Changes

==Early Modern Period==

==Early Modern Period==

The city grew in strength after [[1511]], when the Portuguese conquest of [[Malacca]] drove many Chinese and Southeast Asian merchants to relocate, and to operate out of Ayutthaya instead. The city was destroyed by Burmese invaders in the 1560s (as it would be again in the 1760s), but it recovered to become perhaps the largest city in Southeast Asia by 1600.<ref name=lock240/> It was located a short distance upriver from the coast along the Menam River, making it more protected from coastal raiders and pirates than many of the other major port cities in the region (such as Malacca).<ref>Polenghi, 21.</ref> It was further defended by a set of city walls, outside of which the king granted designated areas of land to each of a number of foreign communities. This served to protect the city to a certain extent from possible uprisings by these foreign merchants & settlers, but also served the simple logistical convenience of enabling foreign ships to dock at the docks associated with their community. The city was home to communities of Chinese, Malays, Chams, Persians, Indians, Arabs, and by 1600 or so, Japanese as well. The Chinese were by far the largest group, numbering around 3-4,000 by the 1680s, and were so numerous, and so well-integrated into the local society that local rulers seem to have considered them nobles & commoners, i.e. regular members of society, and not foreigners.<ref name=lock241>Lockard, 241.</ref> The Chinese were particularly prominent in the local society as merchants, shippers, and shipwrights, as well as in a variety of other positions. Roughly half the ships in port at any given time were Chinese-owned, and quite a few Japanese merchants, based in [[Osaka]] or [[Sakai]], purchased their ships (or commissioned them to be built) in Ayutthaya. Many Crown Ships, which operated on behalf of the court, king, or royal princes, were also built and captained by local Chinese. As a result, they were accepted at [[Nagasaki]] as either ''tôsen'' ("Chinese ships") or as Dutch ships, despite [[kaikin|shogunate bans]] on ships from other countries coming in. Between the 1630s and 1720s, as many as nine Siamese ships made port at Nagasaki each year. These Crown Ships were also accepted at [[Qing Dynasty]] Chinese ports as private Chinese trade ships, and not as a foreign court's official trade (in which case they would have been subject to the protocols and obligations of the tribute system). Revenues from this maritime trade accounted for roughly one-third of royal income. <ref name=lock242>Lockard, 242-243.</ref>

The city grew in strength after [[1511]], when the Portuguese conquest of [[Malacca]] drove many Chinese and Southeast Asian merchants to relocate, and to operate out of Ayutthaya instead. The city was destroyed by Burmese invaders in the 1560s (as it would be again in the 1760s), but it recovered to become perhaps the largest city in Southeast Asia by 1600.<ref name=lock240/> It was located a short distance upriver from the coast along the Menam River, making it more protected from coastal raiders and pirates than many of the other major port cities in the region (such as Malacca).<ref>Polenghi, 21.</ref> It was further defended by a set of city walls, outside of which the king granted designated areas of land to each of a number of foreign communities. This served to protect the city to a certain extent from possible uprisings by these foreign merchants & settlers, but also served the simple logistical convenience of enabling foreign ships to dock at the docks associated with their community. The city was home to communities of Chinese, Malays, Chams, Persians, Indians, Arabs, and by 1600 or so, Japanese as well. The Chinese were by far the largest group, numbering around 3-4,000 by the 1680s, and were so numerous, and so well-integrated into the local society that local rulers seem to have considered them nobles & commoners, i.e. regular members of society, and not foreigners.<ref name=lock241>Lockard, 241.</ref> The Chinese were particularly prominent in the local society as merchants, shippers, and shipwrights, as well as in a variety of other positions. Roughly half the ships in port at any given time were Chinese-owned, and quite a few Japanese merchants, based in [[Osaka]] or [[Sakai]], purchased their ships (or commissioned them to be built) in Ayutthaya. Many Crown Ships, which operated on behalf of the court, king, or royal princes, were also built and captained by local Chinese. Between the 1630s and 1720s, as many as nine Siamese ships made port at Nagasaki each year. These Crown Ships were also accepted at [[Qing Dynasty]] Chinese ports as private Chinese trade ships, and not as a foreign court's official trade (in which case they would have been subject to the protocols and obligations of the tribute system). Revenues from this maritime trade accounted for roughly one-third of royal income.<ref name=lock242>Lockard, 242-243.</ref>

The Japantown was located on the eastern bank of the Menam, along with the [[VOC|Dutch factory]], and a brief-lived British enclave (from [[1612]]-[[1625]]). Enclaves of Portuguese, Chinese, Malay, and Vietnamese sat on the opposite shore; many Japanese Christians sent their children to be educated in the Portuguese quarters. These foreign communities settled most internal matters themselves, but Siamese authorities still had jurisdiction; none of these foreign communities enjoyed [[extraterritoriality]] until the VOC attained such privileges in [[1664]].<ref name=pol23/>

The Japantown was located on the eastern bank of the Menam, along with the [[Dutch East India Company]] (VOC) factory, and a brief-lived British enclave (from [[1612]]-[[1625]]). Enclaves of Portuguese, Chinese, Malay, and Vietnamese sat on the opposite shore; many Japanese Christians sent their children to be educated in the Portuguese quarters. These foreign communities settled most internal matters themselves, but Siamese authorities still had jurisdiction; none of these foreign communities enjoyed [[extraterritoriality]] until the VOC attained such privileges in [[1664]].<ref name=pol23/>

The Japanese community in Ayutthaya got its start around the 1570s, as Japanese ronin, merchants, smugglers, adventurers, and the like began to settle there. As early as [[1593]], there were by some accounts as many as five hundred Japanese resident in the city.<ref>Polenghi, 25.</ref> Some came to be employed by the royal court, as bodyguards, or in other capacities, and by the 1620s, Japan was Ayutthaya's most major trade partner. The head of the ''Nihonmachi'', elected by the community and approved by the court, oversaw both the community and incoming & outgoing trade, and served as liaison or representative to the court.<ref name=pol23/>

The Japanese community in Ayutthaya got its start around the 1570s, as Japanese ronin, merchants, smugglers, adventurers, and the like began to settle there. As early as [[1593]], there were by some accounts as many as five hundred Japanese resident in the city.<ref>Polenghi, 25.</ref> Some came to be employed by the royal court, as bodyguards, or in other capacities, and by the 1620s, Japan was Ayutthaya's most major trade partner. The head of the ''Nihonmachi'', elected by the community and approved by the court, oversaw both the community and incoming & outgoing trade, and served as liaison or representative to the court.<ref name=pol23/>

In [[1610]], King [[Ekathotsarot]] was succeeded by [[Songtham]]; that same year, the kingdom suppressed a Laotian invasion and an uprising by Japanese merchants, and established a royal guard consisting of Japanese. This guard eventually came to be headed by the ronin adventurer [[Yamada Nagamasa]]. Other Nagasaki merchants were similarly rewarded for their service in helping defend the kingdom from Burmese invasions. Kiya Kyûzaemon was appointed to a high official position, and Tsuda Matazaemon was permitted to marry a daughter of the king.<ref name=gunn222/>

In [[1610]], King [[Ekathotsarot]] was succeeded by [[Songtham]]; that same year, the kingdom suppressed a Laotian invasion and an uprising by Japanese merchants, and established a royal guard consisting of Japanese. This guard eventually came to be headed by the ronin adventurer [[Yamada Nagamasa]]. Other Nagasaki merchants were similarly rewarded for their service in helping defend the kingdom from Burmese invasions. Kiya Kyûzaemon was appointed to a high official position, and Tsuda Matazaemon was permitted to marry a daughter of the king.<ref name=gunn222/>

A series of court intrigues, and a violent ''coup d'état'', led to the destruction of the ''Nihonmachi'', and the death of Yamada Nagamasa, in [[1630]]. Yamada Nagamasa had served for some time as head of the royal bodyguard, had led a force of some 700 Japanese in suppressing insurrections, Burmese incursions, and the like, and had been elevated to high court rank. He had also been named governor of several provinces, and held monopolies over the trade in deerskin and a number of other goods.<ref>Wray, William. “The 17th Century Japanese Diaspora: Questions of Boundary and Policy.” Thirteenth International Economic History Congress, Buenos Aires 2002. Preconference: Corfu, Greece, 21-22 September 2001, 10.</ref> The community prepared and shipped some 150,000 skins a year.<ref name=pol23/> He thus represented a significant obstacle to [[Prasat Thong]], a member of the royal family who seized the throne in [[1629]] following the death of King Songtham. In the course of his ''coup'', Prasat Thong had Yamada murdered, and the ''Nihonmachi'' burned to the ground, in order to prevent Yamada's fellow Japanese from seeking violent retribution. A number of Japanese fled to Cambodia, and some returned later, with amnesty from a later king.<ref>[[Iwao Seiichi]]. “Reopening of the diplomatic and commercial relations between Japan and Siam during the Tokugawa period.” ''Acta Asiatica'' v.4 (July 1963), 2-4.</ref> Where the Japanese had previously exercised some degree of influence within the royal court, and the port's commerce, this now left the Dutch and Chinese merchants in a far more prominent position.<ref>Gunn, 224.</ref>

A series of court intrigues, and a violent ''coup d'état'', led to the destruction of the ''Nihonmachi'', and the death of Yamada Nagamasa, in [[1630]]. Yamada Nagamasa had served for some time as head of the royal bodyguard, had led a force of some 700 Japanese in suppressing insurrections, Burmese incursions, and the like, and had been elevated to high court rank. He had also been named governor of several provinces, and held monopolies over the trade in deerskin and a number of other goods.<ref>Wray, William. “The 17th Century Japanese Diaspora: Questions of Boundary and Policy.” Thirteenth International Economic History Congress, Buenos Aires 2002. Preconference: Corfu, Greece, 21-22 September 2001, 10.</ref> The community prepared and shipped some 150,000 skins a year.<ref name=pol23/> He thus represented a significant obstacle to [[Prasat Thong]], a member of the royal family who seized the throne in [[1629]] following the death of King Songtham. In the course of his ''coup'', Prasat Thong had Yamada murdered, and the ''Nihonmachi'' burned to the ground, in order to prevent Yamada's fellow Japanese from seeking violent retribution. A number of Japanese fled to Cambodia, and some returned later, with amnesty from a later king.<ref>[[Iwao Seiichi]]. “Reopening of the diplomatic and commercial relations between Japan and Siam during the Tokugawa period.” ''Acta Asiatica'' v.4 (July 1963), 2-4.</ref> Where the Japanese had previously exercised some degree of influence within the royal court, and the port's commerce, this now left the Dutch and Chinese merchants in a far more prominent position.<ref>Gunn, 224.</ref> The Dutch made use of a triangle trade formation, purchasing textiles in India with Japanese [[silver]], selling the textiles in Ayutthaya and purchasing deer hides, ray skins, [[sappanwood]], etc., and then selling the Siamese goods in Nagasaki for silver.<ref>Shimada, 94.</ref>

The ''Nihonmachi'' revived following its destruction in 1630, though it would never again attain its former levels of activity. The imposition of policies of maritime restrictions by the Tokugawa shogunate in the late 1630s meant that Japanese could no longer return to Japan (and very few left Japan, either, after this time), severing the ''Nihonmachi'' from any infusion of new blood, and severely hampering its economic power. Further, the Tokugawa shogunate, seeing Prasat Thong as an illegitimate usurper, severed formal ties with the kingdom of Ayutthaya. Though several missions were later sent to Japan attempting to restore formal relations (including missions in [[1640]] and [[1644]] which were lost in storms), none were ever successful.<ref name=iwao28>Iwao, 28-29.</ref>

The ''Nihonmachi'' revived following its destruction in 1630, though it would never again attain its former levels of activity. The imposition of policies of maritime restrictions by the Tokugawa shogunate in the late 1630s meant that Japanese could no longer return to Japan (and very few left Japan, either, after this time), severing the ''Nihonmachi'' from any infusion of new blood, and severely hampering its economic power. Further, the Tokugawa shogunate, seeing Prasat Thong as an illegitimate usurper, severed formal ties with the kingdom of Ayutthaya. Though several missions were later sent to Japan attempting to restore formal relations (including missions in [[1640]] and [[1644]] which were lost in storms), none were ever successful.<ref name=iwao28>Iwao, 28-29.</ref>

Still, figures such as [[Kimura Hanzaemon]], who served as head of the community for nearly thirty years, from [[1642]] to [[1671]], remained prominent in local trade activities, including supplying the [[Dutch East India Company]] factory in Ayutthaya with deer skins.<ref name=lock241/> Another man by the same name, possibly the elder Hanzaemon's son, traveled widely across Southeast Asia in the 1680s.<ref>Nagazumi Yoko. "Ayutthaya and Japan: Embassies and Trade in the Seventeenth Century." in Kennon Breazeale (ed.). ''From Japan to Arabia: Ayutthaya's Maritime Relations with Asia''. Bangkok: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Textbook Project, 1999. pp100-101.</ref>

Still, figures such as [[Kimura Hanzaemon]], who served as head of the community for nearly thirty years, from [[1642]] to [[1671]], remained prominent in local trade activities, including supplying the Dutch East India Company factory in Ayutthaya with deer skins.<ref name=lock241/> Another man by the same name, possibly the elder Hanzaemon's son, traveled widely across Southeast Asia in the 1680s.<ref>Nagazumi Yoko. "Ayutthaya and Japan: Embassies and Trade in the Seventeenth Century." in Kennon Breazeale (ed.). ''From Japan to Arabia: Ayutthaya's Maritime Relations with Asia''. Bangkok: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Textbook Project, 1999. pp100-101.</ref> Despite the decline of the Japanese community, Siamese trade with Japan (aboard Chinese, Dutch, and Siamese ships) in this period came to exceed even Siamese trade with China.<ref name=econ>Shimada Ryuto. “Economic Links with Ayutthaya: Changes in Networks between Japan, China, and Siam in the Early Modern Period.” ''Itinerario'' 37, no. 03 (December 2013): 92–104.</ref>

The Japanese community of Ayutthaya played some role in bringing King [[Narai]] to the throne in [[1657]], and official royal involvement in trade with Japan resumed, even though it was not formally recognized as diplomatic court-to-court relations by the Tokugawa.<ref name=iwao28/> Narai was perhaps among the most active of Southeast Asian rulers in engaging with the West. In [[1673]], he received formal diplomatic communications from both Louis XIV of France, and Pope Clement IX, and reciprocated them. Narai's relations with France led to his declaring war on the [[English East India Company]] in [[1687]]; the following year, [[French East India Company]] forces, ostensibly there to help combat the English, seized Bangkok and a number of other areas, before finally being convinced to quit their occupation and return these areas to Siamese control. Narai died that year, and was succeeded by [[Phra Phetracha]].

The Japanese community of Ayutthaya played some role in bringing King [[Narai]] to the throne in [[1657]], and official royal involvement in trade with Japan increased, even though it was not formally recognized as diplomatic court-to-court relations by the Tokugawa.<ref name=iwao28/> Where Siamese goods entering Nagasaki previously did so chiefly on Chinese ships, royal investment now increased.<ref name=econ93/> Narai was perhaps among the most active of Southeast Asian rulers in engaging with the West. In [[1673]], he received formal diplomatic communications from both Louis XIV of France, and Pope Clement IX, and reciprocated them. Narai's relations with France led to his declaring war on the [[English East India Company]] in [[1687]]; the following year, [[French East India Company]] forces, ostensibly there to help combat the English, seized Bangkok and a number of other areas, before finally being convinced to quit their occupation and return these areas to Siamese control. Narai died that year, and was succeeded by [[Phra Phetracha]].

The Dutch East India Company, meanwhile, closed its base in Ayutthaya in [[1663]]. Despite no longer enjoying formal court-to-court recognition and relations with the Tokugawa shogunate, Ayutthaya was able to send royal ships (generally under the name of one of the royal princes, if not the king) to trade in Japan. Due to their European-style construction, they were generally received at Nagasaki as "Dutch ships," and were able to trade with no formal quota. At least 41 Siamese ships traveled to Japan to trade between 1689-1723; some carried goods worth millions of [[silver dollar]]s.<ref>Kang, 69.</ref> This royal junk trade ended in [[1688]], however, amidst the fighting between the French and the English. In the aftermath of this French attempt to take over the kingdom, all Europeans were ejected for several decades, reversing Narai's engagement with the West.<ref name=lock242/>

The Dutch East India Company, meanwhile, closed its base in Ayutthaya in [[1663]]. Despite no longer enjoying formal court-to-court recognition and relations with the Tokugawa shogunate, Ayutthaya was able to send royal ships (generally under the name of one of the royal princes, if not the king) to trade in Japan. Due to their European-style construction, they were generally received at Nagasaki as "Dutch ships," and were able to trade with no formal quota. At least 41 Siamese ships traveled to Japan to trade between 1689-1723; some carried goods worth millions of [[silver dollar]]s.<ref>Kang, 69.</ref> This royal junk trade ended in [[1688]], however, amidst the fighting between the French and the English. In the aftermath of this French attempt to take over the kingdom, all Europeans were ejected for several decades, reversing Narai's engagement with the West.<ref name=lock242/>