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Why Thonburi, and how the outside world saw the new king
After recovering the capital, King Taksin did not restore Ayutthaya but went down to set up his capital at Thonburi, and was crowned on 28 December 1767. Thai documents explain the move with both worldly reasons and reasons of belief, while foreign sources help to show how hard the new king had to work before he was recognised from outside.
What each version says
| Sources | What it says (summary) |
|---|---|
| Royal Chronicles, Royal Autograph version | Tells of a dream in which the kings of former times came to drive him away from the old capital, so he went down to settle at Thonburi: an explanation in terms of belief that has been handed down. |
| Okphra Phiphat Kosa's letter of 1769 | Says that under Phaya Tak the country became as prosperous as before, or more so, with more junks and trading ships coming in than previously. |
| Qing court documents (as studied by Masuda and Wills) | At first the Qianlong Emperor would not recognise King Taksin as the legitimate ruler, because he had received reports that princes of Ayutthaya were still under the protection of Mac Thien Tu at Ha Tien. The Qing court first called King Taksin wang (king) only in 1777. |
| Historians' explanation | Thonburi was near the sea, controlled the boat route, and was convenient for trade with China and with the eastern coastal towns that were his power base. The town was small enough to hold with the forces available, and he could withdraw by sea if necessary. |
Thonburi before it was the capital
Thonburi had been a fortress town near the river mouth since the Ayutthaya period, with Wichai Prasit Fortress commanding the Chao Phraya River. King Taksin took the town before going up to attack the Pho Sam Ton camp, so he knew the terrain well. The Thonburi Palace, built on the west bank of the river, is still within the Royal Thai Navy compound today, next to Wat Arun Ratchawararam.
Ayutthaya, for its part, was badly damaged and too vast for the manpower available at the time to hold. It also lay deep inland, far from the sea trade routes on which the new king had to depend.
The dream and the worldly reasons
The dream in the chronicles is a way of explaining a great decision in terms people of the time understood, and need not conflict with the strategic reasons. Choosing a new city meant the new leader did not have to live in the palace of the old dynasty. At the same time, the cremation of King Ekkathat and the care given to the old royal family showed that he was the successor of Ayutthaya.
Ten years before China's recognition
For the sea trade, recognition by the Chinese court mattered greatly. King Taksin sent several embassies, but the Qing court hesitated because reports from Ha Tien said there were still princes of Ayutthaya who might be heirs to the throne. Relations gradually improved as Siam sent Burmese prisoners and helped in the war China was then fighting with Burma, until China called King Taksin a king in 1777. The large tribute mission sent in 1781 reached China after King Taksin's reign had ended.
Where historians still disagree
- The main reason for the move: military strategy, trade, or the politics of legitimacy. Historians weigh them differently.
Frequently asked questions
When was King Taksin crowned?
On 28 December 1767, at Thonburi.
When did China recognise King Taksin?
The Qing court began calling King Taksin a king in 1777, after hesitating for several years.
Last updated 13 November 2026