| GRAND PALACE |
| 1351 - The first Grand Palace of Ayutthaya. The first palace built at the establishment of the City of Ayutthaya in 1350 stood, where is today the ruin of Wat Sri Sanphet. The original buildings were likely constructed in wood. [1] "The Brahmans, having selected an auspicious moment, held the Rite of Atonement and obtained a conch shell, which turned to the right, beneath a sebesten bush. Then the Phaithun Palace, the Phaichayon Palace and the Aisawan Palace were built. [B: And the King] [CDEF: Then King U Thòng] entered the city and ascended the royal throne. [F: The age of the King at that time was thirty-seven.] The Brahmans bestowed upon him the royal title of King Ramathibòdi I of the Capital City of Ayutthaya." [2] In the second reign of King Ramesuan (r. 1388-1395) we find in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya an indication of the existence of a Mangkhalaphisek Hall. This hall could have been an element of one of the above mentioned wooden palaces and used for the king's devotional Buddhist practice which included daily rituals taking refuge in the Triple Gem and undertaking to observe the five precepts, but it could also have been part of another structure in the palace such as the three-porticoed hall (Trimuk Hall), mentioned later in the texts. The entry of the hall was likely directed to the east and probably sheltered a large Buddha image. "Then the King went out to observe the precepts at Mangkhalaphisek Hall. At ten thum he looked toward the east and saw a Great Holy Relic of the Lord Buddha performing a miracle." [3] "In 749, a year of the hare, ninth of the decade, the Phukhao Thòng Monastery was founded. One evening the King walked to Mangkhalaphisek Hall; and Thao Mon, who had died earlier, came and sat blocking the path where the King was walking and then vanished." [4] In the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya, we read that in the reign of King Borommaracha II (r. 1424-1448) in two succeeding years 1440 and 1441 a fire broke out the royal palace and reference is made of the Trimuk Hall (three-porticoed hall). "In 802, a year of the monkey, a fire broke out and burned down the royal palace." [5] "In 803, a year of the cock, a fire broke out and burned down the Trimuk Hall." [6] When King Borommatrailokanat (r. 1448-1463) came on the throne in 1448, he converted the palace site into a royal monastery and built a new palace to the north of the old one, closer to the Lopburi River. References: [1] Guide to Ayudhya and Bang-Pa-In - Tri Amatyakul (1957) - Prachandra Press, Bangkok / Phraya Boran Rachathanin in Tamnan Krung Kao. [2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 10 / Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat, Phra Cakkraphatdiphong & Royal Autograph - King Ramathibodi I, 1351–1369. [3] Ibid. - King Ramesuan [Second Reign], 1388-1395- page 13. [4] Ibid. - page 14. [5] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 15 / Source: Luang Prasoet - King Boromracha II, 1424-1448. [6] Ibid. - page 15 |
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| 1448 - The new Grand Palace (In construction) |
| (Sketch of the Grand Palace) |
| (Excavation plan of the Grand Palace) |