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Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom known by the name of its capital city. In the 16th to early 17th centuries, Ayutthaya was one of the most powerful and prominent polities in Southeast Asia, and the most prominent Southeast Asian trading partner with Japan and the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. It was also home to the largest ''[[Nihonmachi]]'' (Japantown) of the era; the community housed as many as 1500 Japanese at its peak in the 1620s,<ref name=gunn222>Geoffrey Gunn, ''History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000-1800'', Hong Kong University Press (2011), 222-223.</ref> the city of Ayutthaya as a whole boasted a population over 100,000. A small number of Siamese ships, officially under the name of either the king or one of the royal princes, traveled to [[Nagasaki]] over the course of the 16th-18th centuries. Despite [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]] against trade with most outside powers, Nagasaki accepted these Siamese ships under the category of "Dutch ships," given their Western-style construction.

Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom known by the name of its capital city. In the 16th to early 17th centuries, Ayutthaya was one of the most powerful and prominent polities in Southeast Asia, and the most prominent Southeast Asian trading partner with Japan and the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. It was also home to the largest ''[[Nihonmachi]]'' (Japantown) of the era; the community housed as many as 1500 Japanese at its peak in the 1620s,<ref name=gunn222>Geoffrey Gunn, ''History Without Borders: The Making of an Asian World Region, 1000-1800'', Hong Kong University Press (2011), 222-223.</ref> the city of Ayutthaya as a whole boasted a population over 100,000. A small number of Siamese ships, officially under the name of either the king or one of the royal princes, traveled to [[Nagasaki]] over the course of the 16th-18th centuries. Despite [[kaikin|maritime restrictions]] against trade with most outside powers, Nagasaki accepted these Siamese ships under the category of "Dutch ships," given their Western-style construction.

Ayutthaya entered into trade relations with Ryûkyû in the mid-to-late 15th century, and only began trading with Japan a century later, in the 1570s. The Japanese community in Ayutthaya got its start at that time as well, as Japanese ronin, merchants, smugglers, adventurers, and the like began to settle there. 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. More than twenty Japanese merchant houses, along with some number of independent individual sailors, were active in trading between Ayutthaya and Nagasaki each year, and the kingdom enjoyed formal relations with the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as well, beginning in [[1606]], and received arms and other supplies from the shogunate to aid in Ayutthaya's defense against periodic [[Burma|Burmese]] attacks.<ref>Khien Theeravit. “Japanese-Siamese Relations, 1606-1629” in Chaiwat Khamchoo and E. Bruce Reynolds (eds.) ''Thai-Japanese Relations in Historical Perspective''. Bangkok: Innomedia Co. Ltd. Press (1988), 22, 26-27.</ref> Following an unofficial mission which nevertheless was received in audience by the shogun in [[1612]], Ayutthaya sent official missions to Japan in [[1616]], [[1623]], [[1626]], and [[1629]], informing the shogun in each case of the succession of a new king of Ayutthaya.<ref name=gunn222/> The kingdom fought off attacks by [[Ming Dynasty|Ming]] Chinese armies, as well, in the 1580s-1590s.

 

Ayutthaya entered into trade relations with Ryûkyû in the mid-to-late 15th century, and only began trading with Japan a century later, in the 1570s. The Japanese community in Ayutthaya got its start at that time as well, as Japanese ronin, merchants, smugglers, adventurers, and the like began to settle there. 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. More than twenty Japanese merchant houses, along with some number of independent individual sailors, were active in trading between Ayutthaya and Nagasaki each year, and the kingdom enjoyed formal relations with the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] as well, beginning in [[1606]], and received arms and other supplies from the shogunate to aid in Ayutthaya's defense against periodic [[Burma|Burmese]] attacks.<ref>Khien Theeravit. “Japanese-Siamese Relations, 1606-1629” in Chaiwat Khamchoo and E. Bruce Reynolds (eds.) ''Thai-Japanese Relations in Historical Perspective''. Bangkok: Innomedia Co. Ltd. Press (1988), 22, 26-27.</ref> Following an unofficial mission which nevertheless was received in audience by the shogun in [[1612]], Ayutthaya sent official missions to Japan in [[1616]], [[1623]], [[1626]], and [[1629]], informing the shogun in each case of the succession of a new king of Ayutthaya.<ref name=gunn222/>

In [[1610]], King [[Ekothotsarat]] 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 [[Ekothotsarat]] 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/>

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]].

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>

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>