The history of Muay Thai can be traced at least to the 16 as a peace-time martial art practiced by the soldiers of King Naresuan. An exhibition of Muay Thai was observed and reported by Simon de la Loubère, a French diplomat who was sent by King Louis XIV to the Kingdom of Siam in 1687, in his famous work ]] and the Ayutthaya Kingdom Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767) Muay boran, and therefore Muay Thai, was originally called by more generic names such as "toi muay" or simply "muay". As well as being a practical fighting technique for use in actual warfare, muay became a sport in which the opponents fought in front of spectators who went to watch for entertainment. These muay contests gradually became an integral part of local festivals and celebrations, especially those held at temples. Eventually, the previously bare-fisted fighters started wearing lengths of hemp rope around their hands and forearms. This type of match was called "muay khat chueak" (มวยคาดเชือก).