History of Thailand
Thailand /also known as Siam/ means “land of free”. Thai people can be proud with being one of the few countries in the world which has never been colonised. The name Thailand came in 1939 with the advent of the democratic government of General Phibun. The ancestors of the Thais are people from Szechuan, southern China. Briefly, history of Thailand can be devided in 5 periods – Nanchao Period /650-1250/, Sukhothai Period /1238-1378/, Ayutthaya Period /1350-1767/, Thonbury Period /1767-1772/, Rattanakosin Period /or Modern Thailand 1782-/. Here it is a list of important dates in history of Thailand displayed in chronological ascending order.
3600-250 BC Bronze Age civilisation flourishes.
10th C. AD Kingdom of Dvarati situated in Chao Phraya River basin - later controlled by Khmers of Cambodia.
11th C. AD Thai tribes migrate to the region from Yunan, Southern China.
12th C. AD Thai Kingdom of Sukhotai formed in northern Thailand - expanded south to defeat Dvarati.
1351 Kingdom of Ayutthaya founded in central Thailand. Later absorbs rival Thai states
15th C. Buddhism becomes state religion, centralised civil service established
16th C. Country frequently overrun by the Burmese.
1767 Ayutthaya destroyed by invading Burmese army.
1782 Chakri dynasty established. Capital moved to Bangkok.
1800 Siam kingdom includes parts of Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Malaya.
1851 King Mongkut begins gradual modernisation of the country.
1855 King Mongkut signs Bowring trade treaty with Britain. Siam opened to foreign trade.
1868 Reign of King Chulalongkorn begins. Modernisation continued. Railway network developed.
1893 All territory east of Mekong River yielded to France - including all of Laos.
1896 Anglo-French accord guarantees Siam's independence.
1917 Siam joins World War I on the side of the Allies.
1925 King Prajadhipok begins absolute rule.
1932 Bloodless military civilian coup ends absolute monarchy. Constitutional monarchy introduced with parliamentary government.
1933 Military takes full control.
1938 Nationalist General Phibun appointed Prime Minister.
1939 Siam officially renamed Thailand.
1940 Thailand gains territory from French Indochina.
1941 Japanese occupation begins after token resistance. Government collaborates under General Phibun. Free-Thai movement aids Allies.
1942 Phibun declares war on USA and Britain.
1943 Territory in Burma and Malaya given to Thailand by Japanese.
1944 Japanese occupation ends. General Phibun voted out of office.
1945 Exiled King Ananda returns. Territory acquired in WW2 returned.
1946 King Ananda assassinated. Country renamed Siam.
1947 Military coup by pro-Japanese wartime leader Phibun.
1949 Country name of 'Thailand' restored.
1965 Thailand allows USA to use Thai bases during Vietnam War, in return for military and financial aid.
1971 Army suspends constitution after political unrest and communist guerrilla attacks.
1973 Student riots in Bangkok lead to fall of military government.
1976 US forces ordered to leave Thailand.
1976 Hardline military junta takes control gain in bloody coup.
1978 Massive influx of refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
1980 Prime Minister Prem takes office. Significant moves towards political and economic stability introduced.
1988 Democratic elections held.
1991 Civilian government overthrown due to gross corruption. 17th military coup since 1932.
1992 New civilian government takes power. Further elections in September.
1997 Asian financial crisis - rapid currency fall causes bankruptcies and unemployment.
1998 Migrant workers sent home. Economic reforms initiated.
2003 Crackdown on criminal drug gangs leads to violence.
2004 More than 100 killed by Islamic militants in the south April 2004 Islamic militants attack police bases in the south
10th C. AD Kingdom of Dvarati situated in Chao Phraya River basin - later controlled by Khmers of Cambodia.
11th C. AD Thai tribes migrate to the region from Yunan, Southern China.
12th C. AD Thai Kingdom of Sukhotai formed in northern Thailand - expanded south to defeat Dvarati.
1351 Kingdom of Ayutthaya founded in central Thailand. Later absorbs rival Thai states
15th C. Buddhism becomes state religion, centralised civil service established
16th C. Country frequently overrun by the Burmese.
1767 Ayutthaya destroyed by invading Burmese army.
1782 Chakri dynasty established. Capital moved to Bangkok.
1800 Siam kingdom includes parts of Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Malaya.
1851 King Mongkut begins gradual modernisation of the country.
1855 King Mongkut signs Bowring trade treaty with Britain. Siam opened to foreign trade.
1868 Reign of King Chulalongkorn begins. Modernisation continued. Railway network developed.
1893 All territory east of Mekong River yielded to France - including all of Laos.
1896 Anglo-French accord guarantees Siam's independence.
1917 Siam joins World War I on the side of the Allies.
1925 King Prajadhipok begins absolute rule.
1932 Bloodless military civilian coup ends absolute monarchy. Constitutional monarchy introduced with parliamentary government.
1933 Military takes full control.
1938 Nationalist General Phibun appointed Prime Minister.
1939 Siam officially renamed Thailand.
1940 Thailand gains territory from French Indochina.
1941 Japanese occupation begins after token resistance. Government collaborates under General Phibun. Free-Thai movement aids Allies.
1942 Phibun declares war on USA and Britain.
1943 Territory in Burma and Malaya given to Thailand by Japanese.
1944 Japanese occupation ends. General Phibun voted out of office.
1945 Exiled King Ananda returns. Territory acquired in WW2 returned.
1946 King Ananda assassinated. Country renamed Siam.
1947 Military coup by pro-Japanese wartime leader Phibun.
1949 Country name of 'Thailand' restored.
1965 Thailand allows USA to use Thai bases during Vietnam War, in return for military and financial aid.
1971 Army suspends constitution after political unrest and communist guerrilla attacks.
1973 Student riots in Bangkok lead to fall of military government.
1976 US forces ordered to leave Thailand.
1976 Hardline military junta takes control gain in bloody coup.
1978 Massive influx of refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
1980 Prime Minister Prem takes office. Significant moves towards political and economic stability introduced.
1988 Democratic elections held.
1991 Civilian government overthrown due to gross corruption. 17th military coup since 1932.
1992 New civilian government takes power. Further elections in September.
1997 Asian financial crisis - rapid currency fall causes bankruptcies and unemployment.
1998 Migrant workers sent home. Economic reforms initiated.
2003 Crackdown on criminal drug gangs leads to violence.
2004 More than 100 killed by Islamic militants in the south April 2004 Islamic militants attack police bases in the south
