Ayuthaya Gallery

Towards the middle 15th century, the city state of Ayudhaya acceded power from Sukhothai and became the new seat of government for the Thai people for a total of 417 years. The city had been founded on an island at the junction of three rivers. The lowlands surrounding the city flooded annually and was rich in alluvial soil. These natural conditions made Ayudhaya strategically easy to defend. Moreover, being near the Chao Phraya estuary made it accessible by seafaring trading vessels. Thus Ayudhaya became an important trading centre controlling foreign trade with all points northward. It quickly achieved a remarkable state of prosperity. Availability of foreign technology and weaponry also made it immensely powerful among its neighbours. Ayudhaya rule was based on a concept of kingship different to that of Sukhothai. The king was the incarnation of a deity as derived from the Khmer concept. The patriarchal system became a feudal community centre in which all cultural activities and services took place. The king became the royal patron of the Buddhist faith, as well as of all the arts. Ayudhaya fell to an invading Burmese army in 1767. This was the culmination of decades of armed conflict between the two countries. The once glorious city was left devastated and without leadership. It was abandoned and quickly went into ruin.