Siam
Siam (Siem, Sejem, Sayam, Thai: ประเทศสยาม, Prathet Sayahm, native name Mueang Thai, i.e. “State of the free ones”) was called the country, which corresponds for instance to today's Thailand, by not Siamesen.
Thai historians refer gladly to a relief in Angkor wade (southern gallery) from that to 12. Century, on which for the first time from „Siam “the speech is. Here II. becomes in a long troop parade before Suryavarman. a certain Jayasinghavarman represented, the troops from Lavo (today Lopburi) and oneGroup of „Syam Kuk “- mercenaries states. These „brown-membranous humans “- this is probably the original meaning - are to originate from the area of the river Kok, which in the today's province Chiang Rai flows.
Toward end 13. Century becomes in Chinese„Siem “, a Tai race from the Chao Phraya mentions sources - valley.
Professor Cœdès (École française d'Extrême Orient) found a document in north Thailand from the year 1516 in the Pali language, which describes events in the year 1339, those in „Sukhotayapura “in „Syamadesa “,thus in the city Sukhothai in the country Syam took place. In the Pali English encyclopedia of Rhys David (The Pali text Society, London) Sayam, which has the root Sama, translated with „black, yellow, green or golden “. It is also well-known that thoseArea around the Chao Phraya valley in Pali as „Suvarnabhumi “(golden country) was designated.
The first Europeans, who reported on Siam, were the Portuguese, those there under viceroy Alfonso de Albuquerque after the conquest of Malakka in the year 1511from a “kingdom Sayam” and a king in Ayutthaya had experienced.
Simon de La Loubère, which stayed as French envoys 1687 in Ayutthaya, wrote „description of the Kingdom of Siam to 1693 in its book “that the name Siam the Siamesen unknownis: „You gave yourselves the names to Tai, are that the free ones. ... And those, which are powerful the language of Pegu, confirm that Siam in that language means freely. “
In contracts, during the Ayutthaya period untilto the early Rattanakosin - period with other countries, in European languages the word Siam were closed, in the Thai language however Krung Sri Ayuddhaya were used.
To 24. June 1939 became the national name on Veranlassung of the dictator field marshal Phibun Songkhramchanged by „Siam “in „Thailand “. As reason it was indicated that „Siam was “a name, which was used only by foreigners. On recommending Japan need the Kingdom of a new identity, under which all Thais should be combined. Thisto today for controversies discussion material provided.
Current supplement: At the beginning of of May 2005 became from M.L. Panadda Diskul, the president of the Prince Damrong Rajanuphap LIBRARY suggested using the name „Siam “parallel too „Thailand “as second names to honours of the 60-jährigenThrone anniversary of king Bhumibol Adulyadej in the next year. The Netherlands are finally also well-known as Holland, Switzerland also as Helvetia and the USA also as America.
sources
- description of the Kingdom of Siam, in part translation of the bookof Loubère.
- Thailand, A Short History of David K. Wyatt, Silkworm Books, Chiang May 2001, ISBN 974-7047-44-6
- Miscellaneous Articles written for the journal OF Siam Society by His Late Royal Highness Prince Damrong, The Siam Society, Bangkok 1962 (withoutISBN)
literature
- Siam and Europe. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya in western reports 1500-1670. Laatzen: Military cock, 2006. ISBN of 3-86525-252-4
Web on the left of
- http://www.2bangkok.com/siam.shtml pictorials articles WOULD RUN from the 31.Juli 1939 over the change of name (in English)
