Borommarachathirat II

Who was Borommarachathirat II?

Phrabat Somdet Phra Boromaracha Thirat II or Chao Sam Phraya was the king of Ayutthaya. His reign saw its early expansions.

Chao Sam Phraya was a son of Intha Racha who had finally taken the Ayutthayan throne for the Supannaphum dynasty. He had two elder brothers: Chao Ai Phraya and Chao Yi Phraya, and was appointed by his father to govern Chainat. In 1424, Intha Racha died. His two brothers marched from their respective cities to Ayutthaya for the throne. They fought and both died, leaving the throne to Chao Sam Phraya.

In 1431, Chao Sam Phraya led Siamese forces to subjugate Cambodia plundering Angkor Thom. This assault eventually caused the Khmers to abandon Angkor and to relocate their capital further south. The conquest, however, brought in a large influx of Khmer culture and traditions into the Siamese court. For example, the high reverence of Thai kingship as a deity, known as Devaraja, came from Cambodia.

Chao Sam Phraya also sought northward expansion. He married a queen from Sukhothai and had a son, who will grow up to be Prince Ramesuan.