Ayutthaya Kingdom

The Ayutthaya Kingdom (/ɑːˈjuːtəjə/; Thai: อยุธยา, RTGS: Ayutthaya, pronounced [ʔā.jút.tʰā.jāː] (About this soundlisten); also spelled "Ayudhya" or "Ayodhya") was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 centered on the city of Ayutthaya. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya is considered to be the precursor of modern Thailand and its developments are an important part of the History of Thailand.

Quotes

• The impact of Ayodhyā was so wide and varied that in the distant Śyāmadesa (Siam) i.e. modern Thailand a Buddhist king U-Thong (Skt. Uttunga) decided to establish his capital at Nong Sans and name it Ayutthaya or Ayudhya after Ayodhyā in 1350 A.D. On accession to the throne of Ayutthaya this Buddhist king even changed his name from U-Thong to Ramathibodhi (Skt. Ramatibodhi which means Rāma, the intellectual par excellence.) For 417 years this strong kingdom with Ayutthaya as the capital dominated the South East Asia politically, culturally and religiously. According to Willian Warren, Ayutthaya in the 17th century was the largest and most magnificent city in the region, with a population greater than that of London at that time and had about 400 temples in the capital.
  • Kishore, Kunal (2016). Ayodhyā revisited.

• “The whole city enjoyed happiness throughout all seasons.
  Now it weighs heavily on my breast to see Ayutthaya disappear.
  Where can I find its equal?
  It is as if a crystal has lost its shine,
  Each day brings new destruction
  How can its glory ever be restored?”
  • Prince Maha Surasinghant, the brother of King Rāma I. quoted in Kishore, Kunal (2016). Ayodhyā revisited. ch 1.