Creating a Strong and Stable Kingdom

Creating a Strong and Stable Kingdom

After proclaiming independence from Burmese control, Pra Naresuan was confident that the enemy would certainly invade Thailand again. Therefore, he changed strategies to deal with the attack by preparing food and collecting people from the northern provinces so that Ayuddhaya would gain more power. In 2121 B.E. (1578 A.D.), he ordered all those provinces to move people along with food to settle in Ayuddhaya. In addition, King Mahathammaraja built a new palace called the Chankasem Palace for Pra Naresuan to stay in Ayuddhaya. This concept influenced Pra Naresuan after he became King to cancel the Northern Crown Prince position and to appoint local noblemen to look after the northern provinces. This change was due to the following reasons. 1. Manpower of Ayuddhaya was not enough to resist the Burmese troops, and if Burma could possess the manpower of these northern provinces, the provinces would become the military center. 2. Pra Naresuan wanted the areas surrounding Ayuddhaya to be the fighting areas to facilitate strategic support and wanted to prevent Burma from gaining people and food from the northern provinces.

picture : King Naresuan collecting people from the northern provinces so that Ayuddhaya would gain more power. In 2121 B.E. (1578 A.D.)