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                    HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM OF SIAM
                                 AND
                       OF THE REVOLUTIONS THAT
                      HAVE CAUSED THE OVERTHROW
                            OF THE EMPIRE,
                          UP TO A. D. 1770.


                Compiled by M. TURPIN from manuscripts
                received from M. the Bishop of TABRACA
                Vicar Apostolic of Siam and from other
                     Missionaries in the Kingdom.


                       PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY AT
                          PARIS A. D. 1771.

               _Translated from the original French by_
                        B. O. CARTWRIGHT, B.A.
                  EXHIBITIONER KING'S COLLEGE (CAMB).


                            BANGKOK 1908.
                  Printed under the auspices of the
                     Committee of the Vajiranana
                          National Library.


                              BANGKOK:
           Printed at the "American Presby. Mission Press."
                                1908.




                              CONTENTS.


                                                                PAGE.

  Translator's Preface                                            IV.

                             CHAPTER I.

  The First Kings of Siam                                           1

                            CHAPTER II.

  The Reign of Chao Narai                                          31

                            CHAPTER III.

  The Revolt of the Macassars                                      53

                            CHAPTER IV.

  The Revolution that brought about the downfall of Faulcon
    and the French                                                 65

                             CHAPTER V.

  The Breach between the French and the Usurper                    89

                            CHAPTER VI.

  The Persecution of the Christians after the departure
    of Des Farges                                                  99

                            CHAPTER VII.

  Events leading up to the Revolution of 1760                     109

                           CHAPTER VIII.

  The Revolution of 1760                                          115

                            CHAPTER IX.
  The Revolution of 1767                                          137

                             CHAPTER X.

  The Misfortunes of the Europeans after the Revolution           169

                            CHAPTER XI.

  After the Revolution of 1767                                    176

                            CHAPTER XII.

  Advantages that might accrue from commercial neighbouring
    relations with Siam and the Kingdoms                          185

                           CHAPTER XIII.

  Tonkin                                                          220




                       TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.


Turpin's History of Siam, published at Paris in the year 1771 consists
of two volumes, the first of which deals merely with the natural
History of Siam.--

The present book is a translation of the second volume only, and is of
considerable interest owing to the fact that it is the only extant
European work dealing with the events leading up to and succeeding the
fall of the old capital, Ayuthia.--

We have no accounts of the compiler M. Turpin himself and therefore
are unable to give any account of his life or position.--

The present volume falls into the following parts:--

a. A short resume of the early history of Siam. Few names are given,
and the accounts are somewhat vague. _Chapter 1_.

b. An account of the reign of Phra Narai and his immediate successors
_Chapter 2-6_. This portion has been compiled from the earlier
accounts of Forbin and La Loubere; but Tachard's remarks are not
treated as serious history.

c. A short chapter _(Chapter 7)_ giving a somewhat vague account of
the period intervening between the above and the next.--

d. The events leading up to the fall of Ayuthia.

A description of the Burmese attack on the capital and of the early
years of the reign of Phya Tak _(Chapter 8-11.)_ This forms the part
of greatest interest.

e. A description of the Kingdoms bordering on Siam _(Chapter 12-13)_.

Taken on the whole, the book gives a very fair and impartial account,
but as the bulk of the information was derived from the Catholic
Missionaries, a somewhat biassed view is taken of the religion of the
countries treated of.--

The original has been carefully followed in the translation; here and
there a few sentences have been omitted for the reason that such
sentences are merely remarks of a moralizing nature on the part of M.
Turpin himself, and have no connection whatever with the relation of
the historical events.--


                                     B. O. CARTWRIGHT.

    BANGKOK:
    _November, 1908._




                          HISTORY OF SIAM.




                             CHAPTER I.

                      THE FIRST KINGS OF SIAM.


Eastern despotism, which casts a blight on the soul and quenches
public spirit, is the primary cause of all revolutions by which the
people seek to ameliorate their condition by the overthrow of their
tyrants.

Every State in which there is One against All, has a defective
constitution, which causes it to pass in succession from greatness to
humiliation, from strength to weakness, and which, in its suicidal
policy, awaits but a foreign invasion which will restore to the
People, the enjoyment of their Rights.

The unstable and tottering thrones of Asia at last crumble away, and
the ambitious, arrogating to themselves the privileges of attempting
all things, are overwhelmed by their fall, and, reduce the weak to
violate everything in their despair.

The right of the strong is that of a footpad who plunders unarmed
travellers, and who, having enjoyed a period of immunity, dies under
the axe of the headsman. The Ruler who has the greater share in the
benefits of the Law does not recognise his advantages, and when
unwilling to extend them prefers to see himself surrounded by
trembling slaves who murmur in secret, and only await a leader to
become rebels. The crude legislation of Siam has been the cause of all
the public ills of the nation. It knows neither the extent of
authority nor the limits of obedience. This nation, indifferent
regarding the choice of its masters, has received fetters from the
hands of ambitious men who spurned the nation while coercing it.
Invariably unfortunate, the people have no hope save in a future
revolution, which will enslave them to a new tyrant insolently
bedecked with the imposing title of "Deliverer".

What can be the motive that prompts a despot to retain the privilege
of laying violent hands on the liberty and welfare of his subjects? A
despot who replaces natural rights by arbitrary power! He passes away
like a torrent which leaves but the remembrance of its devastation
behind it. The Kings of Siam, invisible to their subjects made
themselves known merely by acts of authority. Thus they could never
instil those tender feelings which are inspired by the presence of a
King who is both Father and Citizen.

I will not attempt to lift the veil which conceals the beginnings of
this Kingdom. This people has never known the art of printing which
alone en