Cornelius Specx
Encyclopedia
Cornelis Specx is known as the first European to interact with the Thai
court.
In 1601 he sailed under Joris van Spilbergen
to Aceh
. The journey was organised by Balthasar de Moucheron. Specx became a bookkeeper of the Dutch East India Company
in 1603. In June 1604 he was sent by Admiral Wijbrandt van Waerwijck to Siam with presents for king Naresuan
, hoping to get access to China
with Siamese help. He established a trading post ("factory") in Ayutthaya
in 1604.
An embassy of five people from the Kingdom of Siam
was sent by the following Siamese ruler, Ekathotsarot
. and brought to Holland by Admiral Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge onboard Orange, who had left Bantam
on January 28, 1608.
A few precious stones, taken on board by Specx, disappeared. The embassy arrived in The Hague
on September 10, 1608, and met with Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
.
Specx died during the journey. His goods were sold before the mast
.
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
court.
In 1601 he sailed under Joris van Spilbergen
Joris van Spilbergen
Joris van Spilbergen was a Dutch naval officer of the 17th century.His first major expedition was in 1596, when he sailed to Africa....
to Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
. The journey was organised by Balthasar de Moucheron. Specx became a bookkeeper of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
in 1603. In June 1604 he was sent by Admiral Wijbrandt van Waerwijck to Siam with presents for king Naresuan
Naresuan
Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat or Somdet Phra Sanphet II was the King of the Ayutthaya kingdom from 1590 until his death in 1605. Naresuan was one of Siam's most revered monarchs as he was known for his campaigns to free Siam from Burmese rule...
, hoping to get access to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with Siamese help. He established a trading post ("factory") in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
in 1604.
An embassy of five people from the Kingdom of Siam
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
was sent by the following Siamese ruler, Ekathotsarot
Ekathotsarot
Prabat Somdet Phra Sanpet III or Somdet Phra Ekatotsarot was the King of Ayutthaya from 1605 to 1610 succeeding his brother Naresuan. His reign was mostly peaceful as Siam was then a powerful state through the conquests of Naresuan...
. and brought to Holland by Admiral Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge onboard Orange, who had left Bantam
Bantam
Bantam may refer to:* Bantam , a small variety of poultry* Bantamweight, a weight class in boxing-Places:* Bantam , a city and former sultanate on Java island, in Indonesia...
on January 28, 1608.
A few precious stones, taken on board by Specx, disappeared. The embassy arrived in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
on September 10, 1608, and met with Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange was sovereign Prince of Orange from 1618, on the death of his eldest half brother, Philip William, Prince of Orange,...
.
Specx died during the journey. His goods were sold before the mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
.