Page 81 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
77
Firearms are stated to have been used in this war. 1
A was held at in honour of
great procession Ayut'ia
these victories, and suitable rewards and promotions
were awarded to the successful leaders.
Cambodia did not recover from this blow for some time.
She remained for almost
quiet fifty years.
King Ramesuen died in 1395, having reigned, since
his second accession, for seven years. He was about
of at the time of his death. He had
sixty-two years age
shown himself, when young, an incompetent General, and
it is that his later victories were the work of
probable
P'ya Jai Narong. The murder of his nephew, King
T'ong Lan, is a blot on his memory ; even if such an act
could be on of Ramesuen
justified grounds policy, King
well have remembered how much more
might nobly
King Boromoraja I had acted towards himself on his
and the son out of to the
abdication, spared gratitude
father.
A Ram the son of
phantom King, Raja, King Ramesuen,
now succeeded to the throne. He for fourteen
reigned
which time whatever is recorded as
years, during nothing
occurred.
having
In 1408 King Ram Raja quarrelled with his principal
Minister, whose arrest he ordered. The Minister fled
to and for assistance to Prince Nak'on
Sup'an, appealed
In, the Governor of that town, a nephew of King Boro-
moraja I. The Prince proceeded to* Ayut'ia, seized
Ram and forced him to abdicate. He then
King Raja,
himself with the title of I.
proclaimed King, King Int'araja
1 It has been suggested that firearms cannot have been
this time. Chiengmai history first mentions firearms as havin
siege of P'ayao in 1411. Burmese history tells us that c
siege of Martaban in 1354. In Chinese history a weapon,
a cannon, is said to have been used at the siege of Yuent
Cannon were used by the English at the siege of C
been known in Europe for several years previously.
The author does not regard it as impossible that c
used in Siam in 1390.