Page 53 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SUM
51
time, and King Anurutha had no difficulty in importing
missionaries from India and Ceylon, by whom Buddhism
was in Burma and Siam. There is little doubt
preached
but that Buddhism that
acquired predominating position
which it still holds in both countries owing to the efforts
of King Anurutha.
King Anurutha's conquests permanently weakened
the Cambodian Empire, and resulted, after the removal
of Burmese control, in the formation of numerous
or Tai States.
independent, semi-independent,
Siam has suffered much from Burmese invasions, and
the shameful destruction of in will never be
Ayut'ia 1767
But it should also be re&iembered that Tai
forgotten.
freedom owed its to the Burmese
inception largely King
Anurutha, and that to the same monarch must be ascribed
the final establishment in Siam of that wonderful Faith
which has, without doubt, strengthened the Siamese

Kingdom and elevated the national character.
In 1096 a descendant of Prince P'rohm, K'un Chom
T'amma, founded the city of P'ayao, 1 which became the
of an Tai State.
capital independent
About 1238 a blow was struck at the Cambodian
Empire from which it never recovered. For some time
before that date the Tai in the centre of Siam had been
trouble to the Cambodian
causing Government, being
doubtless inspired by the examples set them at Miiang
Fang and P'ayao. A Cambodian general named Khlon
Lamphong was sent by the King of Cambodia to restore
order, but he was defeated in a pitched battle by K'un
Bang Klang T'ao and K'un P'a Miiang, two Tai chiefs.
After the battle, these two chiefs entered the town of
then the northern of the Cambodian
Suk'ot'ai, capital
Empire, and K'un Bang Klang was consecrated as
1
North of Rahcng, at the junction of the Me P'ing and Me Wang Rivers.