Page:Foundation of Ayuthia - Damrong - 1904.pdf/3

 Thong or Chao (of) U Thong, in the same way as a person is called the Phra Chao (of) Krung Sri Ayuthia, or Chao (of) Chiengmai without reference to his personal name; he is simply called the Chief of Müang U Thong.

Attention may be further called to the fact, that U Thong is situated in the middle of two towns, that to the west being called Kanchanupurī and that to the east Suvarnapurī; the translation of these names is Gold City. In old records we only have the name of Suvarnabhūmi, (the origin of gold), and we may therefore presume that Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi were established in later times because Suvarnabhūmi had to be abandoned.

The question therefore arises, are we to presume that Thao U Thong was also the founder of Ayuthia. Ve have to take into consideration, that when Phra Chao U Thong abandoned Suvarnabhūmi, on account of an epidemic, he went straight to the east towards Ayuthia., which is only at a distance of three days, and he would not encounter any of the difficulties which he would have done, if he had come with his people from Müang Thephanakhon (Devanagara).

We know from history that Ayuthia was an old city, which existed before the advent of Phra Chao U Thong; he, however established the capital there, and assumed the name of Somdetch Phra Ramadhipati. From this fact we may assume that before he came to Ayuthia, he must have have another title, and been known as Phra Chao U Thong because he was then King of U Thong.

It is recorded in history, that in the reign of Phra Chao U Thong the States from Nakon Sawan to the north were dependent States. If Phra Chao U Thong came from Thephanakon, which is near to Müang Kampheng Phet and Müang Phichit and north of Nakon Sawan, which are only at a distance of one or two days each, how can we assume that all these places were dependent States? How can we assume that followed by a large number people and passing through these States, he should not have found any inconvenience? Suppose, however, that Thao U Thong came from Müang Suphan, this would be more in accordance with actuality than to assume an immigration from the North. It may be assumed that when Chao U Thong established his capital at Ayuthia, he could not remove all the people from his old residence, and Khun Hluang Phagnua, the