Among the Thai Kings, King Narai of Ayutthaya is credited
to master in playing off two states against one another.
During his reign(1656-1668), the Dutch, having successfully
fought the Portuguese elsewhere in Asia, had become active rivals of the French
at Ayutthaya, and had showed aggressive designs against Thailand.
In 1664 the Dutch demanded various special commercial
privileges, and on failing to obtain these, they sent a fleet to blockade the
mouth of the Chao Phraya River for a considerable time.
Thailand had then no fleet capable of resisting the Dutch.
Their demands were therefore granted, and on August 10, 1664 a treaty was signed
whereby the Dutch obtained the sole monopoly of the trade in hides.
The most significant provision in this treaty was for
Thailand to grant the extra-territorial rights to Dutch residents in Thailand.
The strength of the Dutch in the eastern seas and their
overbearing attitude in Ayutthaya provoked alarm amongst the Thais and the
government of King Narai wanted to use
the English to counterbalance the Dutch.
Not only did King Narai encourage the English to increase
their trade with Thailand but he also hired a number of them as commander of
Thai ships.
In 1676, as part of his effort to increase the English
trade, King Narai lent the English traders in Ayutthaya ten thousand pounds
free of interest.
King Narai’s policy to use the English to counteract the
Dutch had little prospect of achieving its objective.
English influence at that juncture hardly existed. England
was fully occupied with troubles over James II’s succession to the throne.
Fear of the Dutch then drove King Narai to France. He gave
much encouragement to French missionaries who had worked in Ayutthaya from 1662.
Constant Phaulkon, the Greek adventurer who became Chief Minister of Thailand,
extended his patronage to the French, and the French East India Company was
allowed to establish a factory at Ayutthaya in 1680.
Diplomatic envoys were exchanged between Thailand and
France. In 1685 wide trading privileges and extra-territorial rights were
granted to the French, much to the detriment of the Dutch and English
Companies.
King Narai’s policy of seeking counterweighs in
international associations, although it worked out very well, did not progress
without a flaw.
There was an anti-European revolt which was the only
occasion when the Thais showed signs of religious intolerance, because many of
the nobility feared that the French were aiming to gain control of the King and
the country through the Christian religion.
Many of the nobility believed that the French wanted to make
the people give up Buddhism and sought to establish a protectorate over the
country.
Neither charge was entirely groundless. The heir presumptive
to the throne of King Narai is said to have been converted to Catholicism, and the
idea of a mass conversion of the Thai people, led by their king, was discussed
in France at that time.
The motive of territorial gain was probably also behind the dispatch
to Thailand of some French troops and ships. These were charged with the duty
of garrisoning certain Thai ports, including Bangkok and Mergui(now Burmese,
but at that time Thai territory.
In 1688 King Narai died and Phaulkon was killed. There were
serious disturbances. The Thai people rallied to the support of Phra Phet Raja,
who represented the conservative and anti-foreign elements.
French traders and military personnel were driven out the
country. Only French missionaries were allowed to stay in Thailand.
From 1688 the Thai kingdom isolated itself from the West.
The Thais had a feeling of hostility towards France in particular; and towards
Europeans in general, which lasted for more than a century.
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