Taksin

{{Short description|King of Siam from 1767 to 1782}} {{Distinguish|Taksim (disambiguation){{!}}Taksim}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox royalty | title = [[King of Ayutthaya]]{{efn|Thai monarchs continued to refer to themselves as Kings of Ayutthaya long after the [[Siege of Ayutthaya|city's fall]], until the reign of [[Mongkut]], who adopted the title [[King of Siam]] in official treaties.}} | image = King Taksin & Phraya Pichai Dabhak Monument in Wat Kungtapao 002.jpg | caption = Statue of Taksin the Great at Hat-Sung Palace ([[Wat Khung Taphao]]), [[Uttaradit province]] | name = {{ubl|Taksin the Great|{{langn|th|พระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช}}}} | succession = [[Monarchy of Thailand|King of Thonburi]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The title "King of Siam" was first used formally during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV)|url=https://www.silpa-mag.com/club/art-and-culture/article_10496|publisher=ศิลปวัฒนธรรม|date=6 July 2017|accessdate=10 August 2017}}</ref> | reign = 28 December 1767 – {{nowrap|1 April 1782}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Terwiel |first=B. J. |title=A History of Modern Thailand, 1767–1942 |publisher=University of Queensland Press |location=St Lucia |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-7022-1892-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tr1GAAAAMAAJ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130084108/https://books.google.com/books?id=Tr1GAAAAMAAJ |archive-date=30 November 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Skinner |first=G. William |title=Chinese Society in Thailand: An Analytical History |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=1957 |url=https://archive.org/details/chinesesocietyin0000gwil/page/22/mode/2up |access-date=19 October 2022}}</ref>{{efn|Accounts differ on when Taksin stepped down and entered the monkhood, with some arguing it occurred as early as three months before his execution.<ref>{{cite web |title=ว่าด้วยพระเจ้าตาก ตอน 5: สองคน สองประวัติศาสตร์ EP.50 |website=YouTube |date=27 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6xU49K4jZY |language=th |quote=3:41–3:55 |access-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130083931/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6xU49K4jZY |archive-date=30 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} | coronation = 28 December 1767 | cor-type = thailand | predecessor = [[Ekkathat]] (as King of [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]]) | successor = [[Rama I|Phutthayotfa Chulalok]] (Rama I) {{nowrap|(as King of [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Rattanakosin]])}} | regent = [[Inthraphithak]] | reg-type = [[Front Palace|Viceroy]] | birth_name = Sin (Zheng Zhao) | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1734|4|17}} | birth_place = [[Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]], [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]] | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1782|4|7|1734|4|17}}{{efn|Traditionally accepted date of his execution.}} | death_place = [[Bangkok]], [[Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932)|Siam]] | burial_place = [[Wat Intharam]], Bangkok | spouses = {{ubl|Batboricha (Son)|Boricha Phakdi (Chim)|Consort Prang}} | issue = 21 sons and 9 daughters, including: {{ublist|[[Inthraphithak]] (Chui)|[[Chaophraya Nakhon Noi]]}} | regnal name = {{hlist|Borommaracha IV|Sanphet X}} | dynasty = [[Thonburi dynasty|Thonburi]] | father = [[Yong Saetae]] (Zheng Yong)<ref name="Lintner, p. 112">Lintner, p. 112</ref> | mother = Nok-lang (later Princess [[Phithak Thephamat]]) | religion = [[Theravada Buddhism]] | module = {{Infobox officeholder|embed=yes | allegiance = [[Ayutthaya Kingdom]] [[Thonburi Kingdom]] | battles = {{Tree list}} * [[Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767)]] ** [[Siege of Ayutthaya|Fall of Ayutthaya]] * [[Taksin's reunification of Siam|Reunification of Siam]] ** [[Taksin%27s_reunification_of_Siam#Reconquest_of_Ayutthaya|Reconquest of Ayutthaya]] ** [[Taksin%27s_reunification_of_Siam#Battle_of_Phosamton|Battle of Phosamton]] * [[Siamese–Vietnamese War (1771–1773)]] ** [[Siamese–Vietnamese_War_(1771–1773)#Siamese_conquest_of_Cambodia|Siamese conquest of Cambodia]] * [[Siamese conquest of Lan Na (1774–1775)]] * [[Bangkaeo Campaign]] * [[Burmese–Siamese_War_(1775–1776)|Athi Wungyi's War]] * [[Lao–Siamese War (1778–1779)|Siamese Invasion of Laos]] {{Tree list/end}}}} }}

'''Taksin the Great'''{{efn|{{langx|th|สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช}}, {{RTGS|''Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat''}},{{efn|{{IPA|th|sǒm.dèt pʰráʔ tɕâːw tàːk.sǐn mā.hǎː.râːt|pron}}.}} {{Audio|Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat (TH).ogg|listen}}}} or the '''King of Thonburi'''{{efn|({{langx|th|สมเด็จพระเจ้ากรุงธนบุรี}}, {{RTGS|''Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri''}};{{efn|{{IPA|th|sǒm.dèt pʰráʔ tɕâːw krūŋ tʰōn bū.rīː|pron}}. {{audio|Somdet Phra Chao Krung Thon Buri (TH).ogg|listen}}}} {{zh|s=郑昭|t=鄭昭|p=Zhèng Zhāo}}; [[Peng'im|Teochew Peng'im]]: ''Dên7 Zieu1''<ref name=tran6/>}} (17 April 1734 – 7 April 1782) was a [[Thai Chinese]] general who became the only [[King of Thailand|King]] of [[Thonburi Kingdom|Thonburi]] that ruled Siam from 1767 to 1782.

Taksin had been an aristocrat in the [[Ayutthaya Kingdom]] and then was a major leader during the liberation of Siam from [[Konbaung dynasty|Burmese]] occupation after the [[Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767)|Second Fall of Ayutthaya]] in 1767, and the [[Taksin's reunification of Siam|subsequent unification]] of [[Siam]] after it fell under various warlords. He established the city of [[Thonburi]] as the new capital, as the city of Ayutthaya had been almost completely destroyed by the invaders. His reign was characterized by numerous wars; he fought to repel new [[Burmese–Siamese War (1775–1776)|Burmese invasions]] and to [[Siamese conquest of Lan Na (1775)|subjugate the northern Thai kingdom of Lanna]], the [[Lao–Siamese War (1778–1779)|Laotian principalities]], and [[Siamese–Vietnamese War (1771–1773)|threatening Cambodia]].

Although warfare occupied most of Taksin's reign, he paid a great deal of attention to politics, administration, economy, and the welfare of the country. He promoted trade and fostered relations with foreign countries. He had roads built and canals dug. Apart from restoring and renovating temples, the king attempted to revive literature, and various branches of the arts such as drama, painting, architecture and handicrafts. He also issued regulations for the collection and arrangement of various texts to promote education and religious studies.

He was taken in a [[coup d'état]] and executed in 1782, and succeeded by his long-time friend [[Rama I|Maha Ksatriyaseuk]], who then assumed the throne, founding the [[Rattanakosin Kingdom]] and the [[Chakri dynasty]], which has since ruled Thailand. In recognition for his deeds, he was later awarded the title of ''Maharat'' (the Great).

==Early life == ===Ancestry=== Taksin was born on 17 April 1734, in [[Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]].{{clarify|reason=This online account from a 19th century European who visited Siam dates it to March 1734 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46559/46559-h/46559-h.htm|date=January 2022}} Taksin had [[Thai Chinese|Chinese Teochew]], [[Thai people|Tai]]-Chinese and [[Mon people|Mon]] ancestry. His father, [[Yong Saetae]] ({{langx|th|หยง แซ่แต้}}; {{zh|c=鄭鏞}} ''Zhèng Yōng''; ''Dên7 Iong5''), who worked as a tax-collector,<ref>Parkes, p. 770</ref> was of [[Thai Chinese|ethnic Teochew]] descent from [[Chenghai District]], [[Shantou]], [[Guangdong]], [[China]].<ref name="Lintner, p. 112"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=0LgSI9UQNpwC&dq=tran+fukien&pg=PA8 Woodside 1971], p. 8.</ref>

His mother, [[Phithak Thephamat|Nokiang]] ({{langx|th|นกเอี้ยง}}), was of [[Mon people|Mon]]-Tai descent<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Roy|first=Edward|date=2010|title=Prominent Mon Lineages from Late Ayutthaya to Early Bangkok|url=https://thesiamsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/JSS_098_0i_VanRoy_ProminentMonLineages.pdf|url-status=live|website=The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216011057/https://thesiamsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/JSS_098_0i_VanRoy_ProminentMonLineages.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> (and was later appointed to establish the [[Thai royal ranks and titles|royal title]] of the Princess Mother Thephamat).<ref>Wyatt, 140</ref> Nokiang's mother was a Mon noblewoman who was a younger sister to [[Phraya]] Phetburi ([[personal name]]: Roeang) and Phraya Ram Chaturon (personal name: Chuan). Phraya Phetburi (Roeang) was governor of [[Phetchaburi Province|Phetburi]], then the Mon population center and royal naval base in King [[Boromakot]]'s reign. Phraya Ram Chaturon (Chuan) served as chief of Siam's [[Mon people#History|Mon community]] during the reign of King [[Ekkathat]]. Nokiang's father was a Tai commoner.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Siamese Melting Pot: Ethnic Minorities in the Making of Bangkok|publisher=ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute|year=2017|pages=78}}</ref>

===Childhood=== Impressed by the boy, [[Chaophraya Chakri (Mud)|Mut]], the [[Chaophraya Chakri]] who was the [[Ministry of Interior (Thailand)|Grand Chancellor of Civil Affairs]] ({{langx|th|สมุหนายก}}, {{RTGS|''Samuhanayok''}}) in King [[Boromakot]]'s reign, adopted him and gave him the Thai name Sin (สิน) meaning money or treasure.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://rirs3.royin.go.th/dictionary.asp|title= RID 1999|access-date= 19 March 2010|publisher= [[Royal Institute of Thailand|RIT]]|quote= Select สิ and enter สิน|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090303000030/http://rirs3.royin.go.th/dictionary.asp|archive-date= 3 March 2009|df= mdy-all}}</ref> When he was seven, Sin was assigned to a monk named Thongdi to begin his education in a [[Theravada Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[Wat|monastery]] called Kosawat Temple (Thai: วัดโกษาวาส) (later, Choengtha Temple (Thai: วัดเชิงท่า)).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://watchoengthar.igetweb.com/index.php?mo=10&art=224753 |title=Wat Choeng Thar's official website |website=iGetWeb |access-date=29 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109102720/http://watchoengthar.igetweb.com/index.php?mo=10&art=224753 |archive-date=9 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After seven years, he was sent by his stepfather to serve as a royal page. He studied [[Min Nan|Hokkien-Chinese]], [[Filipino language|Filipino]], and several [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], and became fluent in them. It was the time he learnt Filipino, he took his name as "Jesse Aquinaldo". When Sin and his friend Thongduang who was also a descendant of Mon aristocratic family were Buddhist novices, they reportedly met a [[Fortune Telling|Chinese fortune-teller]] who told them that both had lucky [[palmistry|lines]] in their hands and would both become kings. Neither took it seriously, but Thongduang would become the successor of King Taksin, called [[Rama I]].<ref>{{cite book|author=พระราชวรวงศ์เธอ กรมหมื่นพิทยาลงกรณ์|script-title=th:สามกรุง|location=Bangkok|publisher=สำนักพิมพ์คลังวิทยา|pages=54–58|language=th}}</ref>

===Early career=== [[File:KingTaksin of Thonburi.jpg|thumb|200px|Portrait of King Taksin, said to be done by a French priest in King Ekkathat's funeral]] After taking the vows of a Buddhist monk for about three years, Sin joined the service of King [[Ekkathat]] and was first deputy governor and later governor of [[Tak province|Tak]],<ref>Webster, 156</ref> which gained him his name ''[[Phraya]] Tak'', the governor of Tak.

In 1765, when the Burmese attacked [[Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]], Phraya Taksin defended the capital, for which he was given the title ''Phraya Wachiraprakan'' of [[Kamphaeng Phet]]. However, he did not have a chance to govern Kamphaeng Phet because the country was in a dire situation. For more than a year, Thai and Burmese soldiers fought fierce battles at the [[Siege of Ayutthaya (1766–1767)|Siege of Ayutthaya]]. It was during this time that Phraya Vajiraprakarn experienced the setbacks which led him to doubt the value of his endeavors.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

===Resistance and independence=== [[File:พระเจ้าตากทรงม้า.jpg|thumb|200px|right|King Taksin the Great Monument, the monument of King Taksin accompanied by his four trusted soldiers at [[Chantaburi]]]]{{See also|Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767)}} On 3 January 1767, 3 months before the fall of Ayutthaya,<ref>Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk. A History of Ayutthaya: Siam in the Early Modern World (p. 262). Cambridge University Press. Kindle Edition.</ref> Taksin made his way out of the city at the head of 500 followers to [[Rayong]], on the east coast of the [[Gulf of Thailand]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture|author=John Bowman|year=2000|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/columbiachronolo00john/page/514 514]|isbn=0-231-11004-9|url=https://archive.org/details/columbiachronolo00john/page/514}}</ref> This action was never adequately explained, as the royal compound and Ayutthaya proper was on an island. How Taksin and his followers escaped from the Burmese encirclement remains a mystery. He travelled first to [[Chonburi (city)|Chonburi]], a town on the Gulf of Thailand's eastern coast, and then to [[Rayong]], where he raised a small army and his supporters began to address him as '''Prince Tak'''.<ref>Eoseewong, p. 126</ref> He planned to attack and capture [[Chanthaburi]], according to a popular version of oral history, he said, "We are going to attack Chanthaburi tonight. Destroy all the food and utensils we have, for we will have our food in Chanthaburi tomorrow morning."<ref name=RoyalThaiArmy>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mi.th/sattahipbase/tour/seal_jawtak.php |title=King Taksin's shrine |website=Royal Thai Navy |access-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702121735/http://www.navy.mi.th/sattahipbase/tour/seal_jawtak.php |archive-date=2 July 2010 }}</ref>

On 7 April 1767, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese. After the destruction of Ayutthaya and the death of the Thai king, the country was split into six parts, with Taksin controlling the east coast. Together with Thongduang, now Chao Phraya Chakri, he eventually managed to drive back the Burmese, defeat his rivals and reunify the country.<ref>Eoseewong, p. 98</ref>

With his soldiers he moved to Chanthaburi, and being rebuffed by the governor of the town, he made a surprise night attack on it and captured it on 15 June 1767, only two months after the sack of Ayutthaya.<ref name=DamrongRajanubhab385>Damrong Rajanubhab, p. 385</ref> His army was rapidly increasing in numbers, as men of Chanthaburi and [[Trat]], which had not been plundered and depopulated by the Burmese,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crma.ac.th/histdept/archives/articles/king-tak-to-the-east.htm |title=Art&Culture |language=th |publisher=Crma.ac.th |access-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622054412/http://www.crma.ac.th/histdept/archives/articles/king-tak-to-the-east.htm |archive-date=22 June 2009 }}</ref> naturally constituted a suitable base for him to make preparations for the liberation of his fatherland.<ref name=warwood253>W.A.R.Wood, p. 253</ref>

Having thoroughly looted Ayutthaya, the Burmese did not seem to show serious interest in holding the capital of Siam, since they left only a handful of troops under General Suki to control the shattered city. They turned their attention to the north of their own country which was soon threatened with [[Sino–Burmese War (1765–1769)|Chinese invasion]]. On 6 November 1767, having amassed 5,000 troops and built 100 ships, Taksin sailed up the Chao Phraya River and seized Thonburi opposite present day [[Bangkok]]. He executed the puppet Thai governor, Thong-in, whom the Burmese had placed in charge.<ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, pp. 401–402</ref> The taking of Thonburi was quite easy due to the garrison being Thai.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://finearts.go.th/storage/contents/file/ntPkXCb3uR0liF3dUhzobvdnCtaEUFt8PGZKJeiH.pdf|title=Full page photo|website=Finearts.go.th|access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> He followed up his victory quickly by attacking the main Burmese camp numbering 3,000 men, led by General Suki (สุกี้) at the Battle of Pho Sam Ton (Thai: โพธิ์สามต้น) near Ayutthaya.<ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, pp. 403</ref> The Burmese were defeated, General Suki was killed in the fighting, and Taksin won back Ayutthaya from the enemy within seven months of its destruction.<ref name=warwood253/>

===Establishment of the capital=== [[File:Siege of Bangkok 1688 Fortress Map Verquains.png|thumb|280px|left|The village of Thonburi, on the right (west) bank of the [[Chao Phraya]] (here in the lower left corner of the map), facing the fortress of [[Bangkok]], during the 1688 [[Siege of Bangkok]]<ref>Jean Vollant des Verquains ''History of the revolution in Siam in the year 1688'', in Smithies 2002, pp. 95–96</ref>]] King Taksin took important steps to show that he was a worthy successor to the throne. He ensured appropriate treatment to the remnants of the ex-royal family, arranged a grand cremation of the remains of the former ruler [[Ekkathat]], and tackled the problem of establishing the capital.<ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, p. 388</ref> Taksin likely realized that the city of Ayutthaya had suffered such destruction that to restore it to its former state would have strained his resources. The Burmese were quite familiar with Ayutthaya's vulnerabilities, and in the event of renewal of a Burmese attack on it, the troops under the liberator would be inadequate for effective defense of the city. With these considerations in mind, he established his capital at [[Thonburi]], which was closer to the sea.<ref name=Syamananda95/> Not only would Thonburi be difficult to invade by land, it would also prevent an acquisition of weapons and military supplies by anyone ambitious enough to establish himself as an independent prince further up the [[Chao Phraya River]].<ref name=DamrongRajanubhab385/> As Thonburi was a small town, Taksin's available forces, both soldiers and sailors, could man its fortifications, and if he found it impossible to hold it against an enemy attack, he could embark the troops and retreat to Chanthaburi.<ref>{{cite book|title=Nirat Phra Bart (นิราศพระบาท)|year=2007|author=[[Sunthorn Phu]]|publisher=Kong Toon (กองทุน)|pages=123–124|isbn=978-974-482-064-8|language=th}}</ref>

His successes against competitors for power were due to Taksin's abilities as a warrior, his leadership, valor, and effective organization of his forces. Usually he put himself in the front rank in an encounter with the enemy, thus inspiring his men. Among the officials who cast their fate with him during the campaigns for independence and for the elimination of the self-appointed local nobles were two personalities who subsequently played important roles in Thai history. They were the sons of an official bearing the title of Phra Acksonsuntornsmiantra ({{langx|th|พระอักษรสุนทรเสมียนตรา}}). The elder son was named Thongduang (Thai: ทองด้วง). He was born in 1737 in Ayutthaya and later was to be the founder of the [[Chakri Dynasty]], while the younger one, Bunma (Thai: บุญมา), born six years later, served as his deputy.<ref>Prince Chula, p. 74</ref>

Thongduang, prior to the sacking of Ayutthaya, was ennobled as ''[[Luang (title)|Luang]]'' ''Yokkrabat'', taking charge of royal surveillance, serving the Governor of [[Ratchaburi]], and Bunma had a court title conferred upon him as [[Nai (noble title)|Nai]] Sudchinda. Luang Yokkrabat (Thongduang) was therefore not in Ayutthaya to witness the fall of the city, while Nai Sudchinda (Bunma) made his escape from Ayutthaya. However, while King Taksin was assembling his forces at Chanthaburi, Nai Sudchinda brought his retainers to join him, thus helping to increase his fighting strength. Due to his previous acquaintance with him, the liberator was so pleased that he promoted him to be Phra Mahamontri. Just after his coronation, Taksin secured the service of Luang Yokkrabut on the recommendation of Phra Mahamontri (Thai: พระมหามนตรี) and as he was equally familiar with him as with his brother, he raised him to be Phra Rajwarin. Having rendered service to the king during his campaigns or their own expeditions against the enemies, Phra Rajwarin (Thai: พระราชวรินทร์) and Phra Mahamontri rose so quickly in the noble ranks that a few years after, the former was created [[Chao Phraya (title)|Chao Phraya]] Chakri, the rank of the chancellor, while the latter became [[Maha Sura Singhanat|Chao Phraya Surasi]].<ref name=Syamananda95>Syamananda, p. 95</ref>

==Reign== ===Accession to the throne=== <gallery widths="200" heights="180" mode="packed"> File:(2023) พระราชวังเดิม เขตบางกอกใหญ่ กรุงเทพมหานคร (15).jpg|A statues of King Taksin at [[Thonburi Palace]] or Phra Racha Wang Derm, Thonburi, Bangkok. File:Phra Racha Wang Derm (I).jpg|Phra Racha Wang Derm (Thonburi Palace), the former royal palace of Taksin, now used as the [[Royal Thai Navy]]'s HQ, view from Phra Prang of [[Wat Arun]], Thonburi, Bangkok. File:Map of Thonburi Kingdom in 1780.jpg|[[Thonburi Kingdom]] during Taksin's reign </gallery> On 28 December 1767, Taksin was crowned King of Siam at [[Thonburi Palace]] in Thonburi ("Krung Thonburi Sri Maha Samut"), the new capital of Siam, yet had Siam official documents still used the official name of "'''Krung Pra Maha Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya'''".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mybangkokholiday.com/attractions/palaces/|title= Palaces in Bangkok |author=  |publisher= thai.tourismthailand.org |access-date=19 December 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430035038/http://www.mybangkokholiday.com/attractions/palaces/ |archive-date=30 April 2011 }}</ref> He assumed the official name of "'''Borommaracha IV'''" and "'''Phra Sri Sanphet X'''", but is known to Thai history as King Taksin, a combination of his popular name, "Phraya Tak", and his first name, "Sin", or the King of Thonburi. At the time of his coronation, he was only 34 years of age. [[W. A. R. Wood]] (1924) observed that Taksin's father was Chinese or partly Chinese, and his mother Siamese, and he said, "He believed that even the forces of nature were under his control when he was destined to succeeded, and this faith led him to attempt and achieve tasks which to another man would seem impossible. Like [[Napoleon III]], he was a man of destiny."<ref>Wood, pp. 253–254</ref> The king elected not return to Ayutthaya but instead to make his capital at Thonburi, which being only 20 kilometers from the sea, was much better suited to seaborne commerce. He never really had time to build it into a great city,<ref>Wyatt, p. 141</ref> as he was occupied with suppression of internal and external enemies, as well as territorial expansion throughout his reign.<ref>Syamananda, p. 94</ref>

===Reunification of Siam=== {{main|Taksin's reunification of Siam}}

<gallery widths="210" heights="210" mode="packed"> File:1767 Separate Factions of Siam.png|The five states that emerged following the dissolution of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767 File:Phrayatakjourney.jpg|Journey of Phraya Tak from [[Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city)|Ayutthaya]] to [[Chanthaburi]] and his return to [[Taksin's reunification of Siam|reconquer Ayutthaya]] in 1767, according to traditional Thai historiography. </gallery> After the sacking of Ayutthaya the country had fallen apart, due to the disappearance of central authority. In addition to Taksin, several local lords had established themselves as rulers in [[Phimai]], [[Phitsanulok]], Fang (Sawangkhaburi, near [[Uttaradit]]), and Nakhon Si Thammarat. From 1768 to 1771, Taksin launched campaigns to subjugate these rivals,<ref>Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk. A History of Thailand Third Edition (p. 307). Cambridge University Press. Kindle Edition.</ref> and Thonburi emerged as the new center of power within Siam.

===Wars with Burma=== During Taksin's reign, Taksin is recorded to have waged 9 campaigns against Burma:

====First campaign==== {{main|Taksin's reunification of Siam#Reconquest of Ayutthaya}} [[File:โคลงภาพพระราชพงศาวดาร ภาพที่ 64 ภาพเจ้าตากตีค่ายพม่าที่โพธิ์สามต้น.jpg|thumb|300px|Battle of Phosamton in November 1767.]] In 1767, Hsinbyushin sent an army of 2,000 men under the command of Maengki Manya (Thai: แมงกี้มารหญ้า), the governor of Tavoy to invade Siam after Taksin as established Thonburi as the capital. The Burmese army advanced to the district of Bang Kung in the province of [[Samut Songkram]] to the west of the new capital, but was routed by the Thai king in the Battle of Bang Kung in 1767, which is also the site of [[Wat Bang Kung]]. When more Chinese troops invaded Burma, Hsinbyushin was forced to recall most of his troops back to resist the Chinese.

====Second campaign==== In 1770, Thado Mindin, the governor of Chiang Mai, attacked Sawankhalok. Thado Mindin was repelled by Phraya Surasi.<ref>พระราชพงศาวดารกรุงธนบุรี ฉบับหมอบลัดเล, หน้า 50–53</ref><ref name=":1" />

====Third campaign==== Taksin launched campaigns to stabilize the northern frontier with Lanna, whose capital [[Chiang Mai]], under Burmese rule, served as launching bases for Burmese incursions. A prerequisite for the maintenance of peace in that region would therefore be the complete expulsion of the Burmese from Chiang Mai.<ref>Wood, pp. 259–260</ref> In 1770, Taksin started his first expedition to capture Chiang Mai, but he was pushed back.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} In 1771, the Burmese governor of Chiang Mai launched an attack on the city of Phichai, beginning a series of campaigns over Siam's northern cities (Sukhothai{{clarify|reason=Sukhothai or Sukhothai Thani?|date=December 2021}}, [[Phitsanulok]]).

====Fourth campaign==== In 1772, after finishing his campaign in Luang Phrabang, Nemyo Thihapate attacked the city of Phichai, but was repelled.

====Fifth campaign==== In 1773, Nemyo Thihapate attacked the city of Phichai again. During the siege, a commander named Phraya Phichai fought the Burmese until his sword broke. For that, he was given the epithet, "Phraya Phichai Dap Hak", which translates to "Phraya Phichai with the broken sword".<ref>พระราชพงศาวดารกรุงธนบุรี ฉบับหมอบลัดเล, หน้า 68</ref>

====Sixth campaign==== {{main|Burmese–Siamese War (1774–1775)}}

In 1774, Taksin led an army to attack Chiang Mai for the second time. The city was taken. Lanna, which had been under Burmese rule for over 200 years, had fallen to the Siamese.<ref>พระราชพงศาวดารกรุงธนบุรี ฉบับหมอบลัดเล, หน้า 68–78</ref>

====Seventh campaign==== {{main|Bangkaeo Campaign}}

[[File:Battle of Bangkeo.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Battle of Bangkaeo]] in Ratchaburi]] In the same year, Hsinbyushin sent an army of 5,000 men to attack Siam. It was completely surrounded by the Thais at the Battle of Bangkaeo (Thai: ยุทธ��ารที่บางแก้ว) in [[Ratchaburi]]. Due to starvation, the Burmese army capitulated to Taksin in 1775. Instead of killing all the men, Taksin paraded the prisoners around to boost the morale of his soldiers.<ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, p. 462</ref><ref>พระราชพงศาวดารกรุงธนบุรี ฉบับหมอบลัดเล, หน้า</ref>

====Eighth campaign==== {{main|Burmese–Siamese War (1775–1776)}}

[[File:AthiWungyiWar.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|[[Maha Thiha Thura]]'s [[Burmese–Siamese War (1775–1776)|Invasion of Siam in 1775–1776]] was the largest war with the Burmese in the Thonburi Period,<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=[[Damrong Rajanubhab]] |first=Prince |title=พงษาวดารเรื่องเรารบพม่า ครั้งกรุงธน ฯ แลกรุงเทพ ฯ |year=1918 |location=Bangkok}}</ref> when the Burmese invaded Siam in three directions.]] Undaunted by this defeat, and aiming to retake Chiang Mai, Hsinbyushin tried again to conquer Siam, and in October 1775 the greatest Burmese invasion in the Thonburi period began under [[Maha Thiha Thura]], known in Thai history as Azaewunky. He had distinguished himself as a first rate general in the wars with China and in the suppression of a recent [[Mon people|Peguan]] rising.<ref name="wood265-266">Wood, pp. 265–266</ref>

The war saw Burmese forces pushing into Siamese territory, capturing cities as south as Phitsanulok before the Siamese were able to push back, finally recapturing Chiang Mai in 1776. The war devastated Siam's northern cities, as well as Chiang Mai itself. Chiang Mai was abandoned, remaining deserted for the next fifteen years.<ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, p. 530</ref> Its remaining inhabitants were transplanted to Lampang, where [[Kawila]] was established to rule over Lan Na as a Siamese vassal.

====Ninth campaign==== In 1776, the new Burmese king, [[Singu Min]], ordered 6,000 troops to attack Chiang Mai. Phraya Wichienprakarn considered that Chiang Mai did not have many troops to that can protect the city therefore allowing people to migrate down to the city of Sawankhalok. Taksin ordered Maha Sura Singhanat, the governor of Phitsanulok to meet up with Phraya Kawila, the ruler of Lampang to retake Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was retaken, but due to constant wars, it was heavily devastated and remained abandoned for 15 years until it was rebuilt 15 years later.<ref>พระราชพงศาวดารกรุงธนบุรี, หน้า 177</ref>

===Relationship with Cambodia=== {{Main|Siamese–Vietnamese War (1769–1773)}}

===Sacking of Vientiane=== {{main|Lao–Siamese War (1778–1779)}}

[[File:Emerald buddha2.jpg|thumb|130px|Closeup of Emerald Buddha in summer season attire]] In 1777, the ruler of [[Kingdom of Champasak|Champasak]], which was at that time an independent principality bordering the eastern frontier of the Thonburi Kingdom, supported the Governor of [[Amphoe Nang Rong|Nangrong]], who had rebelled against the King Taksin. The army under [[Rama I|Chao Phraya Chakri]] was ordered to move against the rebel, who was caught and executed. Having received reinforcements under [[Maha Sura Singhanat|Chao Phraya Surasi]], he advanced to Champasak, where the rulers, Chao O and his deputy, were captured and summarily beheaded. Champasak was conquered by Siam, and as a result of Chao Phraya Chakri's successful campaign Taksin promoted him to [[Thai royal ranks and titles|Somdej Chao Phraya]] Mahakasatsuek Piluekmahima Tuknakara Ra-adet ([[Thai Language|Thai]]:สมเด็จเจ้าพระยามหากษัตริย์ศึก พิลึกมหึมาทุกนคราระอาเดช) (meaning the supreme Chao Phraya, Great Warrior-King who was so remarkably powerful that every city was afraid of his might)<ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, pp. 531–532</ref>—the highest title of nobility that a commoner could achieve.

In [[Kingdom of Vientiane|Vientiane]], a Minister of State, {{ill|Pra Woh|de|Phra Vo}}, had rebelled against the ruling prince and fled to the Champasak territory, where he set himself up at Donmotdang, near the present city of [[Ubon Ratchathani]]. He made a formal submission to the Thonburi Kingdom when he annexed [[Kingdom of Champasak|Champasak]], but after the withdrawal of Taksin army, he was attacked and killed by troops from Vientiane. This action was instantly regarded by King Taksin as a great insult to him, and at his command, Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek invaded Vientiane with an army of 20,000 men in 1778. Laos had been separated into the two principalities of [[Kingdom of Luang Phrabang|Luang Prabang]] and [[Kingdom of Vientiane|Vientiane]] since the beginning of the 18th century. The Prince of Luang Prabang, who was at odds with the Prince of Vientiane, submitted to Siam for his own safety, bringing his men to join Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek in besieging Vientiane.<ref>Wood, p. 268</ref>{{Clarify|reason=How does this paragraph relate to the previous paragraph?|date=July 2019}}

After the siege of Vientiane which took about four months, Thaksin's took Vientiane, sacked the city, and carried off the images of [[Emerald Buddha]] and [[Phra Bang]] to Thonburi. The Prince of Vientiane managed to escape and went into exile. Thus Luang Prabang and Vientiane became tributary state of the Thonburi Kingdom.<ref name=wyatt143>Wyatt, p. 143</ref> Nothing definite is known about the origin of the celebrated Emerald Buddha. It is believed that this image was carved from green jasper by an artist or artists in northern India about two thousand years ago. It was taken to [[Ceylon]] and then to [[Chiang Rai]] of [[Lan Na kingdom]] where it was, in 1434, found intact in a chedi which had been struck by lightning. As an object of great veneration among Thai Buddhists, it had been deposited in monasteries in [[Chiang Rai]], [[Chiang Mai]], [[Luang Prabang]], [[Vientiane]], [[Thonburi]], and later [[Bangkok]].<ref>[http://siamrat.blog/2019/01/29/following-the-journey-of-the-emerald-buddha/ Following the Journey of the Emerald Buddha] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924051034/https://siamrat.blog/2019/01/29/following-the-journey-of-the-emerald-buddha/ |date=24 September 2020 }}. ''Siam Rat Blog'' Retrieved 9 October 2020.</ref><ref>Damrong Rajanubhab, p. 534</ref>

===Economy, culture, and religion=== [[File:King Taksin of Thonburi Portrait Painting.png|thumb| 170px|right|King Taksin portrait painting, 18th century]] When King Taksin established Thonburi as his capital, people were living in abject poverty, and food and clothing were scarce. The King Taksin was well aware of the plight of his subjects, so in order to legitimize his claim for the kingdom, he made economic problems his priority. He paid high prices for rice from his own money to induce foreign traders to bring in adequate amounts of basic necessities to satisfy the need of the people. He then distributed rice and clothing to all his starving subjects. People who had been dispersed came back to their homes. [[Normalcy]] was restored. The economy of the country gradually recovered.<ref>{{in lang|th}} Collected History Part 65. [[Bangkok]], 1937, p. 87</ref> Taksin sent three diplomatic envoys to China in 1767. In the first year of his reign, Qing dynasty denied his envoys due to him not being an heir apparent from [[Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty]] and the two Princes, Chui and Sisang, were political Asylum seekers in [[Principality of Hà Tiên|Hà Tiên]]. Six years later, China recognized Taksin as the legitimate ruler of Siam in 1772.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofir0000wall |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofir0000wall/page/114 114] |quote=King taksin qianlong. |title=A Short History of China... |year=1996 |publisher=Internet Archive|isbn=978-1566198516 |access-date=29 March 2010}}</ref>{{clarify|reason=A historian states that Chris Baker told them in this lecture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1V60Soz0O0 Timestamp:1:51:41–1:51:57 that the letter of recognition of Taksin from China only came after Taksin's death. Ten years, why so slow?|date=January 2022}}

The record dating from 1777 states: "Important goods from Thailand are [[amber]], [[gold]], colored rocks, gold nuggets, gold dust, semi-precious stones, and hard lead." During this time King Taksin actively encouraged the Chinese to settle in Siam, principally those from [[Chaoshan]],<ref>Lintner, p. 234</ref> partly with the intention to revive the stagnating economy<ref>Baker, Phongpaichit, p. 32</ref> and upgrading the local workforce.<ref>Editors of Time Out, p. 84</ref> He had to fight almost constantly for most of his reign to maintain the independence of his country. As the economic influence of the immigrant Chinese community grew with time, many aristocrats, whom he took in from the Ayutthaya nobility, began to turn against him for having allied with the Chinese merchants. The opposition was led mainly by the [[Bunnag]]s, a merchant-aristocratic family of [[Persian people|Persian]] origin, successors of Ayutthaya's minister of Ports and Finance, or [[Phra Klang]]<ref>Handley, p. 27</ref>

Later, Thonburi ordered some guns from England. Royal letters were exchanged and in 1777 the Viceroy of [[British Raj|British Raj Madras]], George Stratton, sent a gold [[scabbard]] decorated with gems to King Taksin. Thai [[galleon]]s travelled to Portuguese colony of [[Surat]], in [[Goa]], India. However, formal diplomatic relations were not formed. In 1776, [[Francis Light]] of the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] sent 1,400 [[flintlock]]s along with other goods as gifts to King Taksin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.du.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/3110/Ch05-Calendar%20of%20the%20madras%20despatches%201754-175(page.342-438).pdf?sequence=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227181153/http://library.du.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/3110/Ch05-Calendar%20of%20the%20madras%20despatches%201754-175(page.342-438).pdf?sequence=3 |url-status=dead |title=The Madras Despatches, 1763–1764.|archive-date=27 February 2012 |access-date=29 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Asian Expansions: The Historical Experiences of Polity Expansion in Asia|series=Routledge Studies in the Early History of Asia|first=Geoff |last=Wade|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|page=175|isbn=9781135043537|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GXXZBAAAQBAJ|access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref>{{clarify|date=December 2021}}

In 1770, natives of [[Terengganu]] and [[Jakarta]] presented Taksin with 2,200 [[shotguns]]. At that time, the [[Dutch Republic]] controlled the [[Java]] Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.compuplan.nl/TH/journal/400yearsVOC.doc |title=400 years Thai-Dutch Relation: VOC in Judea, Kingdom of Siam |access-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428042641/http://www.compuplan.nl/TH/journal/400yearsVOC.doc |archive-date=28 April 2011 }}</ref>

Simultaneously Taksin was deeply engaged in restoring law and order in the kingdom and administering a public welfare programme. Abuses in the Buddhist establishment and among the public were duly rectified and food and clothing and other necessities were distributed to those in need.<ref name="Syamananda95"/>

Taksin was interested in art, including dance and drama. There is evidence that when he went to suppress the Chao Nakhon Si Thammarat faction in 1769, he brought back Chao Nakhon's female dancers. Together with dancers that he had assembled from other places, they trained and set up a royal troupe in Thonburi on the Ayutthaya model. The king wrote four episodes from the [[Ramakian]] for the royal troupe to rehearse and perform.<ref>Amolwan Kiriwat. ''[http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/KiriwatAX2001.pdf Khon:Masked dance drama of the Thai Epic Ramakien]'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428042259/http://www.library.umaine.edu/theses/pdf/KiriwatAX2001.pdf |date=28 April 2011 }}. Retrieved 6 October 2009.</ref><ref>Pattama Wattanapanich: The Study of the characteristics of the court dance drama in the reign of King Taksin the Great, 210 pp.</ref>

When he went north to suppress the Phra Fang faction, he could see that monks in the north were lax and undisciplined. He invited ecclesiastical dignitaries from the capital to teach those monks and brought them back in line with the main teachings of Buddhism. Even though Taksin had applied himself to reforming the Buddhist religion after its period of decline following the loss of Ayutthaya to Burma, gradually bringing it back to the normalcy it enjoyed during the Ayutthaya kingdom, since his reign was so brief he was not able to do very much.

The administration of the [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]] during the Thonburi period followed the model established in Ayutthaya,<ref>Sunthorn Na-rangsi. ''[http://www.stc.arts.chula.ac.th/CJBS/Administration%20of%20the%20Thai%20Sangha.pdf Administration of the Thai Sangha: past, present and future] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227144632/http://www.stc.arts.chula.ac.th/CJBS/Administration%20of%20the%20Thai%20Sangha.pdf |date=February 27, 2012 }}.'' Retrieved 6 October 2009.</ref> and he allowed French missionaries to enter Thailand, and like a previous Thai king, helped them build a church in 1780.

===Relationship with the Chinese Empire=== [[File:Taksin tomb.JPG|thumb|200px|The Entrance of Taksin's tomb in [[Chenghai]], [[Guangdong]], China]] When Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767, Thai and Chinese sources mentioned that Taksin, then the lord of Tak, broke the Burmese siege and led his troops to [[Chantaburi]]. During those years, Chinese Empire had border conflicts with Konbaung Burma. The Burmese invasion into Siam became the warning for Chinese Empire. Taksin, then, sent a tributary mission to require the royal seal, claiming that the throne of Ayutthaya Kingdom had come to an end. However, his attempt was hindered by [[Mạc Thiên Tứ]] (Mo Shilin), the governor of [[Principality of Hà Tiên|Hà Tiên]], whom had thorough knowledge of Chinese diplomatic practices and alleged that Taksin was a usurper.<ref name=Tagliacozzo>Eric Tagliacozzo, Wen-chin Chang, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkMLnmRa0zEC&dq=King+taksin+qianlong&pg=PA151 ''Chinese Circulations: Capital, Commodities, and Networks in Southeast Asia''], p. 151</ref><ref name="shilu817">{{cite web|url=http://www.cssn.cn/zgs/zgs_sl/201305/t20130531_364401.shtml|script-title=zh:乾隆实录卷之八百十七|language=zh|access-date=21 March 2019|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321035325/http://www.cssn.cn/zgs/zgs_sl/201305/t20130531_364401.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Tứ also offered shelter to Prince Chao Chui, an Ayutthaya prince.<ref name="จิ้มก้องขอหองโอรสสวรรค์">{{cite book|url=https://www.academia.edu/10918681|title=รัฐศาสตร์สาร ปีที่ 37 ฉบับที่ 2 (พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม 2559)|publisher=โรงพิมพ์มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์|year=2011|isbn=978-616-7308-25-8|location=กรุงเทพฯ|pages=1–23|last1=Jiamrattanyoo|first1=Arthit|archive-date=9 July 2021|access-date=28 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184315/https://www.academia.edu/10918681|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=tran6>[[Trần Trọng Kim]], ''[[Việt Nam sử lược]]'', [[:s:vi:Việt Nam sử lược/Quyển II/Tự chủ thời đại/Chương VI|vol. 2, chap. 6]]</ref><ref name="dainamtienbien6">''[[Đại Nam thực lục|Đại Nam liệt truyện tiền biên]]'', [[wikisource:zh:大南列傳前編/卷六|vol. 6]]</ref><ref name="shilu817"/>

The Chinese Court could not help but seize the chance by asking Taksin, as a 'new vassal', to be her ally in the war against the Burmese. Eventually Chinese Court approved the royal status of Taksin as the new king of Siam.

A considerable contribution to his success came from the [[Teochew people|Teochew]] Chinese trading community of the region, on whom Taksin was able to call by virtue of his paternal relations; he was half-Teochew himself. In the short run, the Chinese trade provided the foodstuffs and goods needed for the warfare that enabled Taksin to build up his fledgling state. In the long run, it produced income that could be used "to defray the expenses of the state and for the upkeep of the individual royal, noble, and wealthy commercial families."<ref>Sarasin Viraphol, Tribute and Profit: Sino–Siamese Trade, 1652–1853 (Cambridge, Mass., 1977), p. 144, citing a writing by King Mongkut, dated 1853, from the Thai National Library.</ref>

As one contemporary observed, [[François Henri Turpin]] (1771), under the famine conditions of 1767–1768 :

: "''Taksin showed his generous spirit. The needy were destitute no longer. The public treasury was opened for the relief. In return for cash, foreigners supplied them with the products that the soil of the country had refused. The Usurper [Taksin] justified his claim [to be king] by his benevolence. Abuses were reformed, the safety of property and persons was restored, but the greatest severity was shown to malefactors. Legal enactments at which no one complained were substituted for the arbitrary power that sooner or later is the cause of rebellions. By the assurance of public peace he was able to consolidate his position and no one who shared in the general prosperity could lay claim to the throne.''"<ref>[[François Henri Turpin]], History of the Kingdom of Siam, trans. B.O. Cartwright (Bangkok, 1908), pp. 178–179; original French ed., 1771.</ref>

A tomb containing Taksin's clothes and a family shrine were found at [[Chenghai]] district in Guangdong province in China in 1921. It is believed that a descendant of Taksin must have sent his clothes to be buried there to conform to Chinese practice. This supports the claim that the place was his father's hometown.<ref>{{cite book|title=Siam Chinese boat Chinese in Bangkok regend|year=2001|author=Pimpraphai Pisalbutr|publisher=Nanmee Books|page=93|isbn=974-472-331-9|language=th}}</ref> Chinese people called it "Tomb of King Zhèng" (鄭王墓), or its official name "Cenotaph of Zhèng Xìn" ([[:zh:鄭信衣冠墓|鄭信衣冠墓]]). It had been included in the list of Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at Chenghai District ([[:zh:澄海區文物保護單位|澄海區文物保護單位]]) since 5 December 1984. [[Princess Sirindhorn]] had visited the tomb in 1998. Now the nearby area is opened to the public as Zheng Emperor Taksin Park ({{lang|zh-hans|鄭皇達信公園}}).

===Final years and death=== [[File: Wat Intharam (Wat Bang Yi Ruea Nok) - The stupa of King Taksin (1).JPG|thumb|Stupa of [[Wat Intharam]], Thonburi, which is said to contain the ashes of King Taksin]] Thai historians indicate that the political strain on him took its toll, and the king started to become a religious fanatic. In 1781 Taksin showed increasing signs of mental trouble. He believed himself to be a future [[Buddha (general)|Buddha]], expecting to change the color of his blood from red to white. As he started practicing meditation, he even gave lectures to the monks. More seriously, he was provoking schism in Siamese Buddhism by requiring that the monkhood should recognize him as a [[sotāpanna]] or "stream-winner"—a person who has embarked on the first of the [[four stages of enlightenment]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Buddhist Monkhood in Nineteenth Century Thailand|author=Craig J. Reynolds (1920)|publisher=Cornell University}}, p. 33</ref> Monks who refused to bow to Taksin and worship him as god were demoted in status, and hundreds who refused to worship him as such were flogged and sentenced to menial labor.<ref name=wyatt143/>

Economic tension caused by war was serious. As famine spread, looting and crimes were widespread. Corrupt officials were reportedly abundant. According to some sources, many oppressions and abuses made by officials were reported. King Taksin punished them harshly, torturing and executing high officials. Discontent among officials could be expected.

Several historians have suggested that the tale of his 'insanity' may have been reconstructed as an excuse for his overthrow. However, the letters of a French missionary who was in Thonburi at the time support the accounts of the monarch's peculiar behavior which reported that "He (Taksin) passed all his time in prayer, fasting, and meditation, in order by these means to be able to fly through the air." Again, the missionaries describe the situation:

: "''For some years, the King of Siam has tremendously vexed his subjects and the foreigners who dwelt in or came to trade in his kingdom. Last year (1781) the Chinese, who were accustomed to trade, found themselves obliged almost to give it up entirely . This past year the vexations caused by this King, more than half-mad, have become more frequent and more cruel than previously. He has had imprisoned, tortured, and flogged, according to his caprice, his wife, his sons faction{{mdash}} even the heir-presumptive, and his high officials. He wanted to make them confess to crimes of which they were innocent.''"<ref>Journal of M. Descourvieres, (Thonburi). 21 December 1782; in Launay, ''Histoire'', p. 309.</ref>

Thus the terms 'insanity' or 'madness' possibly were the contemporary definition describing the monarch's actions: according to the following [[Rattanakosin era]] accounts, King Taksin was described as 'insane.' However, with the Burmese threat still prevalent a strong ruler was needed on the throne.{{or?|date=February 2026}}

Finally a faction led by Phraya San (or Phraya San, Phraya Sankhaburi) seized the capital. A [[coup d'état]] removing Taksin from the throne consequently took place,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia|author=Rough Guides|year=2000|publisher=[[Rough Guides]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/roughguidetosout00roug/page/823 823]|isbn=1-85828-553-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetosout00roug/page/823}}</ref> Phraya San attacked Thonburi and took control within one night. King Taksin surrendered to the rebels without resistance, and requested to be allowed to join the monkhood in [[Wat Arun|Wat Chaeng]] (Wat Arun).<ref name=Phongpaichit>{{cite book|title=A History of Ayutthaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GHiuDgAAQBAJ&q=Phraya+San&pg=PA268|author=Chris Baker|author2=Pasuk Phongpaichit|date = 2017|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=268|isbn=978-1-107-19076-4}}</ref> However, the disturbance in Thonburi spread widely, with killing and looting prevalent. When the coup occurred, General [[Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke|Chao Phraya Chakri]] was away fighting in [[Cambodia]], but he quickly returned to the Thai capital after being informed of the coup. Upon reaching the capital, the general ended the coup through arrests, investigations and punishments. Peace was then restored in the capital.{{fact|date=February 2026}}

[[File:(2023) วัดอินทารามวรวิหาร เขตธนบุรี กรุงเทพมหานคร (48).jpg|thumb|220px|A miniature statue of King Taksin at [[Wat Intharam]] in Thonburi, a temple recognized as 'the temple of King Taksin']] According to the Royal Thai Chronicles, General Chao Phraya Chakri decided to put the deposed Taksin to death.<ref name=Eoseewong1986/> Chao Phraya Chakri thought that the king had acted improperly and unjustly, causing great pain for the kingdom; so, it was unavoidable that he be executed.<ref name=Phongpaichit/> The Chronicles stated that, while being taken to the executing venue, Taksin asked for an audience with General Chao Phraya Chakri, but was turned down by the general. Taksin was beheaded in front of Wichai Prasit fortress on Wednesday, 10 April 1782, and his body was buried at Wat Bang Yi Ruea Tai.{{clarify|reason=Wat Bang Yi Ruea Tai or Wat Intharam?|date=December 2021}} The general then seized control of the capital and declared himself king and establishing the [[House of Chakri]].<ref name=Eoseewong1986>[[Nidhi Eoseewong]]. (1986). ''Thai politics in the reign of the King of Thon Buri.'' Bangkok : Arts & Culture Publishing House. pp. 575.</ref>

An alternative account (by the Official Vietnamese Chronicles) states that Taksin was ordered to be [[execution of Thai royalty|executed in the traditional Siamese way]] by General Chao Phraya Chakri at Wat Chaeng: by being sealed in a velvet sack and beaten to death with a scented sandalwood club.<ref>Prida Sichalalai. (December 1982). "The last year of King Taksin the Great". ''Arts & Culture Magazine'', (3, 2).</ref> Another account claimed that Taksin was secretly sent to a palace located in the remote mountains of [[Nakhon Si Thammarat]], where he lived until 1825, and that a substitute was beaten to death in his place.<ref>Wyatt, p. 145; [http://www.usmta.com/history-4.htm Siamese/Thai history and culture – Part 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820203758/http://www.usmta.com/history-4.htm |date=20 August 2007 }}</ref> King Taksin's ashes and those of his wife are located at [[Wat Intharam Worawihan]], Thonburi. They have been placed in two lotus bud shaped stupas which stand before the old hall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thailandsworld.com/index.cfm?p=478 |title=see bottom of the page – item 7 |publisher=Thailandsworld.com |access-date=29 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912194914/http://www.thailandsworld.com/index.cfm?p=478 |archive-date=12 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Critics of the coup== It was not clear what role General Chakri played in the coup. Vietnamese royal records reported that King Taksin had some kind of [[psychosis]] in his final years; he imprisoned Chakri and [[Maha Sura Singhanat|Surasi]]'s family. Resentful, the brothers eventually befriended two Vietnamese generals, Nguyễn Hữu Thoại (阮有瑞) and Hồ Văn Lân (胡文璘), the four swearing to help with each other in need. Not long after the coup occurred, Chakri quickly returned to the capital, put down the rebellion, and had Taksin killed. Some Vietnamese sources stated that Taksin was assassinated by General Chakri,<ref name="tran8">[[Trần Trọng Kim]], ''[[Việt Nam sử lược]]'', [[wikisource:vi:Việt Nam sử lược/Quyển II/Tự chủ thời đại/Chương VIII|vol. 2, chap. 8]]</ref><ref name=dainam32>''[[Đại Nam thực lục|Đại Nam chính biên liệt truyện sơ tập]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20161022084324/http://vietcenter.temple.edu/issi/issi_lib.php?page=8&dc_invcode=HN%2F0644 vol. 32]</ref> others that Taksin was sentenced to death and executed in a public place.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wkkOAAAAQAAJ|title=Gia-dinh-Thung-chi: Histoire et description de la basse Cochinchine|pages=47–49|language=fr|author1=Trịnh-Hoài-#-Dú'c|last2=Aubaret|first2=Louis Gabriel G.|year=1864}}</ref> The coup leader Phraya San also died during this incident.

Another contradicting view of the events is that General Chakri actually wanted to be king and had accused King Taksin of being Chinese. The late history was aimed at legitimizing the new monarch, Phraya Chakri or [[Rama I]] of [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Rattanakosin]]. According to [[Nidhi Eoseewong]], a prominent Thai historian, writer, and political commentator, Taksin could be seen as the originator, new style of leader, promoting a 'decentralized' kingdom and new generation of the nobles, of Chinese merchant-origin, his major helpers in the wars.<ref>Nidhi Eoseewong, p. 55</ref> On the other hand, Phraya Chakri and his supporters were of the 'old' generation of the Ayutthaya nobles, discontent with these changes.

However, this overlooks the fact that Chao Phraya Chakri was himself partly of Chinese origin, as well as being married to one of Taksin's daughters. No previous conflicts between them were mentioned in histories. Reports on the conflicts between the king and Chinese merchants were seen as being caused by the control of the price of rice during the time of famine.<ref>Hamilton, p. 42</ref> However, prior to returning to Thonburi, Chao Phraya Chakri had Taksin's son summoned to [[Cambodia]] and executed.<ref>Syamananda, pp. 98–99</ref>

Another view of the events is that Thailand owed China millions of baht. In order to cancel the agreement between China and Thailand, King Taksin decided to pretend to be executed.<ref>{{cite book |author=ทศยศ กระหม่อมแก้ว |year=2007 |script-title=th:พระเจ้าตากฯ สิ้นพระชนม์ที่เมืองนคร |location=Bangkok |publisher=สำนักพิมพ์ร่วมด้วยช่วยกัน |isbn=978-974-7303-62-9 |page=176 |language=th}}</ref>

==Legacy== [[File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1778.png|thumb|The extent of Siam's sphere of influence in 1782 under King Taksin.]] [[File:Wongwian Yai.jpg|thumb|Statue of King Taksin the Great at [[Wongwian Yai]]]] {{multiple image|perrow=2/2|total_width=400|caption_align=center | title = King Taksin the Great Shrines in Thailand | image1 = Taksin Shrine.JPG|caption1=Taksin Shrine in [[Tak (town)|Tak]], Tak Province, Thailand | image2 = ศาลพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช จันทบุรี.jpg|caption2=King Taksin the Great Shrine in [[Chanthaburi]], Chanthaburi Province, Thailand }} King Taksin was seen by modern historians as a king who differed from the kings of Ayutthaya, in his origins, his policies, and his leadership style, as a representative of a new class. During the Rattanakosin period right up until the [[Siamese Revolution of 1932]], King Taksin was not as highly honored as other Siamese kings because the leaders in the [[Chakri Dynasty]] were still concerned about their own dynastic image. After 1932, when the absolute monarchy gave way to the democratic period, King Taksin become more honored than ever before, viewed as a national hero. This was because the leaders of that time such as [[Plaek Phibunsongkhram]] and even later military junta, on the other hand, wanted to glorify and publicize the stories of certain historical figures in order to support their own policy of [[nationalism]], [[expansionism]] and [[patriotism]].

A statue of King Taksin was unveiled in the middle of [[Wongwian Yai]] (the [[Roundabout|Big Traffic Circle]]) in Thonburi, at the intersection of Prajadhipok/Inthara Phithak/Lat Ya/Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Roads. The king is portrayed with his right hand holding a sword, measuring approximately 9 meters in height from his horse's feet to the spire of his hat, rests on a reinforced concrete pedestal of 8.90 × 1.80 × 3.90 meters. There are four frames of stucco relief on the two sides of the pedestal. The opening ceremony of this monument was held on 17 April 1954, and the royal homage-paying fair takes place annually on 28 December. The king today officially comes to pay respect to King Taksin statue.<ref>{{cite book|title=Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image|author=Donald K. Swearer|year=2004|publisher=Princeton University Press|pages=235|isbn=0691114358}}</ref>

The monument featuring King Taksin riding on a horseback surrounded by his four trusted soldiers: Pra Chiang-ngen (later Phraya Sukhothai), Luang Pichai-asa (later [[Phraya Phichai]]), Luang Prom-sena, Luang Raj-saneha. It is located in Tungnachaey public park on Leap Mueang Road, just opposite the City Hall, [[Chanthaburi]].<ref>Sarawasi Mekpaiboon, Sirichoke Lertyaso (in Thai). ''National Geographic No.77, December 2007.'' Bangkok : Amarin Printing And Publishing Public Company Limited, p. 57</ref>

In 1981 the Thai cabinet passed a resolution to bestow on King Taksin the honorary title of "the Great". With the intention of glorifying Thai monarchs in history who have been revered and honored with the title "the Great", the [[Bank of Thailand]] issued the 12th series of banknotes, called The Great Series, in three denominations: 10, 20 and 100 baht. The monument of King Taksin the Great in [[Chanthaburi]]'s Tungnachaey recreational park appears on the back of the 20-baht note issued on 28 December 1981.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bot.or.th/English/Banknotes/HistoryANdSeriesOfBanknotes/Pages/Banknote_Series12.aspx |title= The Great Series |author= Wararat |author2= Sumit |date= 23 February 2012 |work= Banknotes > History and Series of Banknotes > Banknotes, Series 12 |publisher= [[Bank of Thailand]] |access-date= 7 June 2013 |quote= 20 Baht Back—Notification Date November 2, 1981 Issue Date December 28, 1981 |archive-date= 18 May 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190518200615/https://www.bot.or.th/English/Banknotes/HistoryANdSeriesOfBanknotes/Pages/Banknote_Series12.aspx |url-status= dead }}</ref> The date of his coronation, 28 December, is the official day of homage to King Taksin, although it is not designated as a public holiday. The Maw Sukha Association on 31 January 1999, cast the ''King Taksin Savior of the Nation Amulet'', which sought to honor the contributions of King Taksin to Siam during his reign.<ref>Swearer, p. 235</ref>

The Na Nagara (also spelled Na Nakorn)<ref>Dickinson, p. 64</ref> family is descended in the direct male line from King Taksin.<ref>Handley, p. 466</ref>

King Taksin the Great Shrine is located on Tha Luang Road in front of Camp Taksin. It is an important place of Chantaburi in order to demonstrate binding of People in Chanthaburi to King Taksin. It is a nine-sided building. The roof is a pointed helmet. Inside of this place enshrined the statue of King Taksin.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In addition, [[Royal Thai Navy]] has used his name to [[HTMS Taksin|HTMS ''Taksin'']], a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, for glorifying him.

Two hospitals are named after him: [[Taksin Hospital]] in Bangkok and [[Somdejphrajaotaksin Maharaj Hospital]] in Tak Province.

==Titles== Taksin's Thai full title was '''Phra Sri Sanphet Somdet Borromthammikkarat Ramathibodi Boromchakraphat Bawornrajabodintr Hariharinthadathibodi Sriwibool Khunruejitr Rittirames Boromthammikkaraja Dechochai Phrommathepadithep Triphuwanathibet Lokachetwisut Makutprathetkata Maha Phutthangkul Boromnartbophit Phra Buddha Chao Yu Hua Na Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Baworn Thavarawadi Sri Ayutthaya Maha Dilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udom Praratchaniwet Maha Sathan''' ({{langx|th|พระศรีสรรเพชร สมเด็จบรมธรรมิกราชาธิราชรามาธิบดี บรมจักรพรรดิศร บวรราชาบดินทร์ หริหรินทร์ธาดาธิบดี ศรีสุวิบูลย์ คุณรุจิตร ฤทธิราเมศวร บรมธรรมิกราชเดโชชัย พรหมเทพาดิเทพ ตรีภูวนาธิเบศร์ โลกเชษฏวิสุทธิ์ มกุฏประเทศคตา มหาพุทธังกูร บรมนาถบพิตร พระพุทธเจ้าอยู่หัว ณ กรุงเทพมหานคร บวรทวาราวดีศรีอยุธยา มหาดิลกนพรัฐ ราชธานีบุรีรมย์อุดมพระราชนิเวศมหาสถาน}})

==Issue== King Taksin had 21 sons and 9 daughters:<ref name="ธำรงศักดิ์ อายุวัฒนะ 490">{{cite book |author=ธำรงศักดิ์ อายุวัฒนะ |year=2001 |script-title=th:ราชสกุลจักรีวงศ์ และราชสกุลสมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช |location=Bangkok |publisher=สำนักพิมพ์บรรณกิจ |isbn=974-222-648-2 |page=490 |language=th}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=28em}} * Prince Chui, the Prince [[Inthraphithak]] ([[Front Palace]]) * Prince Noi * Prince Amphawan (''Later'' Mr. Wan) * Prince Thatsaphong (''Later'' Lord Phong Narin) * Prince Narenthra Ratchakuman (''Later'' Lord Narenthra Racha) * Prince Thatsaphai (''Later'' Lord Inthra Aphai) * Prince Suphanthuwong (''Later'' Mr. Men) * Princess Pancha Papi * Prince Sila * Princess Komon * Princess Buppha * Prince Singhara * Prince Lek * Princess Samli Wan (''Later'' Chao Chom Manda Samli) * Prince Onnika (''Later'' Mr. Nu Dam) * Princess Praphai Phak * Princess Sumali * Prince Thamrong * Prince Lamang (''Later'' Lord Sombatban) * Princess Sangwan * Prince Khanthawong * Prince Mekhin * Prince Isinthon * Prince Bua * Prince (Unnamed) * Prince Nu Daeng * Princess Sut Chatri * [[Chao Phraya Nakhon Noi|Prince Noi]] (''Later'' Lord of Nakhon Si Thammarat) * Prince Thong In (''Later'' Lord of Nakhon Ratchasima) * Princess Chamchuree {{div col end}}

==Battle record== * Siege of Ayutthaya (1766–1767): Defeat * [[Battle of Phosamton]] (1767): Victory * Battle of Bang Kung (1767): Victory * Invasion of the State of Phitsanulok (1768): Defeat * Invasion of the State of Phimai (1768): Victory * Invasion of the State of Nakhon Si Thammarat (1769): Victory * Invasion of the State of Sawangburi (1770): Victory * Siege of Chiang Mai (1770): Defeat * Invasion of Hà Tiên (Banteay Mas) (1771): Victory<ref>Baker, Chris; Phongpaichit, Pasuk. A History of Ayutthaya (pp. 263–264). Cambridge University Press. Kindle Edition.</ref> * Battle of Phichai (1771): Victory * Siege of Chiang Mai (1771): Defeat * Battle of Phichai (1773): Victory * Siege of Chiang Mai (1774): Victory * Battle of Bangkaeo (1774): Victory * Siege of Phitsanulok (1775–1776): Defeat

==Expansion map== <gallery> File:1767 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's domain in 1767 File:1768 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's domain in 1768 File:1769 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's domain in 1769 File:1770 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's domain in 1770 File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1774.png|Taksin's domain in 1774 File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1777.png|Taksin's domain in 1777 File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1778.png|Taksin's domain in 1778 </gallery>

== In popular culture ==

=== Films ===

* Portrayed by Thanom Akkarasenee in 1952 film ''Phra Chao Krung Thonburi'' * Portrayed by Sathaporn Mukdaprakorn in 1955 film ''Taharn Suea Phra Chao Tak''<ref>{{Cite web |title=ทหารเสือพระเจ้าตาก (รัตนาภรณ์-สถาพร-สุรชัย) ปี 2498 จากฟิล์ม 16 มม. |url=http://www.thaicine.org/board/index.php?topic=12532.0 |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=www.thaicine.org}}</ref> * Portrayed by Charun Ngamdee in 2004 film ''The Lord of Ayuthaya''<ref>{{Citation |title=Jao Tak |date=2004-06-11 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3341488/ |access-date=2025-12-24}}</ref> * portrayed by Surachai Sangargard in 2007 film ''Soldier of King Siam''<ref>{{Cite web |title=ภาพยนตร์ประวัติศาสตร์ - พิชัยดาบหัก : ผู้สร้างน่าจะทำการบ้านมากกว่านี้ |url=http://www.iseehistory.com/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Ntype=7&Id=407743 |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=iseehistory.com |language=en}}</ref> * Portrayed by Klitsirawat Kaewmanikanon in 2015 film ''Siam Yuth The Dawn of the Kingdom''<ref>{{Citation |title=Siam Yuth: The Dawn of the Kingdom |date=2015-10-15 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4964568/ |access-date=2025-12-24}}</ref> * Portrayed by Staff Sergeant Jewit Ukham in 2017 film ''Maharat 2 Phaendin'' * Portrayed by Phutharit Prombandal in 2017 film ''[[Thong Dee Fun Khao]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-23 |title=แนะนำ 7 นักแสดง “ทองดีฟันขาว” ที่ต้องรู้ก่อนไปดู อ่านก่อนรู้ก่อน! |url=https://www.majorcineplex.com/news/tongdeeactor |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=Major Cineplex |language=th}}</ref> * Portrayed by [[Sornram Teppitak]] in 2017 film series ''Sri Ayodhaya part 1''<ref>{{Citation |title=Sri Ayodhaya |date=2017-12-05 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11704848/ |access-date=2025-12-24}}</ref> * Portrayed by [[:fr:Wanchana_Sawatdee|Wanchana Sawatdee]] in 2019 film series ''Sri Ayodhaya part 2''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-27 |title=“แอฟ-ผู้พันเบิร์ด” ขึ้นแท่นคู่ขวัญอีกครั้งใน “ศรีอโยธยา ภาค ๒” |url=https://mgronline.com/drama/detail/9620000113782 |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=mgronline.com |language=th}}</ref>

=== Television drama ===

* Portrayed by Kamthorn Suwannapiyasiri in 1984 Thai television drama ''Taharn Suea Phra Chao Tak''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=907775965935909&set=a.680897828623725 |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> * Portrayed by Phutharit Prombandal in 2002 Thai television drama ''Nirat Song Phop''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-05 |title=นิราศสองภพ |url=https://www.sosotopia.com/%e0%b8%99%e0%b8%b4%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%a8%e0%b8%aa%e0%b8%ad%e0%b8%87%e0%b8%a0%e0%b8%9e/ |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=sosotopia |language=en-US}}</ref> * Portrayed by Chinmis Bunnag in 2004 Thai television drama ''[[Fa Mai]]''{{cn|date=December 2025}} * Portrayed by [[Chatchai Plengpanich]] in 2007 Thai television drama ''Taksin Maharat''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-03-23 |title=ตากสินมหาราช |url=https://www.sanook.com/movie/21214/ |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=www.sanook.com/movie |language=th}}</ref> * Portrayed by Polkrid Jaksuwan in 2009 Non-fiction ''Reuang Lao Kao Paen Din'' ''Eps. Beik Fa Ratchathani Thai'' * Portrayed by Atichart Chumnanont in 2018 Thai television drama ''[[Nueng Dao Fa Diao]]''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chanasongkram |first=Kanokporn |date=2018-04-18 |title=New historical drama to savour |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/1447763/new-historical-drama-to-savour |access-date=2025-12-24 |work=Bangkok Post |language=en}}</ref> * Portrayed by Surawut Maikun in 2018 Thai television drama ''[[Sai Lohit]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-27 |title=เรื่องย่อละคร สายโลหิต |url=https://drama.kapook.com/view182079.html |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=kapook.com |language=th}}</ref> * Portrayed by Phutharit Prombandal in 2018 -2019 Thai television drama ''Khun Prab Darb Kham Pope'' <ref>{{Cite web |title=คิดว่าขุนปราบจะจบอย่างไร |url=https://pantip.com/topic/38639841 |access-date=2025-12-24 |website=Pantip |language=th}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|Thailand|History|Monarchy|Biography}} *[[List of people with the most children]] *[[Right of conquest]] *[[Monarchy of Thailand]] *[[Thonburi Kingdom]] *[[Wongwian Yai]] *[[1924 Palace Law of Succession]]

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==Citations== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==References== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|title=Gentleman Capitalists: British Imperialism in Southeast Asia 1770–1890|author=Anthony Webster|date=1998|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=1-86064-171-7}} *{{cite book|title=Blood Brothers: The Criminal Underworld of Asia|author=[[Bertil Lintner]]|year=2003|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]]|isbn=1-4039-6154-9}} *{{cite book|title=Moon Handbooks: Southeast Asia 4 Ed|author=Carl Parkes|year=2001|publisher=Avalon Travel Publishing|isbn=1-56691-337-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/southeastasia0000park}} * {{cite book |last1=Baker |first1=Chris |last2=Phongpaichit |first2=Pasuk |title=A History of Ayutthaya: Siam in the Early Modern World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GHiuDgAAQBAJ |year=2017 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |place=Cambridge |isbn=978-1-316-64113-2 }} *{{cite book|title=A History of Thailand|author=[[Chris Baker (writer)|Chris Baker]], [[Pasuk Phongpaichit]]|date=2005|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0-521-81615-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofthailan00bake}} *{{cite book|title=Lords of Life : A History of the Kings of Thailand|author=[[Chula Chakrabongse]], Prince|publisher=Alvin Redman Limited}} *{{cite book|title=The Thais Fight the Burmese|year=1920|author=[[Damrong Rajanubhab]], Prince|publisher=Matichon|isbn=978-974-02-0177-9|language=th}} *{{cite book|title=Thailand: A Short History|author=[[David K. Wyatt]]|year=1984|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|isbn=0-300-03582-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/thailand00davi}}; [https://web.archive.org/web/20070820203758/http://www.usmta.com/history-4.htm Siamese/Thai history and culture – Part 4] *{{cite book|title=Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image|author=Donald K. Swearer|year=2004|publisher=[[Princeton University Press]]|isbn=0-691-11435-8}} *{{cite book|title=Time Out Bangkok: And Beach Escapes|author=((Editors of Time Out))|year=2007 |publisher=[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]]|isbn=978-1-84670-021-7}} *{{cite web |title=Fight Against Vietnamese Influence in Cambodia – Tay Son Rebellion in Dai Viet (Vietnam) |url=http://www.thailandshistoria.se/artiklar/13/14/ayutthaya/ayutthayas-fall/kampen-mot-det-vietnamesiska-inflytandet-i-kambodja-tay-son-upproret-i-dai-viet-vietnam |website=The Story of Thailand |publisher=Thailandshistoria.se |access-date=24 July 2019 |date=2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730185613/http://www.thailandshistoria.se/artiklar/13/14/ayutthaya/ayutthayas-fall/kampen-mot-det-vietnamesiska-inflytandet-i-kambodja-tay-son-upproret-i-dai-viet-vietnam |url-status=live }} *{{cite book|title=Commerce and Capitalism in Chinese Societies|author=Gary G. Hamilton|year=2006|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=0-415-15704-8}} *{{cite book |author1=K. W. Taylor |title=A History of the Vietnamese |date=2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press}} *{{cite book |author1=Kenneth T. So |title=The Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia: Book II – 1595 to the Contemporary Period |date=2017 |publisher=DatASIA}} *{{cite book|title=Commerce and Capitalism in Chinese Societies|author=[[Nidhi Eoseewong]]|year=2007|publisher=Matichon|isbn=978-974-02-0177-9|language=th}} *{{cite book|title=[[The King Never Smiles]]|author=Paul M. Handley|year=2006|publisher=London: Country Life|isbn=0-300-10682-3}} *Prida Sichalalai. (December 1982). "The last year of King Taksin the Great". ''Arts & Culture Magazine'', (3, 2). *{{cite book|title=A History of Thailand|year=1990|author=Rong Syamananda|publisher=[[Chulalongkorn University]]|isbn=974-07-6413-4}} *{{cite book|title=Tay Son: Rebellion in 18th Century Vietnam|author=Thomas J. Barnes|year=2000|publisher=[[Xlibris]] Corporation|isbn=0-7388-1818-6}}{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=December 2017}} *{{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=W.A.R. |title=A History of Siam |date=1924 |publisher=T. Fisher Unwin, Ltd |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsiam035038mbp/page/n3 }} *{{cite book|title=Editorial Research Reports on World Affairs|year=1966|author=William B. Dickinson|publisher=[[Congressional Quarterly]]}} {{refend}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Taksin}} *[http://www.pattayamail.com/302/taksin.htm King Taksin the Great{{snd}}Saviour of the Thai Nation] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110831182917/http://www.wangdermpalace.org/kingtaksin/eng_thegreat.html Royal Thai Navy Headquarters, Phra Racha Wang Derm] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090925083542/http://www.phrachaokrungthon.com/ phrachaokrungthon.com] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130326091447/http://en.m-culture.go.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:king-taksin-day&catid=30:the-important-days-in-thailand&Itemid=40 King Taksin Day] Ministry of Culture, Thailand. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100716185712/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/07/14/life/King-Taksin-rides-again-30133689.html King Taksin rides again]

{{s-start}} {{s-hou|[[Thonburi Kingdom|House of Thonburi]]|17 April|1734|7 April|1782|name=Taksin (Borommaracha IV)}} {{s-reg}} {{s-new|reason=Warlord state created}} {{s-ttl|title=Prince of Chanthaburi|years=until 28 December 1767}} {{s-non|reason=Merged into the Crown}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ekkathat]]|as=King of [[Ayutthaya Kingdom|Ayutthaya]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Thonburi Kingdom|King of Thonburi]]|years=28 December 1767 – 1 April 1782}} {{s-aft|after=[[Rama I|Phutthayotfa Chulalok]]|as=King of [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Rattanakosin]]}} {{s-off}} {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}} {{s-ttl|title=Governor of [[Tak province|Tak]]|years=unknown–1765}} {{s-vac|unknown}} {{s-end}}

[[Category:1734 births]] [[Category:1782 deaths]] [[Category:18th-century murdered monarchs]] [[Category:1782 murders in Asia]] [[Category:Executed Thai monarchs]] [[Category:People from Chenghai]] [[Category:Thai people of Mon descent]] [[Category:Thai people of Chinese descent]] [[Category:18th-century monarchs in Asia]] [[Category:18th-century Thai monarchs]] [[Category:Deified male monarchs]] [[Category:Thonburi dynasty]] [[Category:Founding monarchs in Asia]]