The Siamese Reactions to the French Influences and the 1688 Palace Revolution during the Reign of King Narai (1656-1688)

Abstract

The most well-known feature of the reign of Narai seems to be the fact that Siam during that period experienced the most varied and most intensive contacts with the Europeans in the history of the Ayutthaya dynasty. Out of the commercial relations developed diplomatic contacts with European countries, of which those with France were the most intensive. Especially in the 1680s, Siam even exchanged ambassadors with France several times. The commercial interests of the French court were combined with the religious intention to convert the traditionally Buddhist king of Siam to Catholicism. In the development of these relations Constantine Phaulkon, a favorite of King Narai, played a significant role. An important historical phenomenon of the reign of Narai with regard to the extensive European relations is that Siam for the first time in its history was exposed to serious threats by the European powers. France even used military means to protect or expand their commercial interests in Siam. The French undertakings eventually failed, however, through a palace revolution which took place in 1688 in Siam. The 1688 palace revolution in Siam can be seen as the expression of opposition of the Siamese conservative bureaucracy against the pro-European foreign policy of King Narai as well as his personnel policy which favored the Europeans. The French government, for its part, in its planning with regard to Siam, seems to have hardly understood anything about the traditionally Buddhist-oriented culture and social structure of Siam, which must have hindered not only the further relations between both sides, but could lead even to a cultural collusion.