Ban Phran Nok

What happened here

Sunday 4 January 1767, afternoon to eveningStop 6 of 15

The force halted for the night at Ban Phran Nok. Soldiers who went out to find food ran into another Burmese force, which had come up from Bang Khang in the territory of Prachin Buri, and were chased back to the camp.

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A fight on horseback, one against six

The Royal Autograph version says Phraya Tak mounted and rode out first with four other horsemen, while the rest of his men formed two wings and attacked from the sides. The Burmese cavalry, 30 horses, was driven back onto its 2,000 foot soldiers until the whole force scattered. Five horses against thirty: hence the name "the fight on horseback, one against six", and the origin of Cavalry Day on 4 January.

The chronicle also says that Khun Chamnan Phraison and an officer of the elephant corps came over to Phraya Tak with their elephants on the following day, Monday, the 6th day of the waxing moon; they did not take part in the fight at Ban Phran Nok. The story of old Kham, the hunter who led soldiers out to look for food, is local tradition.

The place today

It is Village 2 of Pho Sao Han subdistrict. The memorial stands in the grounds of Wat Phran Nok and Wat Ban Phran Nok School, with a statue of King Taksin the Great. The province holds a flower-laying and offering ceremony every 4 January; if you go on the day, set out early. Legend has it that the village is named after old Kham, a hunter (phran) who led soldiers out to look for food and came upon the Burmese force.

Position on the map: Approximate coordinates, about 3 km from Ban Pho Sao Han. The directions button searches Google Maps by the place name.