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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

trade relations between the two countries, while Japan was not yet a trading partner of Thailand.

International relations, even for educated individuals today, are complex, and this episode shows
that King Naresuan was not only skilled in warfare, but also in diplomacy and trade. As for the

legendary event in which King Naresuan shot his matchlock (musket) across the Sittuang river
and killed the Burmese chief commander, it was likely not a stroke of luck. Given his passion for

fine firearms, that matchlock was probably one of the best of its time.
King Narai the Great (1656-1688) is another monarch known for his wisdom in foreign

affairs. He had a deep understanding of western religions and cultures, which led him to allow
the unrestricted propagation of French Christianity in Ayutthaya. He sent ambassadors to France

twice–the first mission failed due to a shipwreck, but the second was successful. Before these
famous foreign relations in Thai history, King Ekathotsarot (1606-1610), the younger brother of

King Naresuan, had already sent an ambassador to the Netherlands to meet Maurice of Nassau,
the prince of Orange Dynasty, in The Hague. While this event is not widely known among the

Thai public, it is familiar to football fans in Thailand, who recognize the orange color of the Dutch
national team.

During King Narai’s reign, the Dutch were gaining power, prompting the king to send
ambassador Phraya Kosa Pan to France to maintain a balance of power, as France was emerging

as a rising force in Europe. The story of this ambassador is particularly notable because he
attended an opera and shared wine with French high society–an event that took place nearly

350 years ago, indicating that wine drinking was already a part of Thai high society. It is believed
that King Narai himself, who had a wine cellar at his residence in Lopburi, would have been familiar

with wine drinking. Therefore, the lecturer believes that the practice of drinking wine was
introduced during King Narai’s reign, long before Western influences during the reign of

King Rama V.
The diplomatic acumen of Thai Kings has been highly regarded by westerners, especially

during the reign of King Rama IX, who was born in the United States and grew up in Switzerland.
His fluency in English, French, and German impressed western leaders, establishing him as

a remarkable ambassador for Thailand. His diplomatic skills greatly benefited the Thai
government. During the Cold War, the king played a pivotal role in strengthening Thailand,

relationship with the United States and the Western world.
When Vietnam invaded Cambodia (1978-1979), Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader visited

Thailand and requested a meeting with the king. After their conversation, Thai–Chinese relations
began to flourish, which helped prevent Vietnam’s attempts to invade the northeastern part of

Thailand.

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