King Louis XIV

[Name of the Institute]

King Louis XIV

Introduction

King Louis XIV was the King who was famous as the Sun King. Imagine a city so rich in golden temples that their glistening could be seen from miles away. A city that, in 1685, had a population of 1 million nearly double that of London at the same time. King Louis XIV of France's diplomats was welcomed here by King Narai (in the year between 1656 to 1688) and Siamese envoys visited the French court. That fabled city is now Ayutthaya Historical Park, a day trip from Bangkok. The ruins of this original capital of Thailand one of the most important Asian cities from the mid-14th to the late 18th century is a perfect place to visit to better understand Thai culture. Today, the site has been given UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Most of the gold is long gone, but its illustrious history lives on (Ashley, 1965).

A Long and Colourful History

Ayutthaya took its name from the Indian city Ayodhya (Sanskrit for "invincible"), the birthplace of Rama. Founded in 1351 by King U Thong, the city became powerful after the declines of the Khmer empire at Angkor and the first Thai kingdom. By the mid-15th century, Ayutthaya controlled much of modern-day Thailand and was built almost entirely on canals, few of which survive today. Its great wealth came from foreign traders, mainly in the 17th century, with around 40 different nationalities--including Chinese, Dutch, English and French--living there. The Thais traded rice, salt and vegetables for rifles and cannons. The Thai kings cleverly maintained their independence from other countries while taking what they liked from international influences. The kings were absolute rulers with god-like status who drew authority from both Hindu and Buddhist tradition.

The nearby Burmese had waged war on the city for centuries but had always been repelled- until 1767 when the ...