Page 119 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
115
the years 1550 and 1562 he captured nearly three hundred
1
elephants.
The Kings of Cambodia filled, with regard to Siam,
a similar role to that filled by the Kings of Scotland
with regard to England in the Middle Ages. Whenever
Siam was in difficulties, Cambodia was certain to be
troublesome. During the siege of Ayut'ia in 1549 the
King of Cambodia, Chandaraja, carried out a raid on
Prachim. This necessitated a in
punitive expedition
which was successful. In war
1551, apparently 1556
with Cambodia broke out A Cambodian
again. Prince,
named P'ya Ong, who had been adopted by King
of Siam and made Governor of
P'rajai Sawank'alok,
was in command of the Siamese forces. 8 He
placed
allowed his army to become separated from the supporting
fleet of boats. As a result, he was defeated with great
and was himself slain in the conflict. No
loss, attempt
appears to have been made to repair this disaster.
In the year 1561 a serious rebellion occurred. The
younger son of King P'rajai, Prince Sri Sin, had been
adopted and brought up by King Chakrap'at. On
reaching the age of thirteen or fourteen he had been
ordained as a Buddhist novice. Shortly after his ordina-
tion he was accused of the and
plotting against King,
was therefore kept under strict supervision until the
year 1561. As he was then nineteen years of age, King
Chakrap'at gave orders that he was to be ordained as
a Buddhist The Prince his
priest. escaped, gathered
adherentr and made a assault
.ogether, surprise upon
the After the Commander
capital by night. defeating
of the in he forced his
King's troops single combat,
1
Chinese history relates that in 1553 the King of Siam sent a white elephant
for the Emperor Si Chong Hong Te (eleventh of the Ming dynasty). The elephant
died on the journey, but its tusks and tail were taken to the Emperor.
This was probably the Governor of Sawank'alok who took part in the
conspiracy against K'un Worawongsa.