The Earliest Kingdom of Thailand

The earliest kingdom of Thailand was the SukhothaiPho Khun Ramkhamhaeng took over the throne.
Kingdom, built around the city of Sukhothai. SukhothaiDuring his regime, Sukhothai enjoyed a golden time and
was the capital of Siam, and is located in north centralprospered to its maximum.
Thailand. This was the earliest kingdom and it existedRamkhamhaeng introduced the first Thai letters. During
between 13th and 14th century.his regime, the kingdom expanded and spread over a
In the 13th century, Sukhothai was a part of Khmerlarge area from Martaban (now Myanmar) to Luang
empire. It was recognized as a Thai ruled kingdomPrabang (present day Laos) and down to the Malay
when two Thai chieftans, Pho Khun Pha Muang andPeninsula. The kingdom was larger than modern day
Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao, declared their individualThailand.
independent kingdom in Thailand. The first king ofLoethai, the son of Ramkhamhaeng, took over
Sukhothai was Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao who alsoSukhothai after his father died. But he could not bring
called himself Pho Khun Si Indrathit or Intradit.the same prosperity to his kingdom as his father. Soon,
The kingdom of Sukhothai eventually expanded andother dependent Thai kings started liberating
made alliances with other Thai kingdoms. Theirthemselves from King Loethai. The once great
adopted Theravada Buddhism as their state religion.Kingdom of Sukhothai quickly became a small local
The son of the king Pho Khun Bang Klang Haoprovince and very soon lost its importance in the
succeeded the throne after him. Later on, his brotherregion.