Page 270 - A History of Siam

A HISTORY OF SIAM

which to another man would have seemed
impossible.
Like Napoleon III, he was a man of destiny.
for Taksin the Burmese were
Fortunately King fully
at the end of in a Chinese
occupied, 1767, repelling
invasion, and he had, therefore, less to fear from them
than from rivals in his own country. Siam was, at this
time, split up into five separate States, namely :
1. Central Siam, under King Taksin, consisting of
the modern of Nak'on
provinces Bangkok, Ratburi,
Jaisi, Prachin, Chantabun, and part of Nak'on Sawan.
2. The Peninsular provinces up to Jump'orn. One
P'ra Palat, who was Governor of Nak'on Srit'-
acting
ammarat at the time of the capture of Ayut'ia by the
Burmese, had proclaimed his independence under the
title of King Musika.
The eastern K'orat. Prince
3. provinces, including
the restless son of
T'ep P'ip'it, King Boromokot, after
many vicissitudes and dangers, had set himself up as
King, with his capital at P'imai.
The of and of Nak'on
4. province P'itsanulok, part
Sawan, under the Governor of P'itsanulok, known
as King Ruang.
The extreme northern of
5. part P'itsanulok, where
a Buddhist named Ruan had set himself as
priest up
King, with his capital at Sawangburi, near Utaradit
(then known as Fang). He was known as the Priest-
King of Fang, and all his officials and army leaders
wore the robe.
yellow
Every one of these rulers held great advantages over
King Taksin. The Governors of P'itsanulok and
Nak'on Srit'ammarat had exalted their titles in
merely
districts under their and whose inhabitants
already rule,
were accustomed to them. Prince
obey T'ep P'ip'it
could The of
plead hereditary right. Priest-King Fang