Page 63 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM 61

buildings at Suk'ot'ai, the ruins of which may still be
seen. He was, moreover, an astronomer, and reformed
the calendar, and was also an adept at astrology, for the
of which science he instituted a school in the
teaching
palace.
The date of King T'ammaraja Lfit'ai's death is not
known, but he probably died about 1370. He was
succeeded by his son, Prince Sai, who assumed the same
title of T'ammaraja. This title became a kind of generic
one for the rulers of Suk'ot'ai and P'itsanulok.
King T'ammaraja II (Sai), after a reign of eight years,
was forced to become a vassal of the This
King Ayut'ia.
event marks the end of the independent Tai Kingdom of
Suk'ot'ai, after an existence of 132 years. The glory of
this kingdom was mainly due to one man, King Ram-
k'amheng ; had his successors been warriors like him, the
Siamese Kingdom of Suk'ot'ai might have endured until
the time.
present
The Kings of Suk'ot'ai continued for some years to
rule as vassals of II until
Ayut'ia. T'ammaraja reigned
about 1406, and was succeeded by his son, T'ammaraja
III, who was probably a mere boy, since it is recorded
that in the -mother assisted at the consecra-
1409 Queen
tion of a high priest. He died in 1419. The next
to have been a brother of
King, T'ammaraja IV, appears
T'ammaraja III. He was little more than hereditary
Governor of Suk'ot'ai, and his successors hardly deserve
the title of as we shall see a scion of
King ; though, later,
this was in to become of
family destined, 1568, King
Siam and to revive the title of T'ammaraja.