Page 52 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
50
who is stated to have been a scion of the family of the
Kings of Chiengsen, founded the city of Miiang Fang,
about A.D. He then attacked the Cambodian
857.
Empire, and conquered their territory down to the present
town of Sawank'alok, where he founded a city. l
This Prince P'rohm, if he existed, may be regarded as
the first real Tai ruler in Siam, and his city, Muang
Fang, as the earliest Tai stronghold.
Doubtless Prince P'rohm found of Tai settlers
plenty
to welcome him on his victorious advance to the south.
An or Tai State was
independent, semi-independent,
thus formed in northern Siam during the ninth century,
and another Tai State was probably established at Miiang

Sao, the modern Luang P'rabang, about the same time.
In a famous rose to in Burma,
1057 King power
namely King Anurutha the Great. His capital was at
This extended his dominions in
Pagan. King every
southern China, and attacked the
direction, conquered
Cambodian Empire, then already waning in power.
There is no doubt that the whole of the
practically present
of Siam was for some time under the of
territory sway
King Anurutha.
King Anurutha was an ardent Buddhist. Some
authorities think that he first introduced Buddhism into
Burma. If so, he probably acquired his Buddhism from
the Buddhist centre of Nak'on Prat'om in southern
great
Siam. Certain it is that there was some close connection
between Nak'on Prat'om and This is shown
Pagan. by
the discovery in these two places of carvings and of ancient
coins of a type found nowhere else in the world.
Wherever King Anurutha acquired his religion, it is
known that he was most ardent in it. A
spreading great
Buddhist revival took in India at about the same
place
'Then called Jalieng.