Page 139 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
133
defeated them on the banks of the River. 1 One
Sittaung
of the Burmese Generals, Surakamma, was shot dead
by the Siamese Prince. This was the first victory
gained by the Siamese against the Burmese for many
years.
This success was soon followed by another. Nanda
Bhureng demanded the surrender of a number of Shan
who had fled from Burma to P'itsanulok. The
prisoners
Black Prince declined to accede to this
haughtily demand,
and in his asserted the of
reply openly independence
Siam. A Burmese army advanced to Kamp'engp'et for
the purpose of compelling the surrender of the Shans.
An army from northern Siam was sent to Kamp'engp'et,
and the Burmese were driven back across the frontier.
The Governors of Sawank'alok and the
P'ijai, fearing
vengeance of the King of Burma, declined to assist in this
it safer to rebel their own
operation, thinking against
King. They fortified themselves in Sawank'alok, but
the was stormed the Black Prince, and the two
city by
rebel leaders were captured and executed.
About this time, King Satt'a of Cambodia decided that
he would do well to throw in his lot with Siam ; he
sent to who succeeded in
accordingly envoys Ayut'ia,
a between the two
concluding treaty Kingdoms.
Nanda Bhureng now made preparations for a serious
invasion of Siam, and the Siamese, fully aware of his
intention, laid plans for resisting him. Three armies
were one under
raised, P'ya Chakri, one under the
Governor of Suk'ot'ai, and one under the two Siamese
Princes. It is unlikely that the total forces available
exceeded 50,000 men, and this number was only attained
1 Burmese history states that the Crown Prince followed the Siamese as far
as Ayut'ia, where he was defeated. The Siamese account appears more probable.
The musket used by Prince Naresuen in this action formed for many years part
"
of the regalia of Siam, and was known as the Musket of the Battle of the
Sittaung River."