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| KHLONG MAHA NAK |
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - January 2010 Reviewed - March & August 2010 |
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Khlong Maha Nak is situated off the City Island in the northern area at Tambon (sub-
district) Phukhao Thong. The canal dates back from the period of the Burmese-Siamese
war of 1563-1564 also called the "White Elephant War". The Burmese King Bayin
Naung requested two white elephants (1) from King Chakkraphat (r. 1548-1569) , but
the latter refused to deliver. Bayin Naung took his army to Siam. The news of the
invasion reached Ayutthaya and war preparations were made.
Maha Nak was a monk at the Phukhao Thong (1) Monastery (2). He left the monk hood
in order to prepare the defenses north of the capital to counter the upcoming Burmese
attack. With his relatives and disciples he erected a stockade from the Phukhao Thong
Monastery to Pa Phlu Monastery along the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. Outside
the stockade a ditch was dug, hence called Khlong Maha Nak. Parts of this ditch can still
be seen on the Phukhao Thong plain. [2]
The reason of this construction remains a bit obscure. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab wrote
that presumably the City of Ayutthaya was built closer to the bank of the river on
the north side (ie. The old Lopburi River) and was as thus more within the reach of the
Burmese guns than on the other sides; certainly the Grand Palace and the Dock of the
Royal Barges were.
Other sources stated it was built in order to protect the naval forces. The Royal Navy
was indeed located close in its vicinity. The Marine Vessel Dockyard was situated near
the mouth of Khlong Takhian and housed 30 marine warships and 100 more smaller
Dockyard was at Ban Wat Tha Ka Rong and provided shelter for approximately 200
vessels. Also the Dockyard of Royal Barges was close to the southern edge of Khlong
Maha Nak, between Wat Choeng Tha and Khlong Khu Mai Rong near Wat Phanom
Other sources stated it was built in order to protect the naval forces. The Royal Navy
Yong. [4]
Phraya Boran Rachathanin wrote that Wat Phukhao Thong was situated in the middle of
an islet, thus on high ground and encircled by a canal called Khlong Wat Phukhao Thong.
The Maha Nak Canal ran from Wat Pa Phlu towards Khlong Phukhao Thong and from
there southwards till Wat Sala Pun, where it turned west passing behind Wat Khun Yuan
and in front of Wat Pa Phlu, ran into the main river north of Hua Laem (Spear Head). [5]
One thing is sure: the defense wall ran parallel with the east bank of the Chao Phraya
River to the west and parallel with the Lopburi River to the north, including Wat Phukhao
Thong - protecting the capital by creating a large buffer zone, which had to out range the
big guns at that time.
Footnotes:
(1) Free translated "Golden Mount".
(2) Burmese history relates some Siamese had fought with the Burmese on the frontier
and the Burmese king took the incident up to demand one of the white elephants of Siam.
[1]
(3) The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya cite Phukhao Thong Monastery prior of the
construction of Chedi Phukhao Thong in 1569 by the Burmese. The monastery at that
time was likely known by another name. All chronicles, except the Luang Prasoet one,
have been written after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, with a lot of discrepancies as result.
References:
[1] A Short History of Burma - S.W. Cocks - page 49.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 32 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat, Phra
Cakkraphatdiphong & Royal Autograph.
[3] The Chronicle of Our Wars with the Burmese - Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (1917)
- edition White Lotus 2001 - page 22/23.
[4] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 297.
[5] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - page 97.
district) Phukhao Thong. The canal dates back from the period of the Burmese-Siamese
war of 1563-1564 also called the "White Elephant War". The Burmese King Bayin
Naung requested two white elephants (1) from King Chakkraphat (r. 1548-1569) , but
the latter refused to deliver. Bayin Naung took his army to Siam. The news of the
invasion reached Ayutthaya and war preparations were made.
Maha Nak was a monk at the Phukhao Thong (1) Monastery (2). He left the monk hood
in order to prepare the defenses north of the capital to counter the upcoming Burmese
attack. With his relatives and disciples he erected a stockade from the Phukhao Thong
Monastery to Pa Phlu Monastery along the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. Outside
the stockade a ditch was dug, hence called Khlong Maha Nak. Parts of this ditch can still
be seen on the Phukhao Thong plain. [2]
The reason of this construction remains a bit obscure. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab wrote
that presumably the City of Ayutthaya was built closer to the bank of the river on
the north side (ie. The old Lopburi River) and was as thus more within the reach of the
Burmese guns than on the other sides; certainly the Grand Palace and the Dock of the
Royal Barges were.
Other sources stated it was built in order to protect the naval forces. The Royal Navy
was indeed located close in its vicinity. The Marine Vessel Dockyard was situated near
the mouth of Khlong Takhian and housed 30 marine warships and 100 more smaller
Dockyard was at Ban Wat Tha Ka Rong and provided shelter for approximately 200
vessels. Also the Dockyard of Royal Barges was close to the southern edge of Khlong
Maha Nak, between Wat Choeng Tha and Khlong Khu Mai Rong near Wat Phanom
Other sources stated it was built in order to protect the naval forces. The Royal Navy
Yong. [4]
Phraya Boran Rachathanin wrote that Wat Phukhao Thong was situated in the middle of
an islet, thus on high ground and encircled by a canal called Khlong Wat Phukhao Thong.
The Maha Nak Canal ran from Wat Pa Phlu towards Khlong Phukhao Thong and from
there southwards till Wat Sala Pun, where it turned west passing behind Wat Khun Yuan
and in front of Wat Pa Phlu, ran into the main river north of Hua Laem (Spear Head). [5]
One thing is sure: the defense wall ran parallel with the east bank of the Chao Phraya
River to the west and parallel with the Lopburi River to the north, including Wat Phukhao
Thong - protecting the capital by creating a large buffer zone, which had to out range the
big guns at that time.
Footnotes:
(1) Free translated "Golden Mount".
(2) Burmese history relates some Siamese had fought with the Burmese on the frontier
and the Burmese king took the incident up to demand one of the white elephants of Siam.
[1]
(3) The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya cite Phukhao Thong Monastery prior of the
construction of Chedi Phukhao Thong in 1569 by the Burmese. The monastery at that
time was likely known by another name. All chronicles, except the Luang Prasoet one,
have been written after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, with a lot of discrepancies as result.
References:
[1] A Short History of Burma - S.W. Cocks - page 49.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 32 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat, Phra
Cakkraphatdiphong & Royal Autograph.
[3] The Chronicle of Our Wars with the Burmese - Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (1917)
- edition White Lotus 2001 - page 22/23.
[4] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 297.
[5] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - page 97.
| (Extract of a begin-20th century map) |
| (View of the Maha Nak canal near Hua Laem) |
| (View of the Maha Nak canal near Phukhao Thong) |
| (Click button for aerial view) |