1605 - King Ekatotsarot imposes the first money tax levied in Ayutthaya. For this, he gains the reputation of being a covetous man. Dutch merchants begin visiting Ayutthaya.
1608 - Siam (Ayutthaya) sends ambassadors to the Netherlands to establish friendly relations.
1609 - The first Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Baltazar de Seguerra, arrives in Ayutthaya.
1610 - King Ekatotsarot’s reign ends and Prince Intharaja succeeds under the royal title of King Songtam.
1612 - The first English trade factory is established in Ayutthaya. At about the same time, the Dutch establish their first trade outpost in Siam.
1612, Jun 23 - The first English ship, Globe, arrives in Pattani harbor in the extreme south of the Thai territory on the Malayan peninsula, activating trade in Siam.
1618 - War breaks out between the Netherlands and England and hostilities among the citizens of the two countries are carried on even in Siam.
1619, Jul 17 - 800 Dutchmen attack two British ships in Pattani harbor.
1620 - Peace is restored between the Dutch and the English in Ayutthaya.
1628-1630 - Questions on the succession to the Siamese throne are resolved in what one may consider typical Siamese manner. First, King Songtam, when seriously ill and upon feeling that death is approaching at the age of 38, makes preparations to secure that his eldest son, Prince Jetta, will be his successor. Prince Jetta is at that time a boy of just 14. After the death of his father, Prince Jetta is indeed installed as king by a group of high palace officials around a certain Phaya Sriworawong. Immediately thereafter, a large group of other palace officials who were thought to have favored the late king’s brother, Prince Srisin, as new king, are summarily beheaded. Again, the one who "made" the new king, Phaya Sriworawong, is promoted, receiving the new title of Chao Phaya Kalahom. As King Jetta is still a boy, actual power rests with king maker Chao Phaya Kalahom. The next step Chao Phaya Kalahom takes in order to clear the way for himself to seize the throne openly, is to set up a trap for Prince Srisin who later could otherwise turn out to be a contender. However, Prince Srisin at that time is a Buddhist monk, and it is customary not to murder monks. Therefore, Chao Phaya Kalahom plots with the commander of the Japanese palace guard (brought in by King Songtam) to lure Prince Srisin into discarding the saffron robe by promising him that he will be installed as the new king. But as soon as Prince Srisin has taken off the robe, information is given to the young King Jetta that his uncle has left the monastery to rebel against him. Prince Srisin is tried and sentenced to death. First being pardoned, then involved in another rebellion, Prince Srisin is executed a few month later in what is described as "royal manner" - tying him in a velvet sack and beating him to death with a sandalwood club. King Jetta, disturbed by the dominance of Chao Phaya Kalahom makes some preparations to get rid of his chief minister but the latter is informed and acts faster than the young king. Chao Phaya Kalahom and his cohorts storm the king’s palace and kill the young monarch. Having strong backing at the court, Chao Phaya Kalahom is offered to succeed King Jetta. But as the late king’s younger brother, Prince Atityawong, a boy of ten, is still around and could later be regarded as King Jetta’s rightful successor, Chao Phaya Kalahom declines. On Chao Phaya Kalahom advice, Atityawong is crowned King of Siam; Chao Phaya Kalahom secures for himself the appointment as regent. Then, while acting as the young king’s regent, Chao Phaya Kalahom undertakes to discredit King Atityawong for childish, un-kingly behavior - until the assembly of ministers decides to depose him. (He will be murdered only 7 years later.) Chao Phaya Kalahom believes the time has come for him to ascend the throne himself. He assumes the title King Prasattong and will rule for 25 years, until 1655.
