| Ramathibodi I รามาธิบดีที่ ๑ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Ayutthaya | |||||
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| King ofAyutthaya | |||||
| Reign | 4 March 1351[1]–1369 | ||||
| Predecessor | Monarchy established | ||||
| Successor | Ramesuan | ||||
| Born | 10 March 1314[citation needed] | ||||
| Died | 1369 | ||||
| Issue | KingRamesuan of Ayutthaya | ||||
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| House | Uthong dynasty | ||||
King U-thong[2][a][3] (Thai:พระเจ้าอู่ทอง;pronounced[ʔùː.tʰɔ̄ːŋ]) orKingRamathibodi I (Thai:สมเด็จพระรามาธิบดีที่ ๑;Rāmādhipatī;pronunciationⓘ, 1314–1369) was the first king of the kingdomAyutthaya (now part ofThailand),[4]: 222 reigning from 1351[1] to 1369.
He was known as Prince U Thong (meaning "Golden Cradle") before he ascended to the throne in 1350. There are many theories about Uthong's background, including possibly being a descendant ofMangrai.[5]: 27 [6] According to a better-known source, a seventeenth-century account by DutchmanJeremias van Vliet, aRenowned Legend stated that Ramatibodi was an ethnic Chinese, having sailed down from China. After succeeding in trade, he became influential enough to rule the city ofPhetchaburi, (or Vajrapur in sanskrit ) a coastal town of the Gulf of Thailand, before travelling up toAyutthaya.[7][8]
Ramathibodi I established four Great Officers of State. These were theMinistry of the Interior (Wieng), the Ministry of the Treasury (Klang), the Ministry for the King's Household (Wang), and the Ministry of Agriculture (Na). He also codified the T'ai laws. Finally, he formed an alliance with theMing dynasty.[5]: 28
He established his own capital in the new city ofAyutthaya. King Ramathabodi's reign includedKorat,Chantaburi,Tavoy,Tanintharyi,Tenasserim, andlarge parts of Malaya.[5]: 28
In 1352 he laid siege toYasodharapura. He was successful the following year and placed one of his sons on the throne. However, they were only able to keep the throne until 1357, when the Khmers were able to regain it.[9]: 236
King Ramathibodi's death sparked a conflict over succession. Initially, his son KingRamesuan became ruler of Ayutthaya, but his son later abdicated in favor of Ramathibodi's brother-in-law and the ruler ofSuvarnabhumi, KingBorommarachathirat I.[5]: 29 In 1388 Ramesuan took revenge by taking Ayutthaya back from Borommarachathirat I's son,Thonglan. and followed by Borommarachathirat I's nephewIntharacha took Ayutthaya back for Suphannaphum dynasty in 1408. From then on Uthong dynasty was then purged and became a mere noble family of Ayutthaya until the 16th century.
Uthong Born: 10 March 1314 Died: 1369 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
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| New title | King of Ayutthaya 1351–1369 | Succeeded by |
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