# Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom

The Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom (Thai: อาณาจักรนครศรีธรรมราช RTGS: Anachak Nakhon Si Thammarat), Nagara Sri Dharmarashtra or the Kingdom of Ligor, was one of the major constituent city states (mueang) of the Siamese kingdoms of Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya and controlled a sizeable part of the Malay Peninsula. Its capital was the eponymous city of Nakhon Si Thammarat in what is now Southern Thailand.

## History
### Sukhothai period

Most historians identify the Tambralinga kingdom (existing c. 10th to 13th century) as a precursor of Nakhon Si Thammarat. During the late 1st and early 2nd millennium CE, Tai peoples expanded in mainland Southeast Asia. By the 13th century, they made Nakhon Si Thammarat one of their mueang (city-states). The exact circumstances of the Tai taking over the earlier Buddhist and Indianised kingdom at this location remain unclear, but it must have taken place before the mid-13th century.
The Ramkhamhaeng stele of 1283 (or 1292) lists Nakhon Si Thammarat as the southernmost tributary kingdom of Sukhothai, probably ruled by Sri Thammasokaraj, a relative of King Ram Khamhaeng. Nakhon Si Thammarat's Buddhist Theravada tradition was a model for the whole Sukhothai kingdom. Exemplary for the Southeast Asian Mandala model, the dependency towards Sukhothai was only personal, not institutional. Therefore, after Ram Khaemhaeng's death, Nakhon Si Thammarat regained its independence and became the dominant Thai mueang on the Malay Peninsula.

### Ayutthaya period

In the Old Javanese Desawarnana document of 1365, the Majapahit kingdom recognised Nakhon Si Thammarat as belonging to Siam. The Palatine law of King Trailok dated 1468, listed Nakhon Si Thammarat as one of eight "great cities" (phraya maha nakhon) belonging to the Ayutthaya kingdom. Nevertheless, it maintained its own dynasty and had vassal states of its own, which it mediated to Ayutthaya (again a typical feature of the Mandala model with its tiered levels of power). Under king Naresuan (r. 1590–1605) it became instead a "first class province" (mueang ek). However, the post of provincial governor was still quasi-hereditary and usually handed down from father to son within the old Nakhon Si Thammarat dynasty. It was the most important among Ayutthaya's southern provinces and enjoyed a primacy vis-à-vis the other provinces on the Malay Peninsula. Its role in overseas trade (involving Dutch and Portuguese merchants) resulted in the province's substantial wealth and contributed to a high level of confidence and claim of autonomy.
During the Ayutthayan succession conflict of 1629, Nakhon Si Thammarat rebelled against the new king Prasat Thong. The usurper sent the influential Japanese adventurer Yamada Nagamasa with his mercenary force to quell the rebellion and made him governor and lord of Nakhon Si Thammarat for a short time. Another insurrection of Nakhon Si Thammarat against the capital took place after the Siamese revolution of 1688 when the local ruler refused to accept the accession of usurper king Phetracha.

### Thonburi period

After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Nakhon Si Thammarat again enjoyed a short period of independence, including its subordinate provinces on the Malay Peninsula, but was subdued by Taksin in 1769 on his mission to reunite Siam.

### Rattanakosin period

Under Rama I, the rank of the Lord of Nakhon Si Thammarat was demoted from a vassal ruler to a mere governor of a first-class province and his control over the northern Malay sultanates (including Patani) was taken away, instead awarding them to the governor of Songkhla. Nakhon Si Thammarat was supervised by the Kalahom (Minister of the Southern provinces). In 1821 and 1831 however, kings Rama II and Rama III again tasked the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat to quell rebellions in the Malay sultanate of Kedah. The tiered relationships between Bangkok, Nakhon Si Thammarat and the Malay sultanates of Kedah and Perak posed a conundrum for the British East India Company in Malaya, which incorrectly assumed the European model of exclusive sovereignty (or suzerainty) over territories.

### Integration into the Siamese central state

With the Thesaphiban reform of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab at the end of the 19th century the kingdom was finally fully absorbed into Siam. A new administrative entity named monthon (circle) was created, each supervising several provinces. Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat, established in 1896, covered those areas on the east coast of the peninsula, i.e. the provinces Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung.

## Naksat cities

According to the 16th-century Southern Thai Chronicles of Nakhon Si Thammarat and the Chronicles of Phra That Nakhon, Nakhon Si Thammarat was surrounded by a chain of 12 inter-linked cities, or Mueang, on the Malay Peninsula, called the Naksat cities (Thai: เมือง ๑๒ นักษัตร RTGS: Mueang Sip-Song Naksat). According to these accounts, the cities acted as an outer shield, surrounding the capital Nakhon Si Thammarat (Ligor), and were connected by land so that help could be sent from one city to another in the event of surprise attacks.
The Thai term naksat (from Sanskrit nakshatra) refers to the lunar calendar system with a duodenary cycle of years (Pi Naksat), based on the Chinese zodiac, with each year being associated with a particular animal.
M.C. Chand Chirayu Rajani identified 11 of the 12 cities and their associated zodiac emblems with the following locations on the Malay Peninsula: Narathiwat (Rat), Pattani (Ox), Kelantan (Tiger), Kedah (Dragon), Phattalung (Snake), Trang (Horse), Chumphon (Goat), Krabi (Monkey), Tha Chana (Rooster), Phuket (Dog), Kraburi (Pig). The exact location of Mueang Pahang, identified with the Rabbit, is unknown.
However, there is no historic evidence that Nakhon Si Thammarat actually controlled these cities. Other reports from that period rarely describe Ligor as having any special role on the Malay Peninsula. The account in the chronicles seems to reflect the Siamese (Thai) claims to suzerainty over the Malay regions of the south during the mid-Ayutthaya period.

## List of rulers

The following table is a list of rulers of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The english terms "governor" and "province" are translations used by Stuart Munro-Hay in his book. However, there is strong evidence that both the rulers themselves and European powers regarded these rulers as kings in their own right. The Siamese term for Nakhon Si Thammarat changes over time. In the Palatine Law of 1458, it is a prathetsarat (often translated as tributary state) and the ruler entitled a chao phraya (one of the highest non-royal titles).
During the reign of Naresuan, the title prathetsarat was abandoned and Nakhon became a first-class "city". Again, the translation "city" is misleading and comes from the Thai mueang, which is also used for the capital of Siam, Ayutthaya. Official titles for cities and rulers in pre-modern Siam is complex. We know Nakhon was closely allied with Siam and that Ayutthaya became involved in succession politics, sometimes appointing outsiders to the position. However, most of the rulers were chosen from among the ruling elite of Nakhon.
| Name of ruler | Years of rule | Title | Name of dynasty | | Siamese historical period |
| Luang Sri Worawong | 1375–? | governor | | | |
| Luang Pirentrathep | ?–? | governor | | There is no record of a ruler in between Sri Worawong and Pirentrathep, but Munro-Hay cannot confirm with certainty that one succeeded the other, p.110 | |
| Maharacha dynasty ||||||
| *This is not an official dynastic title, but the historic records show a clear patrilineal succession. ||||||
| Maharachadanai | ?–1452 | | Maharacha | Uncle of Borommatrailokkanat | |
| Sri Maharacha I | | | Maharacha | founds Lantaka–unclear if he is King of Nakhon Si Thammarat or not | |
| Sri Maharacha II (Phra La?) | | | Maharacha | son of Sri Maharacha I | |
| Khun Indra I | | | Maharacha | son of Sri Maharacha II | |
| Sri Danu (Khun Indra II, Sri Maharacha III) | 1493–? | | Maharacha | son Khun Indra I | |
| First era of Siamese-appointed rulers ||||||
| Khun Ratanakan | | governor | ? | | |
| Sri Maharacha IV | | | | Munro-Hay says he was appointed by Ayutthaya and not recorded in the chronicles as a relative of the previous ruling family (p.110). | |
| Phraya Pontheparat | 1495–? | Chao Phraya Nakhon Sri Thammarat | | Munro-Hays says he was appointed by Ayutthaya (p.110) | |
| Sri Thammarachadet dynasty ||||||
| *This is not an official dynastic title. The chronicles only clearly show that this period began with Sri Thammarachadet and ended with his grandson (or nephew) Sri Thammarat ||||||
| Phraya Sri Thammarachadet | 1497–? | governor | Sri Thammarachadet | | |
| Phraya Ramrachatayanam | 1500–? | governor | possible alternative dynasty: Ramrachatayanam | Munro-Hay simply lists him as appointed by Ayutthaya. Does not mention if he is related to Sri Thammarachadet. | |
| Ramrachatayanam | 1532–? | governor | possible alternative dynasty: Ramrachatayanam | Munro-Hay simply lists him as appointed by Ayutthaya. Does not mention if he is related to the first Ramrachatayanam (he states: "nothing is recorded of his time as governor"). | Borommarachathirat IV (1529–1533) |
| Phraya Sri Thammarat | 1535–? | governor | Sri Thammarachadet | grandson or nephew of Phraya Sri Thammarachadet | Chairacha (r.1533–1546) |
| Second Era of Siamese-Appointed Rulers ||||||
| *We have scant information on this time period, especially the end of the 16th century and the mid-to-end of the 17th century. ||||||
| Phraya Ponlarat | 1553–? | Chao Phraya Nakhon Sri Thammarat | | former governor of Tenasserim | Chakkraphat (r.1548–1569) |
| Intharathep | | governor | | | Chakkraphat (r.1548–1569) |
| | 1612 | | | his son was the governor of Phattalung | |
| | | | | Abolished phraya maha nakhon. Nakhon Si Thammarat is a first class province. | Naresuan |
| ??? | ?–? | | | Only seem to have mention of this rulers brother, Okphra Amorarit | |
| Yamada Nagamasa | 1629–1630 | governor | | Japanese governor appointed by Ayutthaya (Siamese title: Okya Seniphimok) | Prasat Thong |
| Okkhun Senaphimuk | 1630–? | | | Son of Yamada, Married the daughter of the unknown ex-ruler's brother (Okphra Amorarit) | |
| ? | ? | | | Sent from Ayutthaya, fell ill on the way. Does not mean not part of the local ruling elite, who often went to reside in Ayutthaya, perhaps as a means for Siam to control the succession. | |
| | 1631 | | | van Vliet writes that King Prasat Thong of Ayutthaya attacked Nakhon himself, though the details of this story seem to be mixed up with an expedition to Chiangmai (Munro-Hay, p.237). | |
| | 1645 | | | New governor arrives from Ayutthaya (Munro-Hay, p.138, citing the Batavia Dagh-Register). | |
| | 1649 | | | Ligor is occupied by Songkhla, which is united with Pattani and Phattalung (Munro-Hay, p.139) | |
| | | | | | Fa Chai |
| | | | | | Si Suthammaracha |
| ? | | | | Governor executed by Narai for murdering his former court poet (whom Narai had exiled to NST), Munro-Hay, p.156. | Narai |
| | | | | NST demoted to 2nd rank city | Narai |
| Phraya Ram Dejo | 1689–1692 | governor (pu rang muang) | | acting governor? Of Malay descent. Nakhon Si Thammarat is reduced in rank. Nakhon did not accept the usurping of the throne by Phethracha and rebelled. | Phetracha |
| | | | | | Suriyenthrathibodi |
| | | | | | Phumintharacha (Thai Sa) |
| Phraya Chaiathibet | 1742–? | Chao Phraya Nakhon Sri Thammarat | | | Borommakot |
| Phraya Sukhotai | ?–1758 | Chao Phraya Nakhon | | | Borommakot |
| Phraya Rachasutawadi | 1758–1760 | Chao Muang Nakhon Sri Thammarat | | | Uthumphon (r.1758–1758) / Ekkathat (last king of Ayutthaya) / Alaungphaya of Burma (1760–1767) took Ligor |
| Palat Nu dynasty ||||||
| *This is not an official dynastic title. The historic record clearly shows that Nu, Noi, Noi Klang, and Nu Prom was a patrilineal succession ||||||
| Nu | 1760–1767 | Chao Nakhon | Palat Nu | Nu was deputy governor to Phraya Rachasutawadi and was known as Luang Sit Rai Wen Mahatlek or Phra Palat Nu. Munro-Hay says that although we have no information on Nu's origins, certain references in the Chronicles and the former titles he held suggest he was likely a member of the Nakhon ruling family. He immediately commanded loyalty from Chumpon in the North to Kelantan and Trengganu in the South. | Ekkathat (last king of Ayutthaya) |
| Nu | 1767–1769 | Proclaimed himself King of all of Siam | Palat Nu | subdued by Taksin | |
| Chao Narasuriwong | 1770–1777 | Chao muang pratetsarat | | Nephew of King Taksin, appointed while Nu sent to Thonburi. NST raised to status of tributary again. | |
| Nu | 1777–1784 | Phra chao Nakhon Sri Thammarat / Chao Phraya Nakhon | Palat Nu | Nu also ruler of a vassal state (prathetsarat) and has power to appoint own ministers in same manner as court of Thonburi (Source: Chronicle of the First Reign by Chao Phraya Thiphakorawong). Nu's title was downgraded to Chao Phraya. | Taksin/Rama I |
| Phat | 1784–1811 | governor | Palat Nu | former uparat, son-in-law of Nu (Munro-Hay, p.169). NST downgraded to a first class province | Rama I/Rama II |
| Phra Aphirakphubet (Noi) | 1811–1839 | Chao Phraya Nakhon Sri Thammarat | Palat Nu | son of Nu (by Lady Prang), formerly assistant governor of Nakhon | Rama II / Rama III |
| Phra Sanehamontri (Noi Klang) | 1839–1867 | Phraya Nakhon Sri Thammarat | Palat Nu | son of Noi | Rama III / Mongkut (Rama IV) |
| Chao Phraya Suthammontri (Nu Prom) | 1867–1901 | 1867-1894, Chao Phraya Nakhon Sri Thammarat 1894-1901, Pu wah ratchakarn (governor) | Palat Nu | son of Noi Klang | Mongkut/Chulalongkorn |
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