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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 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 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 ships 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>

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.

By the early 18th century, the Japanese community in Ayutthaya disappeared, assimilating into the broader Siamese society through intermarriage and acculturation. The kingdom fell to Burmese invasion in [[1767]].<ref>Coedes, G. (H.M. Wright, trans.) ''The Making of South East Asia''. Berkeley: University of California Press (1966), 164-165.</ref>

By the early 18th century, the Japanese community in Ayutthaya disappeared, assimilating into the broader Siamese society through intermarriage and acculturation. The kingdom fell to Burmese invasion in [[1767]].<ref>Coedes, G. (H.M. Wright, trans.) ''The Making of South East Asia''. Berkeley: University of California Press (1966), 164-165.</ref>