Page 130 - A History of Siam

CHAPTER IX

REIGN OF KING MAHA T'AMMARAJA

BHURENG NOUNG remained at to witness the
Ayut'ia
coronation of his vassal, Maha T'ammaraja, who was
made King with the title of P'ra Sri Sarap'et, but who is
better known in as Maha This
history King T'ammaraja.
monarch was, by virtue of his descent, a suitable occupant
of the throne of Siam. His mother was related to the
Royal Family of Ayut'ia, and his father was a descendant
of the Kings of Suk'ot'ai. His elevation to the throne
was, however, connected in the minds of his people with
the degradation of their country, and during the earlier
of his we that he was an
years reign may suppose object
of hatred and contempt to his subjects.
The King of Burma removed most of the population
of and dismantled the defences of the
Ayut'ia city.
Only ten thousand inhabitants were left behind in the
vanquished and now defenceless capital. Many Siamese
must have thought that the glory of their country had
for and that but a miracle could
departed ever, nothing
restore their freedom. And as we shall the
truly, see,
power of recuperation shown by this people was little
short of miraculous.
During the next fifteen years Siam was little more than
a of Burma. Burmese officials resided at
province
and at other and
Ayut'ia important centres, many
Burmese laws and institutions were forced the
upon
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