History

Sometimes it is said that RamaII is supposed to be the founder of Bangkok as his capital while before the capital has been Thonburi. To be accurate Bangkok has existed already for some time and European merchants had stopped at Bangkok on their way to the first capital Ayutthaya. The story behind the foundation of Bangkok was the Burmese invasions of Siam in both the 16th and 18th centuries, capturing Chiang Mai and destroying Ayuthaya. The Thais expelled the Burmese and moved their capital to Thonburi. In 1782, the current Chakri dynasty was founded by King RamaI and the capital was moved across the river to Bangkok.

King Taksin's rationale had been to have the river flowing through the capital as he feared another Burmese attack after Ayutthaya had been leveled by Burmese armies in 1767; in the case of a new attack he wanted to have an easy escape option.