Kingdom of Sukhothai | ||||||||||
อาณาจักรสุโขทัย | ||||||||||
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Approximate extent of Sukhothai's zone of influence, late 13th century.
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Capital |
Sukhothai (1238–1347, 1430–1438) Phitsanulok (1347–1430) |
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Languages | Sukhothai dialect | |||||||||
Religion | Theravada Buddhism | |||||||||
Government | Feudalism | |||||||||
King | ||||||||||
• | 1249–1257 | Sri Indraditya | ||||||||
• | 1279–1299 | Ramkhamhaeng | ||||||||
• | 1347–1368 | Mahathammaracha I | ||||||||
• | 1419–1438 | Mahathammaracha IV | ||||||||
Historical era | Middle Ages | |||||||||
• | Liberation from Lavo | 1238 | ||||||||
• | Expansions under Ram Khamhaeng | 1279–1298 | ||||||||
• | Became Ayutthayan tributary | 1378 | ||||||||
• | Merger into Ayutthaya Kingdom | 1438 | ||||||||
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Today part of |
Thailand Laos Myanmar Malaysia |
The Kingdom of Sukhothai (Thai: ; pronunciation) was an early kingdom in the area around the city Sukhothai, in north central Thailand. The Kingdom existed from 1238 until 1438. The old capital, now 12 km outside of Sukhothai in Tambon Mueang Kao, is in ruins and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Historical Park.
Sukhothai is from Sanskrit sukha (सुख "happiness") + udaya (उदय "rise, emergence"), meaning "dawn of happiness".
Prior to the 13th century, Tai kingdoms had existed in the northern highlands including the Ngoenyang Kingdom of the Tai Yuan people (centred on Chiang Saen and the predecessor of the Lan Na), and the Heokam Kingdom of the Tai Lue people (centred on Chiang Hung, modern Jinghong in China). Sukhothai had been a trade centre and part of Lavo (present day Lopburi), which was under the domination of the Khmer Empire. The migration of Tai people into the upper Chao Phraya valley was somewhat gradual.
Modern historians stated that the secession of Sukhothai (also spelled Sukhodaya)> from the Khmer empire began as early as 1180 during the reign of Pho Khun Sri Naw Namthom who was the ruler of Sukhothai and the peripheral city of Si Satchanalai (now a part of Sukhothai Province as Amphoe). Sukhothai had enjoyed a substantial autonomy until it was reconquered around 1180 by the Mon people of Lavo under Khomsabad Khlonlampong.