page_title: Taksin
section_title: Relationship with Cambodia
hierarchical_section_title: Taksin / Reign / Relationship with Cambodia
caption_attribution_description: English: This 18th-century map of Vietnam, derives from a map of southeast Asia and parts of China published in Amsterdam by the firm of Covens and Mortier around 1760. The title of this map is in French, but many of the place names and notes have been translated into Dutch. Tiếng Việt: Bản đồ Việt Nam thế kỷ 18 do một công ty Hà Lan xuất bản tại Amsterdam khoảng năm 1760.
context_page_description: Taksin the Great or the King of Thonburi was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom. He had been an Ekatat servant and then was a leader in the liberation of Siam from Burmese occupation after the Second Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, and the subsequent unification of Siam after it fell under various warlords. He established the city of Thonburi as the new capital, as the city of Ayutthaya had been almost completely destroyed by the invaders. His reign was characterized by numerous wars; he fought to repel new Burmese invasions and to subjugate the northern Thai kingdom of Lanna, the Laotian principalities, and a threatening Cambodia.
  Although warfare took up most of Taksin's time, he paid a great deal of attention to politics, administration, economy, and the welfare of the country. He promoted trade and fostered relations with foreign countries including China, Britain, and the Netherlands. He had roads built and canals dug. Apart from restoring and renovating temples, the king attempted to revive literature, and various branches of the arts such as drama, painting, architecture and handicrafts.
context_section_description: Ang Ton and Ang Non II were cousins and bitter rivals for the Cambodian throne. In 1758 when Ang Ton ascended the Cambodian throne as Outey II he purged his enemies including members of the royal family. At that time his cousin Ang Non II fled to Siam where he resided for many years. In 1768, after Taksin had ascended the Siamese throne and defeated the Burmese he sought recognition and tribute from Outey II who still ruled Cambodia. Outey II rejected Takin's demand and insulted him in the process. As a result, partially for revenge and partially to resuscitate Thai suzerainty over Cambodia, Taksin attacked Cambodia in 1769 under the guise of putting Ang Non II on the Cambodian throne. There are conflicting reports regarding the success of Taksin's incursion into Cambodia, however it seems that most historians agree the campaign was a failure.
  In 1770, Taksin followed his unsuccessful incursion in support of Ang Non II by launching a war against the Vietnamese Nguyễn Lords over their support and occupation of Cambodia. Vietnamese sources reported that the aim of Taksin in attacking Cambodia was to uproot Ayutthaya royal "remnants" taking refuge in that kingdom. It was reported that there were two Ayutthaya princes who had escaped to foreign countries: Prince Sisang (เจ้าศรีสังข์, son of Thammathibet) who had fled to Cambodia and Prince Chui (เจ้าจุ้ย, son of Prince Aphai, grandson of Thai Sa) who had fled to Hà Tiên where he was sheltered by Mạc Thiên Tứ, the governor of the principality. The result of Taksin's invasion of Cambodia was the creation of a back-and-forth proxy war between Siam and Vietnam that continued actively through 1771.
  During this time, King Taksin also invaded and captured Hà Tiên. Mạc Thiên Tứ fled to Gia Định (modern Ho Chi Minh City) where he was sheltered by the Vietnamese. Taksin appointed Phraya Phiphit (Khun Phiphit Wathi, Trần Liên), a Chinese Teochiu, as the new governor of Hà Tiên. Tứ stayed in Gia Định for two years as he was unable to return to Hà Tiên until the Nguyễn Lords reached an accommodation with Siam in 1773. Shortly after the Siamese army withdrew from Hà Tiên Mạc Thiên Tứ retook his former principality. The actions of the Nguyễn Lords during these times helped to provoke and fuel internal rebellion in Vietnam, (the Tây Sơn Rebellion) which would eventually sweep them out of power.
  Despite the fact that King Taksin had waged war against the Nguyễn Lords he gave refuge and shelter to some Vietnamese refugees of the Tây Sơn Rebellion, primarily Nguyễn mandarins and generals. One of these refugees was Mạc Thiên Tứ, the former governor of Hà Tiên, who was awarded the Siamese rank and title of Phraya Rachasethi Yuan. King Taksin executed some Vietnamese refugees, and exiled others to distant borders.
  Ultimately as the proxy war continued, Cambodia deteriorated into lawlessness. Cambodian governors ceased paying their taxes. Cambodians died due to starvation and cholera. Unable to rule and falling ill himself, Outey II abdicated to his cousin Ang Non II in 1775 hoping that a new king could save the country from further disaster. Although Ang Non II reigning as Reamea Thipadei III was successful in overcoming an attempt by the Vietnamese to overthrow him in 1776, internal unrest continued in Cambodia. In an attempt to quell revolt, Reamea Thipadei III and Outey II came to a compromise, whereby the Reamea Thipadei III served as the first king and Outey II served as the second king or Maha Uparayoj. Prince Tam was Maha Uparat or deputy to the first and the second king. This arrangement, however, soon proved to be unsatisfactory. Prince Tam was murdered, while Outey II died suddenly.
  Ultimately believing that Reamea Thipadei III was responsible for their deaths, many prominent officials under the leadership of Prince Talaha (Mu) (Khmer: ចៅហ្វាទឡ្ហៈមូ, Thai: เจ้าฟ้าทะละหะ (มู)) revolted and drowned him in 1779. Prince Talaha put Prince Ang Eng, the six-year-old son of Outey II on the throne acting himself as the regent for the young king. Soon however, Talaha leaned too much toward Vietna
caption: Map of Indochina in 1760
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