1632, Apr - Chiang Mai, after having declared independence, is again seized by the Burmese.
1631-1632 - Several Dutch vessels arrive in Ayutthaya to help the King in his fight against the Portuguese and Cambodians.
1632 - Ayutthaya forces attack Pattani for its refusal to send tribute. The Siamese army is repelled by Pattani’s strong defence.
1634 - Siam again attacks Pattani but fails due to mismanagement.
1636 - Ayutthaya makes extensive preparations to subdue Pattani. The Dutch interfere, advising Pattani to ask for forgiveness from King Prasattong for her rebellious acts. The ruler of Pattani follows the Dutch advice and Siamese authority over Pattani is re-established.
1655-1656 - Again, transition of power is a bloody affair. King Prasattong dies in 1655 and is first succeeded by his elder son, Prince or King Chao Fa Yai. However, the new king’s uncle, Prince Srisutammaraja, and his own brother, Prince Narai, conspire against King Chao Fa Yai, kidnap him and put him to death in the royal manner (see entry on 1628-1630). Prince Srisutammaraja is next to be crowned king, with Prince Narai becoming his deputy. Just a few months later, Prince Narai who has earlier not shown any scruples about participating in the murder of his elder brother, starts a palace revolt that lasts for several days and ends with King Srisutammaraja being done away with in the royal manner. History records the reason for Prince Narai’s rebellion were the alleged advances his uncle, the king, made towards Narai’s younger sister. Be that as it may, King Narai ascended the throne of Siam and reigned for 32 years, until 1688. During his reign, Siam opens all it’s doors to trade with European powers, bringing about a considerable modernization of the country.
1663 - King Narai conquers Chiang Mai.
1664 - The Burmese retake Chiang Mai.
1664, Aug 10 - After the Dutch apply some gun boat diplomacy, blockading the mouth of the Chao Phaya River, a treaty between the Dutch and Ayutthaya is signed granting the Dutch the monopoly of trade in hides in Siam.
1664 - Roman Catholic missionaries arrive in Siam. While King Narai is not very interested in their religion, he uses the abilities of a number of French missionaries in European style constructions, especially fortifications. The Siamese king is exceptionally interested in developing relations with other European nations in order to avail of a counter force against the Dutch.
1668 - Islamic missionaries arrive in Siam.
1675 - The Phoenix, the English ship of Captain George White, arrives in Ayutthaya. It brings Constantine Phaulkon as one of its trading staff. Phaulkon actually is Greek and his original name is Gerakis which means Falcon in English. For him, the arrival in Ayutthaya is the start of a remarkable though not very long career. While not possessing any education worth mentioning, he has an exceptional talent for languages and becomes fluent in Thai in a matter of a few years. At the time when he arrives in Siam, he is already knowledgeable and can communicate in English, French, Portuguese and his native Greek.
1679 - Constantine Phaulkon enters the Thai government service as interpreter. In the course of a few years he climbs from one Thai nobility rank to the next, starting as Luang Wijayen and becoming Phra Wijayen, Phaya Wijayen and finally Chao Phaya Wijayen. Enjoying King Narai’s trust he is put in charge of the foreign trade of Siam, virtually becoming the kingdom’s Foreign Minister.
1680 - Animosity develops between the English East India Company and Phaulkon, mainly because Phaulkon encourages English traders to transact business independently from the English East India Company which would like to establish a monopoly on the English Siam trade. Phaulkon himself conducts trade independently from the company which has substantial backing in the English government. Phaulkon and other private traders are defamed as so-called interlopers. The dispute with the English East India Company prompts Phaulkon to shift the emphasis of the Siamese foreign policy to establishing trade and political relations between with France.
1680, Dec 25 - The first Siamese embassy to Europe leaves Ayutthaya to offer the ceding of Singora (today’s city of Songkhla in southern Thailand) to France. But the vessel on which the embassy travels never reaches Europe as it sinks while on the way carrying everything and everybody on board to the bottom of the sea.
1684, Jan - A second Siamese embassy embarks for Europe.
