|
The history of the city of Bangkok, in Thailand, dates at least to the early 15th century, when it was under the rule of Ayutthaya. Due to its strategic location near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, the town gradually increased in importance, and after the fall of Ayutthaya King Taksin established his new capital of Thonburi there, on the river's western bank. King Phutthayotfa Chulalok, who succeeded Taksin, moved the capital to the eastern bank in 1782, to which the city dates its foundation under its current Thai name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. Bangkok has since undergone tremendous changes, growing rapidly, especially in the second half of the 20th century, to become the primate city of Thailand. It was the centre of Siam's modernization in the late 19th century, subjected to Allied bombing during the Second World War, and has long been the modern nation's central political stage, with numerous uprisings and ''coups d'état'' having taken place on its streets throughout the years. ==Under Ayutthaya== It is not known exactly when the area which is now Bangkok was first settled. It probably originated as a small farming and trading community, located in a meander of the Chao Phraya River within the mandala of Ayutthaya's influence. The town had become an important customs outpost by as early as the 15th century; the title of its customs official is given as ''Nai Phra Khanon Thonburi'' ((タイ語:นายพระขนอนทณบุรี))〔Note that the Thai spelling of ''Thonburi'' here is different from the modern name, which is spelled .〕 in a document from the reign of Ayutthayan king Chao Sam Phraya (1424–48).〔 ((English language version ).)〕 The name also appears in the 1805 revised code of laws known as the Law of Three Seals. At the time, the Chao Phraya flowed through what is now Bangkok Noi and Bangkok Yai Canals, forming a large loop in which the town was situated. In the reign of King Chairacha (either in 1538 or 1542),〔 Quoted in 〕 a waterway was excavated, bypassing the loop and easing navigation for ships sailing up to Ayutthaya. The flow of the river has since changed to follow the new waterway, dividing the town and making the western part an island. This geographical feature may have given the town the name ''Bang Ko'' (), meaning ''island village'', which later became Bangkok (, pronounced in Thai as (:bāːŋ kɔ̀ːk)).〔 Another theory regarding the origin of the name speculates that it is shortened from ''Bang Makok'' (), ''makok'' being the name of ''Spondias pinnata'', a plant bearing olive-like fruit. This is supported by the fact that Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, used to be named ''Wat Makok''. Specific mention of the town was first made in the royal chronicles from the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat (1548–68), giving its name as ''Thonburi Si Mahasamut'' (). ''Bangkok'' was probably a colloquial name, albeit one widely adopted by foreign visitors. Bangkok/Thonburi's importance increased with the amount of Ayutthaya's maritime trade. Dutch records noted that ships passing through Bangkok were required to declare the amount of their goods and number of passengers, as well as pay customs duties. Ships' cannons would be confiscated and held there before they were allowed to proceed upriver to Ayutthaya.〔 An early English language account is that of Adam Denton, who arrived aboard the ''Globe'', an East India Company merchantman bearing a letter from King James I, which arrived in "the Road of Syam" (Pak Nam) on August 15, 1612, where the port officer of Bangkok attended to the ship. Denton's account mentions that he and his companions journeyed "up the river some twenty miles to a town called Bancope, where we were well received, and further 100 miles to the city...." Ayutthaya's maritime trade was at its height during the reign of King Narai (1656–88). Recognition of the city's strategic location guarding the water passage to Ayutthaya lead to expansion of the military presence there. A fort of Western design was constructed on the eastern side of the river around 1685–87 under the supervision of French engineer de la Mare, probably replacing an earlier structure, while plans to rebuild the fort on the western bank were also made. De la Mare had arrived with the French embassy of Chevalier de Chaumont, and was remaining in Siam along with Chevalier de Forbin, who had been appointed governor of Bangkok. The Bangkok garrison under Forbin consisted of Siamese, Portuguese and French reportedly totalling about one thousand men.〔 French control over the city was further consolidated when the French General Desfarges, who had arrived with the second French embassy in 1687, secured the king's permission to establish troops there. This, however, lead to resentment among Siamese nobles, led by Phetracha, and ultimately resulting in the Siamese revolution of 1688, in which King Narai was overthrown and 40,000 Siamese troops besieged Bangkok's eastern fort for four months before an agreement was reached and the French were allowed to retreat. The revolution resulted in Siam's ties with the West being virtually severed, steering its trade towards China and Japan. The eastern fort was subsequently demolished on Phetracha's orders. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of Bangkok」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|