Mahinthrathirat
Encyclopedia
Somdet Phra Mahinthrathirat (1539–1569) was the King of Ayutthaya kingdom
in 1568 and again from 1568 to 1569. Mahinthrathirat was the last monarch of the Suphannabhum dynasty as the kingdom fell to the Burmese in 1569. Mahinthrathirat was known for his efforts to counter Burmese and Phitsanulok power by seeking alliance with Setthathirath
of Lan Xang
.
and Queen Sri Suriyothai. Mahinthrathirat had an elder brother Prince Ramesuan
the Uparaja - then heir to the throne. In 1548, Tabinshweti marched the Burmese armies to invade Ayutthaya. Mahinthrathirat joined his family to battle the Burmese. However, his mother Queen Sri Suriyothai was killed in battle.
Bayinnaung
, brother-in-law of Tabinshweti, led the Burmese to invade Siam again in 1563. Bayinnuang laid the siege on Ayutthaya in 1564 and only retreated in exchange for Prince Ramesuan as a captive to Burma. Mahinthrathirat, therefore, was appointed the new Uparaja unprepared. Maha Chakkrapat then decided to abdicated and became a monk in 1568. Mahinthrathirat was then crowned as the king of Ayutthaya in the pressure of the invading Burmese.
, the King of Phitsanulok
and Maha Chakkrapat's handful noble, had allied himself with Bayinnuang in 1563. Mahinthathirat then feared that Bayinnuang, with supports from Maha Thammarachathirat, would be able to take Ayutthaya. He then sought alliances with Setthathirat of Lan Xang and planned a joint-attack on Phitsanulok. Mahinthrathirat was also intended to marry his younger sister, Thepkasatri, to Settathirat.
However, Maha Thammarachathirat then informed Bayinnuang about the arranged marriage and alliances. Bayinnaung then kidnapped Thepkasatri on her way to Vientiane
. Rufusing to became Bayinnaung's concubine, Thepkasatri committed suicide.
Mahinthrathirat, upon the crisis, urged his father Maha Chakkrapat to return to the court to fight the Burmese. While Maha Thammarachathirat was away to Pegu, Maha Chakkrapat was crowned again and Mahinthrathirat made himself titular King of Phitsanulok. Mahinthrathirat tried to capture Phitsanulok in the joint expedition with Setthathirat but without success.
Bayinnuand installed Maha Thammarachathirat as the King of Ayutthaya tributary to Pegu. Mahinthrathirat along with his family and the nobility were captured to Pegu. Mahinthrathirat died in the same year on the way to Pegu. Some sources said he insulted Bayinnuang and was then drowned, thus spelling the end to Suphannabhum dynasty.
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 1568 and again from 1568 to 1569. Mahinthrathirat was the last monarch of the Suphannabhum dynasty as the kingdom fell to the Burmese in 1569. Mahinthrathirat was known for his efforts to counter Burmese and Phitsanulok power by seeking alliance with Setthathirath
Setthathirath
Setthathirath is considered one of the great leaders in Lao history. Throughout 1560s up until his death, he successfully defended his kingdom of Lan Xang against military campaigns of Burmese conqueror Bayinnaung, who had already subdued Xieng Mai in 1558 and Ayutthaya in 1564...
of Lan Xang
Lan Xang
The Lao kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Kao was established in 1354 by Fa Ngum.Exiled as an infant to Cambodia, Prince Fa Ngum of Xieng Dong Xieng Thong married a daughter of the Khmer king. In 1349 he set out from Angkor at the head of a 10,000-man army to establish his own country...
.
A prince far from the throne
Prince Mahinthrathirat was a son of Maha ChakkrapatMaha Chakkrapat
Somdet Phra Maha Chakkraphat was king of the Ayutthaya kingdom from 1548 to 1568. Originally called Prince Thianracha, he was put on the throne by Phiren Thorathep and his supporters, who had staged a coup by killing King Vorawongsathirat and Sri Sudachan.-An Ayutthayan Prince:Prince Thianracha ...
and Queen Sri Suriyothai. Mahinthrathirat had an elder brother Prince Ramesuan
Prince Ramesuan
Phra Ramesuan was a Siamese prince and military commander during the Ayutthaya period in the 16th century. He was a son of Prince Thianracha and Suriyothai, thus he was a member of the Suphannaphum Dynasty...
the Uparaja - then heir to the throne. In 1548, Tabinshweti marched the Burmese armies to invade Ayutthaya. Mahinthrathirat joined his family to battle the Burmese. However, his mother Queen Sri Suriyothai was killed in battle.
Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta was the third king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma . During his 30-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma", Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern day...
, brother-in-law of Tabinshweti, led the Burmese to invade Siam again in 1563. Bayinnuang laid the siege on Ayutthaya in 1564 and only retreated in exchange for Prince Ramesuan as a captive to Burma. Mahinthrathirat, therefore, was appointed the new Uparaja unprepared. Maha Chakkrapat then decided to abdicated and became a monk in 1568. Mahinthrathirat was then crowned as the king of Ayutthaya in the pressure of the invading Burmese.
Wars with Bayinnaung
Maha ThammarachathiratMaha Thammarachathirat
Phra Maha Thammarachathirat or Somdet Phra Sanphet I or formerly known as Khun Phiren Thorathep was the first King of Ayutthaya kingdom of the Sukhothai dynasty ruling from 1569 to 1590. As a powerful Sukhothai noble, Pirenthorathep gradually rose to power...
, the King of Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
and Maha Chakkrapat's handful noble, had allied himself with Bayinnuang in 1563. Mahinthathirat then feared that Bayinnuang, with supports from Maha Thammarachathirat, would be able to take Ayutthaya. He then sought alliances with Setthathirat of Lan Xang and planned a joint-attack on Phitsanulok. Mahinthrathirat was also intended to marry his younger sister, Thepkasatri, to Settathirat.
However, Maha Thammarachathirat then informed Bayinnuang about the arranged marriage and alliances. Bayinnaung then kidnapped Thepkasatri on her way to Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
. Rufusing to became Bayinnaung's concubine, Thepkasatri committed suicide.
Mahinthrathirat, upon the crisis, urged his father Maha Chakkrapat to return to the court to fight the Burmese. While Maha Thammarachathirat was away to Pegu, Maha Chakkrapat was crowned again and Mahinthrathirat made himself titular King of Phitsanulok. Mahinthrathirat tried to capture Phitsanulok in the joint expedition with Setthathirat but without success.
Fall of Ayutthaya
Bayinnaung then led the Burmese armies in mass to Ayutthaya with supports from Maha Thammarachathirat. The Burmese then laid siege on Ayutthaya. Maha Chakkrapat fell ill and died. Mahinthrathirat assumed the throne again. In spite of several months of efforts, Ayutthaya stood still. Bayinnuang then bribed Phraya Chakri - a Siamese general who had been captured during the War of White Elephant in 1564 - to be a spy. Mahinthrathirat embraced the returned general with trust. He appointed Phraya Chakri the commander of Siamese armies. Phraya Chakri then placed the less-trained troops in the front. The Burmese then easily defeated the Siamese and eventually took the city in 1569.Bayinnuand installed Maha Thammarachathirat as the King of Ayutthaya tributary to Pegu. Mahinthrathirat along with his family and the nobility were captured to Pegu. Mahinthrathirat died in the same year on the way to Pegu. Some sources said he insulted Bayinnuang and was then drowned, thus spelling the end to Suphannabhum dynasty.