Home Region: Mainland Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia)

Ayutthaya

1593 CE 1767 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 th_ayutthaya / ThAyuth

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

1593 CE 1767 CE Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

1782 CE 1873 CE Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin) [continuity]

Displayed:

Learn more about polity border choices. Map Modern Map only Opacity Year Play rate (y/s)
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.

General Description

The city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1351 CE in the Chao Phraya Basin, in modern-day Thailand, and soon emerged as a dominant force in the region, turning neighbouring mueang, or city-states, into its tributaries. ^[1] This was largely thanks to its advantageous geographical position, which allowed it to become an entrepôt where goods could be exchanged between China to the east, India and Arabia to the west, and the Malay archipelago to the south. ^[2] In 1569, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese army. ^[3] Here, we only consider the second phase of the polity’s history, starting in 1593, when Ayutthaya regained its independence after defeating Burma at the Battle of Nong Sarai. ^[4] The kingdom flourished throughout the 17th century, regaining its status as the dominant political and economic power of mainland Southeast Asia and ruling over Khmer, Lao, Lanna, and Shan. ^[5] The polity may have reached its peak under King Borommakot (reigned 1733‒1758): during this time, Ayutthaya faced no serious external threats (indeed, it made peace with Burma and consolidated its hold over Cambodia), and supplanted Sri Lanka as the preeminent centre of Buddhist culture. ^[6] Shortly afterwards, however, hostilities with Burma resumed due to the ambitions of a new Burmese dynasty. In 1767, Ayutthaya was once again captured ‒ and this time, it was destroyed. ^[7]
A number of different spellings of Ayutthaya are in use, including Ayuthaya, Ayudhya, and Ayuthia. ^[8]
Population and political organization
In the Ayutthaya Kingdom, kings ruled over a society composed of a ’service nobility of maybe 2000 people and their families, and a mass of people bound to surrender some or all of their labour to the elite’. ^[9] There was a four-part administrative structure: one ministry was dedicated to the palace and the capital; one to military affairs and relations with tributary states and cities; one to trade, the treasury, and foreign communities; and one, made up of Brahmans, to ritual, astrology, and records. ^[9]
It is difficult to give a firm figure for the population of the kingdom as a whole. However, Ayutthaya may have been the largest city in Southeast Asia in the 17th and 18th centuries, ^[10] with perhaps 150,000 inhabitants in 1700 and 160,000 in 1750. ^[11]

[1]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, xv, 7-13) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[2]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 10) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[3]: (Wyatt 1984, 100) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[4]: (Wyatt 1984, 103) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[5]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 13-18) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[6]: (Wyatt 1984, 130-31) David K. Wyatt. 1984. Thailand: A Short History. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

[7]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 21-22) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[8]: (Ooi 2004, xxiii) Keat Gin Ooi. 2004. Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia from Angkor Wat to East Timor. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

[9]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 15) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[10]: (Baker and Phongpaichit 2009, 13) Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009. A History of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[11]: Christopher K. Chase-Dunn 2001, personal communication 2012

General Variables

Identity and Location

4 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

8 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

2 Polity Succession

Language

1 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

2 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 General Postal Service

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

9 Power Transition

Instability Events

36 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya) was in:
(1594 CE 1767 CE)	Cambodian Basin

Home NGA: Cambodian Basin

General Variables

Identity and Location Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	47 P	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Utm Zone	47 Q	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Utm Zone	48 P	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Utm Zone	48 Q	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Original Name	Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Capital	Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Krung Kao	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Samai Krung Si Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Ayuthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Ayudhya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Ayuthia	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Anajak Ayutthaya	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	[1733 CE ➜ 1758 CE]
Loading...

Duration	[1593 CE ➜ 1767 CE]
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	nominal allegiance to [---]	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Supracultural Entity	Indianized Southeast Asia	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Rattanakosin	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Scale of Supracultural Interaction	2,175,000 km²	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 1593 CE 1767 CE	Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya) [continuity]
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 1782 CE 1873 CE	Rattanakosin (th_rattanakosin) [continuity]
Loading...

Language Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Tai-Kadai	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Language	Tai	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Language	Thai	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Religion Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	155,000 people	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Polity Territory	- Undecided	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	4	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Religious Level	6	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Military Level	6	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Administrative Level	6	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Professions Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Examination System	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Law Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Judge	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Court	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Unknown Suspected	1596 CE 1633 CE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Present	1633 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Port	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Canal	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Bridge	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Script	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Practical Literature	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

History	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Calendar	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Information / Money Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Precious Metal	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Foreign Coin	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Article	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
General Postal Service	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moat	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Ditch	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Long Wall	unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Iron	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Copper	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Bronze	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Projectiles Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Sling	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Self Bow	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Javelin	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Present Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Crossbow	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Sword	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Spear	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Polearm	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Dagger	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Elephant	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Donkey	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Dog	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Camel	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Armor Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Shield	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Helmet	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Chainmail	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Naval technology Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent Inferred	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	1593 CE 1767 CE
Loading...

Human Sacrifice Ayutthaya (th_ayutthaya)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More