Maha Chakkraphat

Maha Chakkraphat (Thai: มหาจักรพรรดิ)(Literally translated as The Great Emperor) (1509–1569) was king of the Ayutthaya kingdom from 1548 to 1564 and 1568 to 1569. Originally called Prince Thianracha, or Prince Tien, he was put on the throne by Khun Phiren Thorathep and his supporters of the Sukhothai clan, who had staged a coup by killing the usurper King Worawongsathirat and Sudachan.^[1]^:37–39

Prince of Ayutthaya

Prince Thianracha (พระเฑียรราชา) was a son of Ramathibodi II. His half-brother Prince Chairachathirat,^[1]^:38 which had been crowned King of Ayutthaya in 1534, elevated Thianracha to Uparaja, but did not confer on him the title of King of Sukhothai. Thianracha joined his brother in the campaigns against Lanna and, in 1546, led the siege of Chiang Mai.

Chairacha died in 1546 and his son (and Thianracha's nephew) Phra Kaewfa succeeded to the throne as King Yodfa, with his mother Si Suda Chan as regent. She had Yodfa killed in 1548 and eventually put her paramour on the throne as Khun Worawongsathirat. Before doing so however, Thianracha was her co-regent, but wishing to remain faithful to his wife Sri Suriyothai, he became a monk to the Queen Mother's amorous advances.^[1]^:38

"A band of brothers", retired officers, led by Khun Piren staged a counter-coup, killing Worawongsathirat and Si Suda Chan. Phiren Thorathep then elevated Prince Thianracha to the throne as Phra Maha Chakkraphat.^[1]^:38–39

King of Ayutthaya

Maha Chakkraphat appointed Phiren Thorathep to the position of King of Phitsanulok as Maha Thammarachathirat, and gave him in marriage his daughter Sawatdirat. (Maha Chakkraphat passed over tradition by elevating Phiren Thorathep instead of one of his sons; but he, when still Prince Thianracha, had himself never been titular ruler of Phitsanulok.) Khun Inthrathep was rewarded with the regency of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

First Siege of Ayutthaya (1548)

Main article: Burmese–Siamese War (1548–49)

Upon Maha Chakkraphat's ascension, King Tabinshweti of the Burmese Dynasty of Toungoo marched to Ayutthaya, trying to take advantage of the upheavals in the Siamese capital.^[2]^:15

The Burmese armies stopped near Ayutthaya. Tabinshweti came with his best general, the Uparaja Bayinnaung, Viceroy of Prome and Governor of Bassein. Maha Chakkraphat also took to the battleground his whole family, including Sri Suriyothai, the Uparaja Prince Ramesuan, and Prince Mahinthrathirat. At Pukaothong field, Maha Chakkraphat fought the Elephant Battle (Yuttahadhi) against the Viceroy of Prome but his elephant was overcame and ran away. Sri Suriyothai then rushed to rescue her husband but was slashed to death by the viceroy. The two princes then forced the viceroy to retreat.^[2]^:18–19

The Siamese then put a culverin on a barge and sailed along the Chao Phraya to fire the enemies. The mission worked, the Burmese armies retreated but later they ambushed at Kamphaeng Phet the Siamese troops led by Prince Ramesuan and Maha Thammarachathirat. The Burmese held the two in captivity until Maha Chakkraphat gave up two male war elephants in exchange for his son and Maha Thammarachathirat.^[2]^:20–21

War Over White Elephants (1563–1564)

Main article: Burmese–Siamese War (1563–64)

After the war of 1548, Maha Chakkraphat insisted on battling Burmese armies near Ayutthaya, so he heavily fortified the city and de-fortified three nearby cities, Suphanburi, Lopburi and Nakhon Nayok in order to prevent the Burmese from taking them as bases. The census was taken to derive all available manpower for war. Wild elephants (especially white elephants) were caught and accumulated in the full-scale preparation for war.^[2]^:22–26

Bayinnaung became King after the death of Tabinshwehti, and upon hearing about the white elephants, requested two. As Maha Chakkraphat refused, the Burmese King marched to Ayutthaya with a large army. His route was via the northern provinces since he had conquered the Lanna in 1558 and occupied Chiang Mai. Phraya Sukhothai and Phra Maha Thammaracha surrendered when Sukhothai and Phitsanulok were captured. The governors of Sawankhalok and Phichai submitted without resisting. At Chainat, Bayinnaung clashed with Prince Ramesuan's army but was able to break through. The Burmese army then reached Ayutthaya and laid siege, bombarding the city so immensely that Maha Chakkraphat "agreed to come to friendly relations with His Majesty of Hongsawadi." Additionally, he paid tribute of four white elephants and Phra Ramesuan, Phraya Chakri and Phra Songkhram were brought back to Pegu as hostages.^[2]^:27–41

At Pegu, King Maha Chakkraphat entered the monkhood.^[3] Though Damrong Rajanubhab asserts the king only entered the monastery after his daughter Phra Thepkasattri was kidnapped by the Burmese, giving up his throne in dishonor. He resumed his regal powers at the urging of his son Mahinthrathirat.^[2]^{:45–46,49–50}

Second Reign

Main article: Burmese–Siamese War (1568–69)

In early 1568, the captive king successfully convinced Bayinnaung to allow him to go back to Ayutthaya on pilgrimage. Upon his arrival, in May 1568, he disrobed and revolted. He also entered into an alliance with King Setthathirath of Lan Xang. He was not able to convince Maha Thammarachathirat of Phitsanulok to join him and his son in the revolt. Thammarachathirat remained loyal to Bayinnaung and survived the siege by Ayutthaya and Lan Xang forces until October when the relief forces from Pegu arrived. The invasion armies laid the Third Siege of Ayutthaya in December 1568. Maha Chakkraphat died one month into the siege in January 1569.^[4] (Burmese sources say that the king died on 17 April 1569,^[5] but this might be the date they learned of the king's death.)

References

1 2 3 4 Chakrabongse, C., 1960, Lords of Life, London: Alvin Redman Limited
1 2 3 4 5 6 Rajanubhab, D., 2001, Our Wars With the Burmese, Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd., ISBN 9747534584
↑ Harvey 1925: 168–169
↑ Wyatt 2003: 82
↑ Hmannan Vol. 2 2003: 407

Bibliography

Rajanubhab, Damrong (2001). Our Wars With the Burmese. Bangkok,Thailand: White Lotus. ISBN 9747534584.
Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824. London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.
Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1829–1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese) 2 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.
Wyatt, David K. (2003). Thailand: A Short History (2 ed.). ISBN 978-0-300-08475-7.

Maha Chakkraphat Suphannaphum Dynasty Born: 1509 Died: 1569
Regnal titles
Preceded by Worawongsathirat	King of Ayutthaya First Reign 1548–1564	Succeeded by Mahinthrathirat
Preceded by Mahinthrathirat	King of Ayutthaya Second Reign 1568–1569	Succeeded by Mahinthrathirat

Uthong Dynasty	Uthong Ramesuan Ramrachathirat

Suphannaphum Dynasty	Borommarachathirat I Thong Lan Intha Racha Borommarachathirat II Borommatrailokkanat Borommarachathirat III Ramathibodi II Borommarachathirat IV Ratsadathirat Chairachathirat Yotfa Worawongsathirat (disputed) Maha Chakkraphat Mahinthrathirat

Sukhothai Dynasty	Mahathammarachathirat Naresuan Ekathotsarot Si Saowaphak Songtham Chetthathirat Athittayawong

Prasat Thong Dynasty	Prasat Thong Chai Si Suthammaracha Narai

Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty	Phetracha Suriyenthrathibodi Thai Sa Borommakot Uthumphon Ekkathat

Thonburi Kingdom
(1767–1782)

Thonburi Dynasty	Taksin

Rattanakosin / Thailand
(1782-present)

Chakri Dynasty	Rama I Rama II Rama III Mongkut Chulalongkorn Vajiravudh Prajadhipok Ananda Mahidol Bhumibol Adulyadej

List of monarchs of Thailand

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 63190062 LCCN: n91085151 SUDOC: 087697300

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