Page 132 - A History of Siam

128 A HISTORY OF SIAM

in the
Ayut'ia, having, fact, usually occupied position
of a vassal State.
The Cambodian invasion to be a in
proved blessing
for it afforded an excuse to Maha T'am-
disguise, King
to the defences of without
maraja strengthen Ayut'ia
the distrust of the of Burma. This
exciting King
was for Maha T'am-
opportunity eagerly grasped, King
maraja was not the man to resign himself to a permanent
state of canals were
subjection. New walls were built,
and cannon were from the
dug, purchased Portuguese
and other
foreigners.
We must now introduce the most celebrated hero and
warrior who ever a the of Siamese
played part upon stage
history, namely Naresuen the Great.
This Prince was the elder son of King Maha T'am-
He was born in After the invasion of
maraja. 1555.
Siam by Bhureng Noung in 1564, Prince Naresuen was
taken to Burma as a for the of his father
hostage fidelity
a which seems to have had the desired
precaution
result. On becoming King of Siam, King Maha T'am-
maraja gave one of his daughters in marriage to Bhureng
Noung, and at the same time begged that Prince Naresuen
might be allowed to return to Siam. The request was
and the then returned
gran ted, young Prince, aged sixteen,
home in He was Maha and
1571. appointed Uparat,
was sent up as Governor of P'itsanulok, in accordance
with ancient custom.
Prince Naresuen was known as the Black
popularly
Prince, his younger brother, Prince Ekat'otsarot, born
about known as the White Prince. As will
1568, being
be seen, Siam's Black Prince was no unworthy namesake
of our English Black Prince.
In 1574 the King of Burma undertook an invasion of
Wiengchan, and compelled the King of Siam and Prince