Far East Kingdoms

Sukhothai Kingdom (Thais)
AD 1238 - 1438

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Founded in the north-central region in 1238 by two Thai governors, Khun Bang Klang Thao (Si Inthrathit) and Khun Pha Muang. Government was by Patriarchic Politics, and was the first Thai leadership to be established without Khmer domination.

The Sukhothai period of Thai history was considered to be a golden age of Thai culture. During that time, everybody could say 'there are fish in the water and rice in the fields', in other words, an abundance of resources. Potters entered Thai artistry and extensive trade was established with the Khmer and India. The first Thai writing system was created (derived from Khmer) by King Ramkhamhaeng.

(Information by Peter Kessler & John De Cleene, with additional information from the John De Cleene Archive, from A History of Thailand, Chris Baker & Pasuk Phongpaichit (2005), from Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopaedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Keat Gin Ooi (ABC-Clio, 2004), from Early Mainland Southeast Asia, C Higham (River Books Co, 2014), from Encyclopaedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations, Charles F W Higham (Facts on File, 2004), from Historical Atlas of the World, R R Palmer (Ed, Chicago, 1963), and from External Links: Ancient Chinese farmers sowed literal seeds of change in south-east Asia (Science News), and The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, George Coedès (Walter F Vella (Ed), Susan Brown Cowing (Trans), University of Hawaii Press, 1968, and available online via the Internet Archive).)

c.1240 - 1270

Founded the first great Thai empire.

c.1270 - 1279

c.1279 - 1298

1298 - 1346/7

1346 - 1347

1347 - 1368/74

His rule may have begun in 1346.

1368/74 - 1398

1398 - 1419

1419 - 1438

1438

Sukhothai is conquered by Ayuddhya.