History of Thailand

Updated January 30, 2023

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From prehistory to the establishment of ancient states

The history of Thailand begins in the Isan region (northeastern Thailand), where many prehistoric ruins have been excavated.

Among them, the Baan Chiang site in Udon Thani Province, which is believed to be the site of a settlement from around 3600 B.C. to the 3rd century A.D., has been registered as a World Heritage site as one of the most important sites in Southeast Asia because of its relatively early agricultural civilization in the world history.

From the 6th to the 11th century, the Dvaravadee Kingdom, a city-state of the Morn people, was established in central Thailand, centering on Nakhon Pathom Province along the Chao Phraya River, and in northern Thailand, centering on Lamphun Province.

In the 9th century, the Khmer dynasty, which was located near present-day Cambodia, expanded its power into northeastern Thailand, and its rule continued until the early 13th century.

It was once believed that the Thai people originated from China and migrated southward, but the above prehistoric sites, as well as historical documents from the Dvaravadi Kingdom and the Khmer Dynasty, have now disproved this theory.

Sukhothai Dynasty (of Thailand, approx. 1148-1215 CE)

In the early 13th century, when the rule of the Khmer dynasty was weakening, the Thai princes under their control overran the Khmer power and established a dynasty named "Dawn of Happiness" (Sukhothai) in the area centering on the present-day cities of Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai.

This was the beginning of the Thai nation.

At first, the Sukhothai dynasty was allied with the Lan Na dynasty, which was established around Chiang Mai at the same time by the same clan lords. However, the third King Ramkhamhaeng increased economic power through trade with foreign countries based on pottery production and forest products, and eventually brought the Lan Na dynasty and other neighboring states under his rule.

In addition to building numerous temples to propagate Theravada Buddhism, he also laid the foundation for the current Thai culture, including the invention of the Thai alphabet (1283).

The Sukhothai dynasty lasted for about 200 years and nine generations, but by the middle of the 15th century, it became a vassal state of the Ayutthaya dynasty that had emerged along the Chao Phraya River, bringing an end to an era.

At the same time, the Lan Na dynasty in the north also became a Burmese subject.

Ayutthaya Dynasty

In central Thailand, Lopburi and Suphanburi in the Chao Phraya River basin were united in 1351 to form the Ayutthaya dynasty.

Ayutthaya prospered as a trading center for goods accumulated in the surrounding rural and forest areas, and annexed neighboring Sukhothai, then invaded the Khmer Kingdom that ruled the northeastern part of the country and overthrew its capital, Angkor, in 1431.

Around the 17th century, merchants from all over the world, including the Netherlands, France, and Japan, arrived in Ayutthaya, and the city prospered as an international trading port connecting Europe and East Asia, and as the capital of Siam (the name of Thailand at that time).

Civil war continued in the final years, and finally in 1767, the invasion of the Kombaung dynasty of Burma put an end to its long history of 417 years.

However, the royal rituals, court culture, political system including the bureaucracy, and policies emphasizing trade with other countries were taken over by the Rattanakosin (Bangkok) dynasty.

Thonburi Dynasty

In 1767, King Taksin, the then Thak ruler, defeated the Burmese army from Ayutthaya, which was in ruins after the Burmese invasion, and in the same year he took up residence in Thonburi (across the Chao Phraya River from present-day Bangkok) and was crowned king, establishing the Thonburi dynasty there.

However, wars continued, including defeating rival rulers, defensive battles against the Burmese army, and repeated invasions of Cambodia, and the dissatisfied Samuhanayok, then prime minister, and others stripped King Thakshin of his throne in 1782 and had him executed. King Thakshin was deprived of his throne and executed.

Thus, the war-torn Thonburi dynasty was short-lived, lasting only 15 years.

Rattanakosin Dynasty

In 1782, after Chao Phraya Chakri stripped King Taksin of his throne and quelled a civil war, he built a new capital on Rattanakosin Island, across the Chao Phraya River from Thonburi, and ascended the throne as King Rama I.

This was the beginning of the Rattanakosin dynasty (also known as the Chakri or Bangkok dynasty), which continues to this day.

Initially, as with the Ayutthaya dynasty, the government emphasized trade with China and ruled the provinces under a feudal system, but this policy changed under the reigns of King Rama IV (reigned 1851-1868) and King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910), as European powers swept into the country and neighboring countries like Burma, Laos, and Cambodia became colonies of Britain and France one after the other. The policy changed during the reigns of King Rama IV (reigned 1851-1868) and King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910).

Trade and trade treaties were concluded with Britain, the U.S., France, and other countries, and under the centralized absolute monarchy, administrative organizations were reformed, railroads and roads were built, and electricity and telegraph projects were modernized.

As a result of these efforts and a skillful foreign policy, Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia to successfully defend its independence from the invading powers.

However, the 1932 constitutional revolution by the bureaucrats and military led to the transition to a constitutional monarchy in which the king was constitutionally defined as a symbolic figure and not directly involved in politics.

Seven years later, in 1939, the name was changed from the Kingdom of Siam to the "Kingdom of Thailand.

World War I

When World War I broke out on July 28, 1914, Thailand declared its neutrality on August 6, 1914, to keep an eye on the war situation, and then King Rama VI, seeing the Allies' advantage after the U.S. entry into the war in April 1917, declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary on July 22 on the Allied side. Rama VI declared war on Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire on July 22, 1917.

As a result, Thailand's flag was changed on September 28 of the same year to the current tricolor flag, which also matches the colors of the flags of the allied nations of Great Britain, France, and the United States, as if the country was aligned with the powers of the world.

Thailand sent an expeditionary force to Europe, consisting of motor transport units and air units, and part of the transport unit was temporarily deployed with French troops to the German battlefields.。

After gaining the status of a victorious nation through its participation in the war, Thailand attended the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, joined the League of Nations, and proceeded to revise the unequal treaties with Great Britain, France, and other countries, which were all revised in 1937.

constitutional revolution

When Rama VI's youngest brother succeeded to the throne as Rama VII in 1925The former king's modernization policy had led to a deterioration of his finances, but he tried to remedy the situation.However, the Great Depression that began in 1929 triggered a renewed deterioration in Thailand's finances, and dissatisfaction with the absolute monarchy grew.。

In 1927, by seven students studying in EuropeThe People's Party was formed with the aim of changing the political system in Thailand.In early 1932, the military united with an internal military group that wanted to reform the Constitution, and on June 24 of the same year, a coup d'état was called the "Constitutional Reform Movement" in Bangkok.constitutional revolutionI decided to do "The。

Rama VII accepted the People's Party's demand, and with the enactment of the Provisional Constitution on June 27Although the king and royal family remained in power, Thailand's political system shifted from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.。

The People's Assembly was unicameral, and all the members were appointed by the People's Party.。

On the same day, a non-PRP member, Phraya Manopakorn, was elected prime minister to serve as an intermediary with the royal family in this parliamentary session.。

Also, on December 10, a new constitution was promulgated, but this permanent constitution also effectively secured the People's Party's sole power until elections 10 years later.。

After the Constitutional Revolution, the following year, 1933, the political situation became unstable as early as 1933, when the policy proposals of the radicals led by the People's Party caused a rupture with the moderates.

On June 20, some radicals and the People's Party militarycoup d'étatcauseThe leader of the group, Braya Pahon, was appointed prime minister.。

In response, on October 11, former Army MinisterThe Revolt of Prince BowooladateThe army in the northeast advanced but failed, and the prince was exiled to French Indochina by the。

Rama VII, who opposed the People's Party government, also handed over the throne to his nephew Rama VIII, who was 9 years old at the time, in March 1935.。

Later, a member of the People's Party from its inception and a member of theIn June 1939, Piboon Songkhram, who was also at the center of the 1933 coup d'état, took real power and became prime minister,Country name changed from "Siam" to "ThailandI did.

World War II

When World War II broke out in Europe in September 1939, Thailand immediately declared its neutrality, but when Japanese troops entered French Indochina in September 1940, Phiboon Songkhram took this change as an opportunity to start a border dispute with French Indochina。

Rejecting Thai demands, France bombed the Thai side on November 28, opening the Thai-French Indochina conflict.

The following January, 1941, France appeared to have the upper hand, but through Japanese mediation, Thailand concluded the Tokyo Treaty with France on May 9, 1941, annexing most of the territory ceded by Thailand in 1904 and 1907 as its own territory.。

Later, on December 8, 1941, Japanese troops who had declared war on the Allies, including the United Kingdom and the United States, headed for the British-controlled Malay Peninsula (Operation Malaya) and landed at Songkhla and Pattani in southern Thailand as well as Kota Bharu in British Malaya (the first Malay Landing Operation).

The Thai military and others began to fight back.On the same day, Thailand allowed Japanese troops to pass through。

After signing an agreement with Japan on December 11, the Japanese army's victory in the first phase of the war led to the official signing of the Japan-Thailand Offensive and Defensive Alliance Treaty on December 21, making Japan an ally of Japan。

The following year, on January 8, 1942, British troops bombed Bangkok, and on January 25, 1942, Phiboon Songkhram declared war on Britain and the United States, and Thailand entered the war as an Axis power.。

When Japanese forces began their advance into British-controlled Burma, Thailand marched from the north in May 1942 to expand its territory and occupied Shan State in eastern Burma.。

In addition, the Japanese military began construction of the 415-kilometer-long Burma-Thailand Railway connecting Nong Phra Duc in Thailand and Than Buzaya in Burma in June 1942, and opened it to traffic the following October 1943.。

Thailand, expecting to gain territory, initially complied with the excessive demands of Japan, with which it had formed an alliance, but later became increasingly distrustful of Japan's unilateral expansion of its interests.。

On the other hand, seeing that Thailand had become an ally of Japan and stationed Japanese troops in the country based on the Japan-Thailand Offensive and Defensive Alliance Treaty, the then ambassador to the U.S. andSeeny Pramort, who later became prime minister, organized an anti-Japanese movement called "Free Thailand" with Thai diplomats and students in the United States in March 1942.

This activity extended to Thai study-abroad groups in the U.K., where the British accepted free Thai volunteers as British soldiers and gave them special training to become intelligence officers.。

Also in Thailand, Preedee Phanomyoon, a cabinet minister in Piboon Songkhram's cabinet, established and participated in an anti-Japanese organization to communicate with the Allied side.。

December 1943-.By January 1944, Allied air strikes were in full swing.As the war situation worsened, the Free Thai movement by the plebiscite became more active, and the resignation of Piboon Songkhram's cabinet in July 1944 led to the formation of a new cabinet under Kuan Apaiwong.

The Kuang cabinet rapidly strengthened its ties with the Allies, with three Free Thai leaders in the cabinet, but it acted as if it had no support for the Free Thai Movement against Japan.。

However, by 1945, Free Thai military camps were being set up around the country in preparation for attacks on Japanese forces.

postwar period

Just before the clash with Japan.When Japan was defeated by the Allies in August 1945, Preedy declared on August 16 that "Thailand's declaration of war is null and void.In addition, the government has announced its intention to return to the United Kingdom the Shan State and the Malayan States transferred to it from Japan.and sought to end hostilities with the Allies.

August 21, as the U.S. has no direct interest in the project.Thailand accepted this declaration of nullity of war as it was a Japanese occupied country.The British did not immediately comply and sent an occupying force.

Considering this, he replaced Quan's cabinet, which resigned in general,Saney Pramoort, ambassador to the U.S., organizer of Free Thailand, and a man with close ties to the U.S. and the U.K., was elected prime minister.。

Meanwhile, 27,000 British Indian troops arrived on September 2 and proceeded to disarm the Japanese army.

After negotiations with the United Kingdom under the auspices of the United States, a peace treaty was concluded in January 1946, with the declaration of war nullified, and with various conditions such as restoration of the original state and return of the territories.。

In May, France, seeking the return of its territory, attacked Thai territory, and Thailand, forced to prioritize its return to the international community, agreed to hand over the territory it had annexed in 1941,Nakhon Champasak Province, ,Phiboon Songkhram Province, ,Preahtavong ProvinceThe three prefectures were returned to France.

This would lead to an end-of-war agreement with France in November 1946。

Thailand's territory reverted to the status quo defined in 1909, but through clever political maneuvering, Thailand was able to escape early defeat by the Allies.。

Rama VIII, who came of age in 1945, returned from Switzerland in December, but died on June 9, 1946, under mysterious circumstances with a bullet through his forehead.。

His younger brother, Rama IX, who ascended the throne at the age of 18 following the death of Rama VIII, became the longest reigning monarch in the Kingdom of Thailand and a very popular monarch among the Thai people.。

military regime

November 1947 by the Army, which had been left out in the cold since Piboon Songkhram's ouster.military coupoccurs andPriody defected out of the country.。

Piboon Songkhram became the national military commander, and the following April 1948, under pressure from the army, a military regime by Piboon Songkhram, known as "Piboon's Revival," began。

Meanwhile, the February 1949 coup d'état by Pleedy and the Navy failed and Free Thailand came to an end。

In March 1949, a "permanent constitution" was promulgated, butOn November 29, 1951, he restored the Permanent Constitution of 1932 through a "coup d'etat without firing a shot" and abolished the parliament and political parties.。

In September 1957, a coup led by the "Soldiers' Corps" led to the formation of a provisional government, and general elections in December led to the formation of the Tanom Kittikachorn government.

Then came the military government of Sarit Thanarat in October 1958.。

Sarit justified his coercive ruling system by preaching "Thai-style democracy" to restore the king's prestige, while he championed the country's development to build infrastructure and achieve high economic growth.。

During this period, many automakers from Japan also moved into the area, including Ford's plant in 1961.。

After Sarit's death in December 1963, it became a long-term military regime known as the "Tanom-Prapart regime.。

cold war

The People's Republic of China was established in 1949, and during the Cold War in Southeast Asia due to the expansion of communism, Vietnam (North Vietnam) and Laos (Pathet Lao)and threatened by communist revolutions in neighboring countries such as Burma (Burmese-style socialism) and Cambodia (Khmer Rouge).

In addition, to counter the growing communist forces in the country, led by the Communist Party of ThailandThailand was a bulwark of communism, supported by the U.S. and part of the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization.。

In the Vietnam War, he stood by the U.S. side and deployed troops to South Vietnam to provide for the bombing of North Vietnam.U.S. Air Force in ThailandHe also authorized the opening of the base.。

April 1966.Utapao BaseB-52 bombers were launched toward Hanoi from。

Thailand was a rear base for U.S. troops to resupply and for soldiers to stay, so Thailand developed economically andIn addition, resort developments such as Pattaya have been developed.。

As the Vietnam War raged, on August 8, 1967.Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) was proclaimed in Bangkok, Thailand.。

democratic movement

The anti-war movement of students in Vietnam led to a gradual increase in opposition to the authoritarian regime of Thanom Prapat, and on October 14, 1973, the Thammasat UniversityRatchadamnoen RoadPolice and military fired shots that clashed with the 400,000-odd demonstrators who had gathered over the course of the day, resulting in a catastrophe that left 77 dead and 444 wounded.

This "October Revolution," also known as theThanorm and others were deposed by King Rama IX at the outbreak of the Bloody Sunday Incident, and the rector of Thammasat University, Thammasat University, was appointed to the post.Sanya Thammasak.was appointed prime minister of the interim government.。

A new constitution was enacted in November 1974, and the following year, 1975, Kukrit Pramot was prime minister.。

After U.S. troops withdrew from Thailand in July 1975In 1976, the crisis of the democratic movement became a crisis when students and citizens were confronted with right-wing organizations.

In August, following Prapat's furlough, the student movement erupted, triggered by the return of Tanom, who had become a monk, and on October 6, the Blood Wednesday incident occurred, and the student movement was suppressed by the police and right-wing groups.The death toll reached 46.。

And when the military declares a coup, it takes an anti-communist stance.Tahnin Kraiwichien.served as prime minister for a while, and then a coup d'état brought him back to a period of military rule.。

coordinate politics

Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces since 1977.Kriengsak ChomananThe era of democratization ended with the installation of a new government by the "democratic forces," whose politics took a coordinating posture and harmonized with the democratic forces.。

Meanwhile, the Pol Pot regime in neighboring Cambodia began a conflict on the Vietnamese border in 1977, and by the end of 1977, diplomatic relations with Vietnam had been severed.。

Then, from the end of 1978As Vietnam marched into Cambodia in early 1979, many Cambodian refugees fled to Thailand.。

Also in 1979, there was a surge of boat people from Vietnam.。

The next administration, that of army commander Prem Tinsulanont, was called "half democracy," and like Sarit's Thai-style democracy, it emphasized parliamentary democracy while assuming the existence of the king and the military, and coordinated with the Thai Communist Party forces.

This led to an attempted coup d'état and other events, but the situation remained relatively calm and paved the way for economic growth.。

However, on June 14, 1980, a shooting incident on the border with Laos between Thai and Laotian border guards across the Mekong River prompted Thailand to once again put a stop to the border blockade, which was being lifted.。

In addition, in May 1984, a border dispute over territorial rights erupted when Thai troops illegally occupied three villages in Laotian territory located between the Laotian province of Sainyabouly and the Thai province of Uttaradit (the Three Villages Incident).

On October 15 of the same year, Thailand issued a statement that the national army had withdrawn its troops, and the Mimura incident subsided.

The two armies clashed again near the Thai-Laos border in December 1987, and fighting continued until February 1988, when peace negotiations were conducted by delegations from both countries and a cease-fire agreement was signed.。

civilian government

The Chartchai Chunhavan government of the Nationalist Party (Thai Nationalist Party), which became the first party in the July 1988 general election, was the first civilian government since the third Seany cabinet in 1976, but along with the booming economy, the politics of interest by political industrialists prevailed.。

On the other hand, by disregarding the interests of the militaryand on February 23, 1991, Army Commander Stinder Kraprayoon and others.military coupcauseChartchai was disqualified.and the consolidation of democracy since the Prem regime and external considerations after the coup d'état.Anan Panyarachun, a diplomat by training, was nominated andOn March 6, a temporary civilian government was established as an interim government.。

1. the dark May incident

The economy continued to do well after the coup d'état, but on April 7, 1992, the people protested against the formation of the new government, with the inauguration of Kraprayoon Sutinder, who had stated that he would not become prime minister, and in late April a mass movement was launched demanding his resignation.。

Then, during the May 17 protests, the company responded to a crowd of more than 400,000 people with the following statementand military and police clashed on Ratchadamnoen Road.The dark May incident occurred on May 18-19.。

This led to the resignation of Stinder as prime minister and Annan's return as prime minister of the interim government, leading to the establishment of a civilian government.。

In the general election of September 1992, when the former opposition Democratic Party made a breakthrough and formed the cabinet of Chwan Leekpai, Chwan advocated a democracy that upheld the monarchy.

In July 1995, after the KMT's Banharn Silapa-Archer took over as prime ministerIn November 1996, Chawalit Yongchaiyut of the New Hope Party became prime minister, and from July 1997currency crisisIn September of the same year, a new constitution was passed amidAfter the proclamation the following October, Chowan, a Democrat, took office again, replacing Chawalit, who resigned in November due to the economic crisis.。

2. the Taksin System

In 2001, while the economic situation was still affected by the currency crisisThe general election was held under the new constitution, and the new government of Thaksin Shinawatra, a Chinese-Thai who founded the Thai Patriotic Party in 1998, was elected.It was born in February 2001.。

Thaksin, a businessman who aimed for Thailand to become a developed country, conducted a strong political management by concentrating power on the idea that "the country is a corporation and the prime minister is the CEO of the country".。

Political turmoil today

1. 2006 coup d'état

In January 2006, the "yellow shirts" were the result of allegations of illegal money accumulation by Prime Minister Thaksin's family.The military coup took place on September 19 when a growing anti-Thaksin movement wearing。

On October 1, 12 days after the coup, a provisional constitution was promulgated andSurayut Chulanont, commander-in-chief of the army, was named prime minister.。

Since then, Thailand has seen a series of demonstrations and riots, and political turmoil continues.

2. 2008 Political Crisis

When the Samak Suntrawait cabinet was formed in February 2008, advocating "Thaksin's proxy," former Prime Minister Thaksin returned to the country on February 28, 2008.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) resumed its anti-Thaksin campaign, and on August 26, it staged a mass movement calling for Samak's resignation, occupying the Prime Minister's Office and other locations.。
In response, the pro-Thaksin anti-authoritarian Democratic Front and others wore "red shirts" to counter the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and the PAD's "red shirts" were used as a rallying cry for the PAD.One regime faction member was killed in the September 2 clashes.。

3. 2009 political unrest

After the fall of the Somchai government, Apisit Wetjachiwa, a Democrat, was elected prime minister, but this time the Anti-Dictatorship Democratic Front (UDD) interfered with Apisit's speech.and held repeated anti-government rallies since early 2009.。

On April 11, he broke into the venue of the East Asia Summit that was scheduled to be held in Pattaya.。

Later, in Bangkok, demonstrators rioted and the military took control of the situation, resulting in more than 100 injured.。

4. dark Saturday

In March 2010, protests by the Anti-Dictatorship Democratic Front (UDD), calling for the dissolution of parliament and general elections on the grounds that the decision to confiscate Thaksin's ill-gotten gains was unjust, were revived, and on March 14 they occupied a main street in Bangkok, and on April 3 demonstrators occupied a commercial area in the city center, and later expanded Clashes with security forces resulted in a catastrophe on April 10, when 25 people, including a Japanese cameraman, were killed and more than 800 injured.(Dark Saturday).

Flooding in Thailand

In 2011, the turmoil seemed to have ended when Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister, became the first female prime minister in Thai history.。

However, soon after Yingluck's inauguration in August, the country was hit by the unprecedented crisis of the Thai floods.

In late September, the Chao Phraya River flooded the plains, gradually moving southward from the central part of the country and submerging a total of seven industrial parks.

In addition, Don Mueang Airport, where the Flood Control Center is located, was inundated, and more than 800 people were killed by electrocution from the water, and more than 2 million people in 26 provinces were affected by the floods.。

6. Preah Vihear Conflict

In July 2008, the ruins of the Preah Vihear temple, located in the border area between Thailand and Cambodia, were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by Cambodia, which reignited the territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the highland area where the temple ruins are located.

The two militaries faced off in the border region, with dozens of casualties from the fighting that has been scattered since October 2008.。

Prayut Chan-ocha, the future prime minister, was appointed army commander in 2010。

In July 2011, the International Court of Justice ordered both countries to withdraw from the border region, and in December of the same year, after Yingluck took office as prime minister, the two countries agreed to simultaneous withdrawals。

Then, in November 2013, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Preah Vihear temple area was Cambodian territory, the second time since 1962, which brought a measure of peace.。

7. 2013 Anti-Government Demonstrations

In November 2013, when the Thai Democratic Party (DPJ) members voted to force through a bill that would pardon Thaksin, anti-government protests gained momentum, with many non-Thaksinists also protesting against the bill.。

8. 2014 Coup.

On May 7, 2014, Yingluck lost her post due to an unconstitutional ruling on a high-level government appointment, and on May 22, the national army once again staged a coup, the 19th since the Constitutional Revolution。

After the military seized full power and established a transitional government, the highest authority, Army Commander Prayut Chan-ocha, took over as prime minister in August.。

On October 13, 2016, King Rama IX died at the age of 88 andLater, 64-year-old Wachirarongkorn acceded to the throne as the new king, Rama X.。

When the new constitution is promulgated in April 2017, theand after the general election in March 2019, Prayut will continue as prime minister andIn July, a new government was formed.。

[Source.

History of ThailandWikipedia.

Understanding Thailand (History)Tourism Authority of Thailand