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The kingdom was founded in [[1351]] by U Thong, also known as King Ramathibodi I, who may have been from a local Chinese diaspora merchant family. The kingdom was visited by [[Zheng He]] twice, in [[1408]] and [[1421]]. Its chief products were rice, raw cotton, rhino horn, deer hides, elephant teeth, and a variety of forest products, and some of its chief imports were Indian textiles and Chinese [[porcelain]]s.<ref name=lock240>Craig Lockard, “‘The Sea Common to All’: Maritime Frontiers, Port Cities, and Chinese Traders in the Southeast Asian Age of Commerce, Ca. 1400–1750.” ''Journal of World History'' 21, no. 2 (2010): 239-240.</ref> Siamese envoys traveled to Korea on a number of occasions in the 14th century, if not earlier, and may have passed through Japan on their way there, but records on this subject prior to the 17th century are extremely sketchy.<ref name=ishiisiam>Ishii Yoneo, "Siam and Japan in Pre-Modern Times: A Note on Mutual Images," in Donald Denoon et al (eds.), ''Multicultural Japan'', Cambridge University Press (1996), 153.</ref>

The kingdom was founded in [[1351]] by U Thong, also known as King Ramathibodi I, who may have been from a local Chinese diaspora merchant family. The kingdom was visited by [[Zheng He]] twice, in [[1408]] and [[1421]]. Its chief products were rice, raw cotton, rhino horn, deer hides, elephant teeth, and a variety of forest products, and some of its chief imports were Indian textiles and Chinese [[porcelain]]s.<ref name=lock240>Craig Lockard, “‘The Sea Common to All’: Maritime Frontiers, Port Cities, and Chinese Traders in the Southeast Asian Age of Commerce, Ca. 1400–1750.” ''Journal of World History'' 21, no. 2 (2010): 239-240.</ref> Siamese envoys traveled to Korea on a number of occasions in the 14th century, if not earlier, and may have passed through Japan on their way there, but records on this subject prior to the 17th century are extremely sketchy.<ref name=ishiisiam>Ishii Yoneo, "Siam and Japan in Pre-Modern Times: A Note on Mutual Images," in Donald Denoon et al (eds.), ''Multicultural Japan'', Cambridge University Press (1996), 153.</ref>

Ayutthaya was a major [[tribute|tributary]] to the [[Ming Dynasty]] in the 14th-15th centuries, sending 68 tribute missions between [[1369]] and [[1439]]. These missions were more numerous, and carried a greater variety of goods, than those sent to China by any other tributary.<ref name=lock240/> Ayutthaya was one of the most distant polities - culturally, at least, insofar as Siam is an Indic culture, not a Sinic one - to maintain regular relations with the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] court. The kingdom fought off attacks by [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] Chinese armies in the 1580s-1590s, but also engaged in regular [[tribute]] trade, sending missions to China once every few years, and receiving investiture in return. In [[1575]], Ayutthaya sent envoys to Ming to request a new royal seal to replace one destroyed in fighting with the Burmese, and in [[1592]] King [[Naresuan]] offered to send his navy to help the Ming defeat [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Toyotomi Hideyoshi's]] attempts to [[Korean Invasions|conquer Korea]],<ref>David C. Kang, “Hierarchy in Asian International Relations: 1300-1900.” ''Asian Security'' 1, no. 1 (2005): 62. </ref> though the offer was formally rejected the following year.<ref>Polenghi, 14.</ref>

Ayutthaya was a major [[tribute|tributary]] to the [[Ming Dynasty]] in the 14th-15th centuries, sending 68 tribute missions between [[1369]] and [[1439]]. These missions were more numerous, and carried a greater variety of goods, than those sent to China by any other tributary.<ref name=lock240/> Ayutthaya was one of the most distant polities - culturally, at least, insofar as Siam is an Indic culture, not a Sinic one - to maintain regular relations with the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] court. The kingdom fought off attacks by [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] Chinese armies in the 1580s-1590s, but also engaged in regular [[tribute]] trade, sending missions to China once every few years, and receiving [[investiture]] in return. In [[1575]], Ayutthaya sent envoys to Ming to request a new royal seal to replace one destroyed in fighting with the Burmese, and in [[1592]] King [[Naresuan]] offered to send his navy to help the Ming defeat [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Toyotomi Hideyoshi's]] attempts to [[Korean Invasions|conquer Korea]],<ref>David C. Kang, “Hierarchy in Asian International Relations: 1300-1900.” ''Asian Security'' 1, no. 1 (2005): 62. </ref> though the offer was formally rejected the following year.<ref>Polenghi, 14.</ref>

Ayutthaya entered into trade relations with Ryûkyû in the mid-to-late 15th century, and traded local products such as [[sappanwood]] and pepper for East Asian goods such as folding fans and Japanese swords. These swords became an integral part of the Siamese king's regalia, while the Siamese products were crucial elements of Ryûkyû's tributary goods, given as gifts to Ming Dynasty China.<ref name=ishiisiam/> Ayutthaya only began trading with Japan a century later, in the 1570s. Official trade with Japan was overseen by a Siamese Department of Eastern Maritime Affairs and Crown Junks; the office was headed by a resident Chinese official, and employed Chinese language in much of its activities, Ming diplomatic protocols being standard throughout much of the region.<ref name=pol23/>  

Ayutthaya entered into trade relations with Ryûkyû in the mid-to-late 15th century, and traded local products such as [[sappanwood]] and pepper for East Asian goods such as folding fans and Japanese swords. These swords became an integral part of the Siamese king's regalia, while the Siamese products were crucial elements of Ryûkyû's tributary goods, given as gifts to Ming Dynasty China.<ref name=ishiisiam/> Ayutthaya only began trading with Japan a century later, in the 1570s. Official trade with Japan was overseen by a Siamese Department of Eastern Maritime Affairs and Crown Junks; the office was headed by a resident Chinese official, and employed Chinese language in much of its activities, Ming diplomatic protocols being standard throughout much of the region.<ref name=pol23/>  

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/> At least 41 Siamese ships traveled to Japan to trade between 1689-1723, and were received at Nagasaki as either "Chinese" or "Dutch" ships; some carried goods worth millions of [[silver dollar]]s.<ref>Kang, 69.</ref> 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]]. With Narai's death, the royal junk trade ended, and in the aftermath of the English-French conflict, all Europeans were ejected for several decades.<ref name=lock242/> Siam's volume of international trade declined somewhat as a result, and while trade with Japan remained central, trade with China began to grow, growing even more significant over the course of the 18th century.<ref>Shimada, 96.</ref> [[Rice]] remained Siam's chief export to China, while its exports to Japan shifted from a focus on deer hides and ray skins to a growing volume of trade in [[sappanwood]] and other aromatic woods.<ref name=shima102/>

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/> At least 41 Siamese ships traveled to Japan to trade between 1689-1723, and were received at Nagasaki as either "Chinese" or "Dutch" ships; some carried goods worth millions of [[silver dollar]]s.<ref>Kang, 69.</ref> 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]]. With Narai's death, the royal junk trade ended, and in the aftermath of the English-French conflict, all Europeans were ejected for several decades.<ref name=lock242/> Siam's volume of international trade declined somewhat as a result, and while trade with Japan remained central, trade with China began to grow, growing even more significant over the course of the 18th century.<ref>Shimada, 96.</ref> [[Rice]] remained Siam's chief export to China, while its exports to Japan shifted from a focus on deer hides and ray skins to a growing volume of trade in [[sappanwood]] and other aromatic woods.<ref name=shima102/>

The Dutch, meanwhile, made extensive use of Ayutthaya. Ships traveling between [[Batavia]] and Nagasaki very often made an intermediate stop at Ayutthaya, where they purchased Siamese goods to sell in Japan. 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> This pattern lasted until [[1715]], when the Tokugawa shogunate's ''[[Shotoku shinrei|Shôtoku shinrei]]'' ("New Edicts of the Shôtoku era") changed the terms of trade at Nagasaki. From then on, Batavia-based ships traveled to Nagasaki without stopping at Ayutthaya. However, the VOC's Ayutthaya-based ships continued to make the journey, and in fact came to dominate the Ayutthaya-Nagasaki route for a time, pushing Chinese merchants aside, until the Chinese broke the VOC monopoly in the 1750s, and dominated the route themselves until 1800 or so.<ref name=shima102>Shimada, 102.</ref>

The Dutch, meanwhile, made extensive use of Ayutthaya for a few decades longer. Ships traveling between [[Batavia]] and Nagasaki very often made an intermediate stop at Ayutthaya, where they purchased Siamese goods to sell in Japan. 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> This pattern lasted until [[1705]], when Batavia decided to close the VOC factories in Ayutthaya and Ligor (a port in the south of Siam); further, the Tokugawa shogunate issued a set of policies in [[1715]] called ''[[Shotoku shinrei|Shôtoku shinrei]]'' ("New Edicts of the Shôtoku era") which changed the terms of trade at Nagasaki. From then on, Batavia-based ships traveled to Nagasaki without stopping at Ayutthaya. However, the VOC still maintained some Siam-based vessels, which continued to make the journey to Nagasaki, and in fact came to dominate the Siam-Nagasaki route for a time, pushing Chinese merchants aside, until the Chinese broke the VOC monopoly in the 1750s, and dominated the route themselves until 1800 or so.<ref name=shima102>Shimada, 102.</ref>

By the early 18th century, the Japanese community in Ayutthaya disappeared, assimilating into the broader Siamese society through intermarriage and acculturation, while the Chinese community grew ever larger, in part due to increased immigration, as many people fled South China during the [[Manchu]] subjugation of the region. By the 1760s, there were perhaps as many as 30,000 people of Chinese descent living in Ayutthaya; though the majority had long been Hokkien speakers (from [[Fujian province]]), they now came to be outnumbered by Teochius from [[Guangdong province|Guangdong]].<ref name=lock244>Lockard, 244.</ref>

By the early 18th century, the Japanese community in Ayutthaya disappeared, assimilating into the broader Siamese society through intermarriage and acculturation, while the Chinese community grew ever larger, in part due to increased immigration, as many people fled South China during the [[Manchu]] subjugation of the region. By the 1760s, there were perhaps as many as 30,000 people of Chinese descent living in Ayutthaya; though the majority had long been Hokkien speakers (from [[Fujian province]]), they now came to be outnumbered by Teochius from [[Guangdong province|Guangdong]].<ref name=lock244>Lockard, 244.</ref>