Ayutthaya as a center of political and administrative power

In the first 400 years of Ayutthaya history the kingdom was founded and strengthened and its wealth was built up. The administrative system was designed to allow the king to keep the entire kingdom in order by controlling the lords, local officials, nobility, bureaucrats, peasants and slaves as well as immigrants and monks. The kings also worked on modernizing the military and accumulating stores of weapons to guard against attack or expand the kingdom's territory.

All this is reflected in the building of a capital city that was wealthy and strong surrounded by modern forts. The palace and many stupas are testimony of the kingdom's prosperity and stability, as were the royal and folk traditions concerned with the king's great stature, Concepts of religion and the universe, such as the Traiphum, have been passed down to the present era.

Early settlement before and after the Sukhothai Era
The first important towns in Thai history arose in the fifth to thirteenth centuries. They were located on trade routes linking ports on the coasts with the inner regions. These early settlements included Uthong, Srimahosot, Nakhon Pathom, Lawo, and Haripunchai.

Around the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the geographical, economic, and political climates changed resulting in the rise of new towns that replaced the older ones. These were located closer to the sea and further inland. They are Phimai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Suwanaphum, Sukhothai. Chiang Mai and Phetburi.

The Ayutthaya city plan
Historical and archeological evidence shows that Ayutthaya was not newly founded in the sixteenth century but was built up from the older town of Ayothaya. Ruins from Ayothaya are found in the eastern part of the city island. The ruins of important temples temples dating from before the foundation of Ayutthaya are found in the port area and scattered around the city island.

The Oath of Allegiance ceremony
The Oath of Allegiance ceremony was introduced in the Ayutthaya Era. It combines Buddhist and Brahman beliefs. The ceremony was held twice a year, on the third day of the waxing moon in the fifth lunar month and the thirteenth day of the waning moon in the tenth lunar month. It was held at Wat Phra Si Sanphet Temple.

The ceremony began with Buddhist monks reciting prayers to consecrate holy water. Then, in the Brahman portion of the ceremony, royal weapons were immersed in the holy water to add their power to it. Then all the royalty and high - level government officials took turns to take the oath of allegiance to the king and drink the holy water to prove their sincerity in loyally serving the kingdom, The ceremony demonstrated the stability of the kingdom.

Foreign enclaves
Ayutthaya monarchs donated land outside the city island to foreigners and allowed them to build houses there to await the monsoon season. The foreign enclaves were under the direction of a royal official called the kosabahn. Each group of foreign residents was allowed to select their own leader and to try any legal cases under their own legal systems. They were also free to observe their own religions.

Diplomacy in the Ayutthaya Era
Ayutthaya monarchs undertook foreign relation efforts along with foreign trade. Their policy was to be on friendly terms with all other nations. They sent emissaries to other powers in Asia and Europe. In the reign of King Narai the Great the king held a reception for an emissary from France and sent Phraya Kosabahn in return to pay his respects to Louis XIV.

Interest in Western innovations
When Europeans traveled to Ayutthaya the Ayutthaya kings were very interested in their technology such as guns and other military equipment, ships and navigational tools, astrology, and architecture.

The Makkasan Revolt
In the mid-eighteenth century, with the support of Muslim royals, King Prasat Thong changed the procedures for trade with the ports on the Eastern Coast of India in order to compete better with European merchants. However, Okya Wichaiyen (Constantin Phaulkon) tried to usurp the powers of the Muslim royals and diminish their influence. This is one of the issues that sparked the Makkasan Revolt.

Relations between Ayutthaya and foreign nations
As a port city Ayutthaya traded with many nations. Ayutthaya monarchs forged friendly relations with nations in Asia and Europe. They allowed foreigners to set up warehouses and even villages in the kingdom and tried to learn from them. The kings hired foreigners with the necessary expertise to undertake commerce and as mercenaries and maritime navigators. At times conflicts arose in these interactions, but often they also led to cultural exchanges.

The flourishing of religion in the late Ayutthaya period
The murals in the residence of the patriarch at Wat Puthai Sawan Temple depict King Baromakot sending monks to Lanka to disseminate religion in 1753.