The roots of the Khmer civilization
The Khmer civilization, still shrouded in myth, has undeniably had a huge influence on much of what is today known as Southeast Asia. Yet many questions remain unanswered for historians and archaeologists about the origins of this fascinating empire.
How a Russian Nurse Became Duchess of Phitsanulok
Recently you were able to read the story of the adventures of the Siamese prince Chakrabongse, who was trained as an officer in the Russian army in Saint Petersburg, under the care of Tsar Nicholas II. The story ends after the Siamese prince secretly marries a Russian lady, Ekaterina 'Katya' Desnitskaya. This sequel is mainly about her.
The short-lived Thonburi Empire
Anyone who has a little interest in the rich Thai history knows the kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Much less known is the story of the kingdom of Thonburi. And that is not really surprising because this principality had a very short-lived existence
Tensions naturally ran high. In June 1893, warships from various nations arrived off the mouth of the Chao Phraya and might have to evacuate their compatriots in case of a French attack on Bangkok. The Germans sent the gunboat Wolf and the Dutch steamship Sumbawa showed up from Batavia. The Royal Navy sent HMS Pallas from Singapore.
Gunboat diplomacy is, I think, one of those words that must be a wet dream of any avid scrabble player. In 1893 Siam fell victim to this very special form of diplomacy.
Prince Narisara Nuwattiwongse, minister, general, admiral, academic and promoter of the fine arts
Princes… You can't miss it in Thailand's rich and at times turbulent history. Not all of them turned out to be the proverbial fairytale princes on the equally proverbial white elephants, but some of them did manage to leave their mark on the nation.
I live in Buriram province and Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung is in my backyard, so to speak. I have therefore gratefully used this proximity to get to know this site very well, thanks to numerous visits. I would like to take a moment to reflect on this temple, which is one of the most interesting in Thailand in more ways than one.
Bangkok Protestant Cemetery
I readily admit that I have a soft spot for old cemeteries and funerary heritage. After all, there are few places where the past is as tangible as in a historic graveyard. This certainly applies to the Protestant cemetery in Bangkok.
When Siam had two kings on the throne
In July of the year 1824, the Siamese King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, Rama II, suddenly became very ill and died not long after. According to royal succession law, the throne should pass to Queen Suriyandra's son, Prince Mongkut.
Phya Anuman Rajadhon พระยาอนุมานราชธน (1888-1969), who became known by his pen name Sathiankoset, can be regarded as one of the most influential pioneers, if not the founder, of modern Thai anthropology.
Have you ever been to Cambodia to visit the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, the almost thousand-year-old temple, the world's largest religious building? Still a long journey from Thailand and it would have been close to seeing the Angkor Wat in Bangkok, more or less on the spot where the Central World now stands.
The historical roots of Muay Thai
The origin of the wildly popular Muay Thai, colloquially but not quite rightly called Thai boxing, has unfortunately been lost in the mists of time. However, it is certain that Muay Thai has a long and very rich history and originated as a close combat discipline used by the Siamese troops on the battlefield in hand-to-hand combat.
The eventful history of the VOC outpost near Phuket
Phuket, the largest Thai island, undoubtedly exerts a great attraction on the Dutch. This is not only the case today, but it was also the case in the seventeenth century.
It is often said that Buddhism and politics are inextricably linked in Thailand. But is that really so? In a number of contributions for Thailand blog I look for how both have related to each other over time and what the current power relations are and how they should be interpreted.
At the end of the nineteenth century Siam was, politically speaking, a patchwork of semi-autonomous states and city-states that was in one way or another subservient to the central authority in Bangkok. This state of dependence also applied to the Sangha, the Buddhist community.
The 'Revolution That Never Happened'
The 1932 Revolution was a coup that ended the absolutist monarchy in Siam. Without doubt a benchmark in the modern historiography of the country. In my view, the palace revolt of 1912, which is often described as the 'revolt that never took place', was at least as important but now even more hidden between the folds of history. Perhaps partly due to the fact that there are many parallels to be drawn between these historical events and the present…
'Au Siam', the fascinating travelogue of the Jottrands
Regular readers of Thailandblog know that I occasionally reflect on a striking publication from my well-stocked Asian work library. Today I would like to reflect on a booklet that rolled off the presses in Paris in 1905: 'Au Siam', written by the Walloon couple Jottrand.