International Relations between Ayutthaya and Western Countries during the 16th-17th Centuries: Perspective from Portuguese, English and French Sources

Abstract

The research aims to study the history of international relations between Ayutthaya and Western countries during the 16^th-17^th centuries. This documentary research is conducted using historical method. The finding demonstrates that Ayutthaya Kingdom initially formed the alliance with Portugal in 1511 A.D. after Portugal arrived in Southeast Asia. Later, the arrival of Spanish missionaries for evangelism, the Dutch Company and British Company for trading, and the French for missionary work, trading and diplomacy in the reign of King Narai the Great molded the kingdom into an international community as interestingly recorded in Portuguese, English and French documents. Moreover, it is found that the policy administration of Ayutthaya and that of Western countries were different. Mixed policy administration was practiced by Western countries. Sometimes foreign policy such as that of Portugal was directed by the central government or by trading company like the policy of Holland. On the contrary, Ayutthaya administered its policy by regarding every country as a trading partner who must comply with the same regulations in accordance with the concept of Chakravartin, which regarded the monarch as the central ruler.