermore,
women have also regularly fought in battles. One result of this
kind of warfare was the constant mixing of ethnic groups. The
differences today between the peoples of the region, Thais,
Mons, Khmers, Shans and so on, have little to do with genetic
differences, rather, the important distinctions are in language,
social structure, living habits and religion.
European colonization of the region begins, led by the Spanish
and Portuguese after the 1520s. Portugal establishes trading
bases on the Indonesian islands of Java and the Moluccas, while
Spain establishes the colony of the Philippines-- named after
King Philip of Spain. Shortly after 1600, the Dutch break the
Spanish-Portuguese monopoly. While Spain holds onto the Philippines,
Portugal is driven out of Indonesia, which soon after comes
to be called the Dutch East Indies. The Islamic sultanate of
Mataram on Java, remains as the most powerful independent kingdom.
The Europeans are drawn to the islands for spices, especially
cinnamon and nutmeg, which at this time are worth more than
gold.
Under King Narai, who ruled 1656-1688, Siam actively sought
European trade. The kingdom introduced many European-based reforms.
After 1664, Siam sought friendship with France to balance Dutch
power, then the strongest European nation in the region. But
later, France would prove a dangerous threat to Siam's independence.
