"In 1548 the year of the Monkey." "King Maha Chakkraphat became ruler of the city of Ayothaya." "Only seven months later" "Ta-beng Schweti King of Hongsawadi" "led an invading army out against Ayothaya." "King Maha Chakkraphat" "led his army into battle against Hongsawadi." "His queen and daughter rode beside him." "When battle was joined the vanguard was routed -confusion reigned everywhere." "The queen and the King's daughter fought bravely from behind" "on their elephant until both of them perished." "The name of the queen who sacrifice her life so gallantly has passed into legend as Queen Suriyothai." "This is her story." "In 1 528 the year of the Rat," "Siam had two kings." "Rama Thibodi ll who reigned in Ayothaya." "And his cousin King Athitaya who ruled the northern city of Pitsanulok." "It was a time of peace." "No battles troubled the reign of either king." "Wang Chang, Mount Soi Dao In 1 528, the year of the Rat." "In the twelfth month, King Ayothaya journeyed to the Wang Chang on Mount Soi Dao." "In his entourage was Princess Suriyothai of the house of Praruang savouring the spectacle of the elephant round-up." "Your Highness!" "." "Don't lean out like that." "People might see you." "It goes against royal conventions." "We're on holiday, Nanny." "Can't I even look at the scenery?" "You're a grown woman now." "Try and behave like one" "The court rules are quite clear" "Oh, rules, rules, rules." "I'm worn out with rules I'm sick to death of rules." "Will I meet Lord Piren?" "." "Of course not, Your Highness" "You're not a child any more." "You can't just go out and meet men." "It's absolutely forbidden." "Even when the man is my own brother?" "." "Even then?" "." "Lord Piren isn't really your brother, Your Highness." "Just a relative" "A distant cousin" "Oh, I am so, so, so, so bored!" "Nanny?" "." "Your Highness" "I'm dying of thirst." "Have pity." "Fetch me a little water." "Your Highness" "Kayoon." "Quickly." "Take my place" "Your Highness." "This is not a good idea" "Where are you going, Your Highness." "Please let's get back to the palanquin." "It won't do for you to be seen in public." "It's a serious violation against the rules." "Stop fussing Pudkrong." "Lord Piren is not a stranger." "He's my cousin." "Why shouldn't I see him?" "I've never set foot outside the palace before." "Please indulge me" "Show me all there is to be seen." "For myself nothing would give me greater pleasure." "But that you should go back to the inner Palace." "For your own sake before you get caught and punished." "Don't expect me to go back to the palace." "If you don't like being with me just say so and leave me." "We need never see each others faces again" "No, no, it's not like that at all." "You..you are like my life" "There's nothing in the world I could want more, desire more" "Iove more than you" "Do you mean that?" "." "Honestly?" "Or are you lying to me?" "Listen to me Suriyothai." "On my honour as a warrior, what I say now is the absolute truth." "If at any time in the future." "My body or my brain can be of service to you in any way." "All you have to do is send me word." "I will be beside you before you can even turn your head" "You don't have to promise quite that much" "All I really want is an elephant" "That would make me so very, very happy" "That little elephant-he's perfect" "Would you catch him for me?" "If you want him, you shall have him" "Be careful!" "It's dangerous Don't go too close" "There's Prince Tien" "That's my elephant!" "He's a wild elephant, he belongs to whoever can catch him" "The Crown Prince is here" "Is Princess Suriyothai in residence?" "Lord Srisurin" "Go and fetch the princess immediately." "The Princess does not wish to see the Crown Prince." "She refuses?" "Come and pay your respects to the Crown Prince." "At once!" "I have no desire to see him" "This elephant I have named Plai Song Tawan." "I caught him with the sole purpose of presenting him to" "Your Highness as a gift." "Lord Srisurin" "Thank you for accepting my invitation" "My greatest joy is to honour Your Highness's wishes" "They tell me you have an EXTREMELY beautiful daughter" "Do you mean Suriyothai?" "Presumably" "How old is she?" "Nearly fifteen." "Ah." "My son... begs me to ask... your permission for her hand in marriage." "If it is Your Highness's wish." "I have no objections whatsoever." "Who are you?" "From the look of your garments and demeanour." "She is Suriyothai." "One of the daughters of Lord Srisurin Governor of Pitsanulok" "She is my cousin." "Suriyothai?" "Aren't you about to marry Prince Tien." "l...." "Don't be afraid to tell me, child." "Think of me as one of the family." "Speak your mind." "With regards to the wedding between myself and the Prince" "You would rather not marry my nephew?" "Suriyothai." "Although I may be the King but I have no desire to force anyone into something against their will." "I could change my mind today and the whole idea could be forgotten" "It would be the easiest thing in the world." "But..this is what you must consider it would cause a rift between" "Pitsanulok and Ayothaya which in the long run might have serious consequences." "Can you live with that responsibility?" "You won't run away again?" "Is that understood?" "1 529 The Year of the Ox" "A white omen appears in the sky." "Indra's arrow crossing relentlessly from the South to the Northwest." "Sunday." "Eighth day of the waxing moon of the twelfth lunar month." "King RamaThibodi ll goes into the chapel" "That same night he passes away." "Pitsanulok" "His Majesty King Rama Thibodi is no more." "Long live His Majesty!" "May he live ten thousand years." "Long live His Majesty!" "May he live ten thousand years." "Today is an auspicious day." "The ninth month of the year of the Cow." "Thursday." "An auspicious day on which His Majesty the great King" "Nor Puthangkul has appointed by royal decree the Lady Oon daughter of Lord Yomaraj to me the High Consort from this day forward." "Wang Chai Palace 1 532." "The year of the Dragon." "I have come down from Pitsanuloke." "To warn His Majesty that the Northern provinces are no longer loyal to Ayothaya" "The reason?" "His Majesty appears to have lost interest in the affairs of his Kingdom" "He seems not even to care that the new King of Toungoo went and thumbed his nose at the Mon in Hongsawadi with a mere 500 soldiers" "Do you know why he went there?" "To stage an piercing ceremony at Shwe-mawdaw Temple" "Hundreds upon hundreds of Mon soldiers quaking with fear of a single child" "Surely, as the Second King" "His Majesty trusted you to handle these matters on his behalf" "That's not the reason." "It's because he can think of nothing but his new consort." "He's infatuated" "Why must you treat me with so much deference?" "Are we no longer brother and sister?" "Your Highness is now the wife of the Crown Prince" "You shouldn't even be talking to me" "I will, with your permission, take my leave." "I have returned from China with a special gift for you" "What is it?" "And what favour are you asking from my husband in exchange?" "I would like you to speak to your daughter." "My daughter is the High Consort." "The High Consort." "Exactly so." "Ask her to talk to her husband." "You mean His Majesty?" "His Majesty, yes, His Majesty." "I want her to tell him that" "I have some Chinese cannons to sell" "If your daughter, the High Consort, speaks to His Majesty on my behalf how can he refuse?" "And I will give you a commission of ten per cent." "I, Captain Raj Saneha, retired officer." "pledge my allegiance to Prince Tien on behalf of myself and all my men" "Why did you leave the army?" "Because I wouldn't prostrate myself before Lord Yommaraj" "All those who refused to grovel to him were dismissed from service" "And now you wish to serve the Prince?" "To Prince Tien I can submit willingly without a moment's hesitation" "An heir to the throne is born!" "Your Highness now has a brother" "How can I be the brother of a Prince?" "I am merely the son of the King's concubine" "You are still his older brother" "I am not worthy to be the brother of the future King" "Each of us has his allotted share of merit which has been ordained from the beginning" "No one can change his destiny" "In 1 533." "The year of the Snake." "The smallpox epidemic sweeps across the Kingdom." "Thousands perish" "Promise me.." "No, not merely promise." "Swear... that you will permit" "Prince Ratthati-raja kuman... to become King by right of accession" "Swear... that neither one of you will take away the throne from my son" "I swear, Your Majesty" "Swear!" "I swear, Your Majesty" "May the King reign in good health and happiness" "Long live the King!" "Ta-beng Shweti's camp outside Bassein." "His Majesty, Nor Puthangkul has passed away" "This is the opportune moment for Toungoo to attack Ayothaya" "Once we've taken Bassein we'll move on to Ayothaya" "We'll get more troops from Bassein." "Ayothaya will crumble in no time." "They'll be hopelessly outnumbered." "One moment, Your Majesty." "I think this is not the moment for Toungoo onto march on Ayothaya." "How can you say that?" "Even though Nor Puthangul has gone.." "Yet, the moment Toungoo's troops enter Ayothaya." "Chai Raja, the Second King, who reigns in Pitsanulok." "will seize the throne from" "Ratthati-raja kuman so that he can defend the city against our attack." "He is a fierce and able warrior." "One not to be lightly underestimated." "Yes." "What you say has a convincing ring to it." "In any even, first we must take Bassein." "By tomorrow." "I want it by tomorrow." "Fire!" "From this moment on you are no longer Hong" "Chinese merchant of Nai Kai" "Who am I then?" "You are Sir Choduk Raja-sethi." "Commander of the left bank with sole authority to set prices..all prices.." "for all forms of merchandise" "A penny buys only three bowls of rice?" "Yes, Your Highness." "A wagon load costs one pound, two shillings and a penny farthing." "Where will we find the money to feed those who depend on us?" "And what about other goods?" "All the prices are going up." "Especially if it imported from China or Portugal." "Then it costs as much as twice the cost." "At all goes according to whatever Sir Choduk decides." "I thought so." "Hong is behind this." "Sir Pinit?" "How much money do we have in the treasury?" "Just enough to see us through to harvest time." "But we need money for weapons," "Portuguese armour, uniforms for the Prince's soldiers." "We shall have to make do with what we have." "But that's impossible." "The old weapons are beyond repair" "And anyway, a Prince is judged by the condition of his army and his forces." "If our equipment is shabby and ineffectual we will lose face." "Take this." "Pawn it with Seng at Nai Kai canal." "It should fetch you a good price." "Enough to purchase what we need." "Your Highness." "That was your mother's ring!" "It's nothing compared to the Prince's honour." "I must see His Highness." "His Highness is still sleeping." "I must see him." "It's absolutely vital." "What is it?" "Prince Chai Raja has staged a coup d'etat." "He led his army down from Pitsanulok and seized the throne!" "Your Highness!" "Sanpet Prasat throne hall." "In 1 534, the Year of the Horse." "Your Highness!" "Help us." "Please!" "Help me!" "Put away your weapons." "At once!" "Why have you done this?" "You swore an oath." "You swore to accept Prince Rattha as your sovereign." "In the presence of all things sacred, you gave your word!" "What do you suggest I do?" "Let the people go on suffering as they are suffering now?" "Spare me your hypocrisy." "You want the throne!" "It's as simple as that It was mine from the beginning." "But I took pity on a dying man." "For five long months, I kept careful watch to see how the Regent and his cronies would rule the Kingdom" "Since Ratthathiraj came to power the city has been in turmoil" "Even worse, many provinces have switched their allegiance from Ayothaya to Toungoo." "Sooner or later" "Ayothaya will be overrun and succomb to the power and might of King Ta-beng Shweti." "For this reason." "I had to break my oath to a late King." "What will happen to the boy?" "Where are you, Mummy?" "Mummy!" "Where are you?" "I'm frightened!" "Help me!" "Take me back to bed." "I want to go back to sleep." "Wait." "Let the Lady Worachan attend to His Majesty." "I'm frightened." "Hush, there's no need to be afraid." "I'm here." "I'm right beside you." "Mummy!" "Where are you?" "Mummy!" "This will never happen again!" "Whatever the circumstances." "There will be no more of this kind of killing." "I think Prince Chai Raja did the right thing." "The right thing?" "Killing an innocent child?" "Yes." "Sacrificing one life, however innocent to end bloodshed across the Kingdom." "It's Prince Chai Raja who is shedding the blood.." "That's not true." "The Second King knew that if he did nothing it would mean the end of Ayothaya." "If you were in his place." "You would have done the same." "Never." "I would never do that." "No matter what the innocent should never suffer." "It was in the year 1 534, The year of the Horse that the young King was executed and" "King Chai Raja ascended the throne." "In 1 535 The Year of the Goat" "It seems that I can no longer carry out my duties." "I am the Lord of Life." "Highest in the Kingdom." "I will not let you die." "Even the Lord of Life cannot defy the Lord of the Underworld." "I.. humbly..take my leave." "Jitravadee!" "Jitravadee!" "The Queen Jitravadee gave birth to the Prince Yodfa then bled to death." "So doing." "She opened the way for Princess Srisudachan of the House of U-Thong." "She was appointed Royal Consort to the King Chai Raja." "What is your name?" "Boonsri, Your Majesty." "I hold the rank of Royal Steward." "Custodian of the Outer Hall housing the Buddha images." "So." "Are you descended from the U-Thong dynasty?" "I am, Your Majesty." "They tell me that you are an exceptional singer." "They flatter me, Your Majesty." "Sing a verse for me." "I will decide if that is flatterey." "That fellow Boonsri, who sang for His Majesty." "Custodian of the Outer Hall." "He holds the rank of steward." "The Outer Hall." "That's the residence of" "Pra Matamatayikka, Her Royal Great Grand Mother, isn't it?" "Yes." "Her Highness resides at Piman Rattaya Hall." "Perhaps it's time we presented ourselves to Her Highness." "Pimam Rattaya Hall, Front Palace." "Sroy, take this betel nut and give it to that steward." "Tell him it is a reward for his singing, which has touched me deeply." "Yes, My Lady." "The High Consort instructs me to bring you this gift." "A reward for pleasing her with your melodious renditions." "Your visit here today... was no accident." "You are fulfilling the desires of those ancestors from whose shades nothing is hidden." "The usurping dynasty of Suphanna-bhumi has taken over the throne of the U-Thong for far too long." "Very soon you will understand what I am saying if the U-thong blood runs strong in your veins." "I came to inform Your Highness." "That a few days from now." "I take my vows as a nun" "If that is what you truly desire." "I wish you every happiness." "No matter what happens the House of Sri Dhamma-sokka-raj will always honour the House of Suphanna-bhumi and offer obeisance for generations to come." "But one thing more." "Never trust Srisudachan." "Watch her closely." "Be on your guard against this High Consort." "She is not what she seems to be." "In 1 538." "The year of the Dog." "King Chai Raja led his armies against the cities of Chiang Krai and Chiang Kran." "When King Ta-beng Schweti fought against the Mon, he had been unaware these cities belonged to Ayothaya." "Now King Chai Raja was determined to reclaim them." "Ching Krai, on the border of Siam." "His Majesty once told me that you have great understanding of astrology." "and can interpret dreams with wonderful accuracy." "I humbly thank you, Your Highness." "For many nights, I have had strange dreams." "Tell me what they mean." "I dreamed of you seated resplendently on a throne of gold." "beneath the Royal tiered umbrella of Ayothaya." "And the one who seated beside you was me." "I can behold the truth buried deep in your eyes when you throw me a glance as you render music to the King." "I know only too clearly." "What lies in your heart... because your thoughts and mine are one and the same." "Utterly, totally, one and the same." "I still believe that bows and arrows are more accurate than your guns." "Give me the bow." "Your Higness's skill remains without equal" "Then why does the Captain insist that my children and I" "learn to use the weapons of westerners?" "Because guns can shoot much farther than bows and arrows." "They have five, ten times the power." "Modern warfare now requires this new kind of weapon." "The ancient textbooks on warfare will have to be rewritten if our enemies are to be defeated." "The King sent for me." "No, not the King." "It was I." "I seek your advice, Lord Rajapakdee." "My advice, such as it is, is at Her Higness's disposal." "The keeper of the Outer Chapel is the son of Lord Srithep" "The liege-lord of Srithrep province." "Is it not so?" "It is so, Your Highness." "Then pray tell me" "Why is he only a lowly Captain." "Is it because Captain Panbut-Srithep for all of his noble birth belongs to the House of U-Thong and therefore cannot expect to rise from his lowly station." "No, Your Highness, not in the least." "In my opinion, this Captain Panbut-Srithep should be elevated to the rank of Sir Chinaraj and made Keeper of the inner Chapel." "Your Highness." "It is impossible." "And why is that, Lord Rajapakdee?" "You are Lord of the Palace." "You have all the power you need to promote or demote whoever you choose" "That is true." "But..." "But what?" "While the present Sir Chinaraj" "Keeper of the inner Chapel." "Still lives." "That is..unless and until he dies.." "Regretfully, I cannot assume the power." "In compliance with Your Highness's wishes." "But what if the present Sir Chinaraj were to meet with an accident?" "Halt!" "The High Consort Srisudachan requires your presence!" "Immediately!" "What is your business here, woman?" "The High Consort wishes that I should bring My Lord this gift." "Is that all, woman?" "To repay you for your kindness." "For the advice you gave her yesterday." "I did nothing." "I merely told her the truth." "Captain Panbut-Srithep can only advance his status if and when Sir Chinaraj passes away" "And for that reason the High Consort is presenting My Lord with this valuable gift." "The High Consort is confident" "Your Lordship will not deny the raising of Captain Panbut-Srithep to the rank of Sir Chinaraj" "Custodian of the inner Hall housing the Buddha images." "His Highness was served the finest Portuguese liquor." "I trust it was to your liking." "Your Higness truely understands the art of pampering an old man." "If I hadn't known that this was the palace of the King's brother before I saw the soldiers on manoeuvres." "I might have thought it to be a rebel stronghold." "Why should Prince Tien betray his brother?" "Of course." "He is His Majesty's loyal subject." "More loyal than anyone except myself." "Then tell me." "Why do you think we are on constant alert?" "Since you ask I would imagine you fear the High Consort and her malicious schemes." "You put it far too strongly." "I'm sure I have no cause to think ill or be fearful of the High Consort" "Or do you have reason to think otherwise?" "Captain Panbut-Srithep the Custodian of the Outer Chapel has been promoted to Sir Chinaraj." "Custodian of the inner Chapel." "And why should that because for alarm?" "There's no reason." "Except that the previous Sir Chinatraj has disappeared suddenly, mysteriously and without a trace." "And you see the hand of the High Consort in this?" "Be honest." "You yourself don't trust the woman" "I'm right, am I not?" "In 1 545, the year of the Dragon." "The fourth waxing moon of the seventh month." "Wednesday." "King Chai Raja marched to Chiang Mai with Lord Pitsanulok as his vanguard." "Sankrao, a Chiang Mai mandarin plotted with others to seize King Khet Muang Klao and execute him" "King Chai Raja marched to Chiang Mai to retake the city from the rebel's grasp." "I don't want to leave you" "I want to stay like this for all eternity." "My life means nothing." "I would happily trade all the rest of my days for a mere one more day with you." "Before King Chai Raja's forces reached Chiang Mai." "The mandarins captured and executed the treacherous Lord Sankrai and invited Queen Jiraprapa to take the throne" "The Queen brought gifts to King Chai Raja and offered peace and goodwill." "The third waxing moon of the tenth month." "Saturday" "King Chai Raja built a mausoleum for King Khet Muang klao at Molee monastery." "Aren't you going to give me any medicine?" "I must be dying." "I'm nauseous all the time." "Vomiting and throwing up everything every morning" "There's no need..no need." "Your Higness is..." "How shall I put it." "You know..with child..." "Take this medicine with a cup of wine." "Take it three times every day." "Soon the nausea will stop." "No one must know of this." "Rest easy." "No one will." "The doctor.." "has the look of a man with not long to live." "Doctor!" "Last night the water in the Chakrai Canal was extremely low." "The doctor's body floated upstream and blocked the watergate." "Everyone could see it." "I ran to confirm it with my own eyes." "Then I reported it to Lady Srisatcha." "Why did you report it to her?" "Because the doctor was seen entering the inner Court." "Lady Srisatcha is the head of the Palace Guards." "Thus it was imperative she be informed at once." "And is there anyone who knows what business this Chinese doctor had in the inner Palace?" "It seems there isn't anyone who knows anything at all." "It's time Your Highness was at his studies." "Can't I stay just a little longer?" "You are the heir to the throne." "One day you will be King." "You above all must obey the rules of the Court which say it is high time for your Pali." "language lesson." "Let me guess." "You are having difficulties with the High Consort." "She knows she's the King's favourite." "That's why she's so arrogant." "The prince was so happy playing with his pony." "But nevertheless, she had to force him to his lessons." "She was quite right." "It's the High Consorts responsibilty to teach the Prince his duty." "Oh, now you're on her side." "She can do no wrong." "Of course not." "But the woman does have many good qualities." "That's why she's the King's favorite." "I find it hard to appreciate her good qualities as long as she intends harm to both of us." "At the gate hangs a bell." "Any citizen in the Kingdom who has a just complaint may ring the bell." "King Ramkamhaeng will come and listen to his peoples grievances." "Does Your Highness know from which section that derives?" "The section about complaints is that right, Brahmin?" "Quite right, Your Highness." "All right." "Enough law for one day." "Tomorrow I'll teach Your Highness the Rules of War." "Your Highness will enjoy that." "Srisin, come with me." "Out!" "All of you." "I'm burning with frustration seeing you, being near you, pretending indifference." "unable to hold you, unable to kiss you to satisfy my hunger for you." "You must be careful." "If someone sees us.." "If anything should happen to you." "How could I go on living?" "Don't forget." "I'm a humble chapel custodian." "One day you will be more than that." "You are a member of the dynasty of U-Thong." "As great or greater than the Suphanna-bhumi or the Praruang." "Soon the U-Thong shall rule again in Ayothaya." "What do you mean?" "What I mean is the U-Thong dynasty." "will rule again in Ayothaya according to its rightful destiny." "But there is something you must do first." "So that we can be together without having to skulk in the shadows." "Isn't that what we want?" "Out." "Everybody out." "What can I do for you, brother?" "Kill Prince Tien and Suriyothai and every single one of their breed." "I'll lose my home and my head." "No." "You'll become Second King." "You'll take Prince Tien's position." "What are you saying?" "I'm saying you'll become the Second King." "Second King Chan!" "In 1 545, the year of the Snake." "The fire is at the Grand Palace, is it not?" "No." "It looks to be at Yot Market." "Sir Pinit." "How did it happen?" "It started at Kalahom pier then moved to the rear of the Palace and the market." "That's virtually the whole city!" "Who's in charge?" "Lord Mahesena has taken the entire army to fight the fire." "Captain Raj Saneha." "Take all our men and give him all the help you can." "Yes, Your Highness." "Captain, wait." "I don't think our men should leave the palace." "Whyever not?" "I can't explain." "But if an enemy wishes you harm then a crisis like this gives them the perfect opportunity" "Please come this way, Your Highness" "It's safer than the bedroom." "Your Highness." "Don't." "Don't." "That's... the Ming vase." "This one is still alive." "Who hired you for this work?" "The Khmer assassins, Your Highness." "From Lavoa." "And who hired them?" "Someone who can afford to pay them, Your Highness" "To believe that, you must have proof." "Am I not right, Captain Raja Seneha?" "In 1 545, the year of the Dragon, the eleventh lunar month." "The Shan army is attacking Chiang Mai." "Queen Jeraprapa is asking the Lao army for help." "She does not inform King Chai Raja." "Lord Klang and Lord Soon crossing the Mae Khong River" "On Wednesday 9th." "On the second lunar month." "Chiang Mai will sorely pay for this." "I will not let the pride of Ayothaya... be insulted like this." "Furthermore, Queen Jeraprapa must have sided with Lan Chang more so than Ayothaya." "For she is the aunt of Pra Chai Chettha the King of Lan Chang." "So she had me fooled like a baby" "I have only just left Lanna." "and she immediately sided with Lan Chang." "Ayothaya shall take revenge to equal this horrendous betrayal." "Lompoon,a frontier town of Chiang Mai." "Tuesday, the third day of the waxing moon of the fourth lunar month." "Extinguish a fire." "Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!" "Hold him tightly, he will be in great pain." "The King has been injured." "He has been hit by the Yuan's gun." "If he is to die the kingdom will be without a ruler." "It is time for you to make a decision, Your Majesty." "What decision?" "To prepare your troops." "If the King should die, the sole person who can protect the Kingdom is you." "But he is not yet dead." "It may be too late by then because the High Consort Srisudachan, would surely not let this opportunity pass." "This poison, will solve all your problems." "You mean for me to poison him?" "Or would you prefer to be punished?" "But that's not important." "It is the unborn child you are carrying, the one who should rule Ayothaya one day, who will be doomed along with you." "Then, the U" " Thong dynasty will be no more." "When I was wounded do you know whose face was constantly on my mind?" "It was your face no one else's." "I am a fool." "This war with Yuan... made me perceive clearly who is the one who truly loves me." "I will elevate you, My Lady." "to be my Queen, as you deserve, for all your devotion." "But still this is not enough to equal your virtues." "Your Majesty!" "Your Majesty!" "Get the doctor, immediately." "Your Majesty!" "I have been poisoned." "If it is poison why isn't it affecting you?" "Your Highness" "All of you are in on the plot." "Traitors!" "Who brought in the wine?" "Soy, Your Highness." "She poisoned the king." "She must die." "Take them away." "Torture them and make them tell us who is behind this deed." "Then, remove their heads and impale them on spikes in the town square." "What did you say?" "His Majesty was poisoned?" "Yes, Lord Chakri asked me to fetch you." "You are to go to the Grand Palace immediately." "I feel much better." "Almost back to normal, father." "These are the usual symptoms, unbearable temperature and fever, then, almost total recovery as if nothing had ever happened." "Then, the poison will spread once more." "This time it will be almost like a burning fire within." "Blood will flow out from the nine orifices." "You'll even sweat blood." "You'll suffer for days uh.before...." "your final death." "Are there any medicines to cure this?" "There is no such cure once the poison is inside his veins." "How much longer do I have?" "No more than seven nights." "Hail great and glorious king In the year 1 546, the year of the horse." "On the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the sixth month," "King Chai Raja, who ruled in accordance with the ten righteous commandments of kingship, whose royal decree resounds like the roar of a lion, is pleased to elevate," "Nor Praputchao, Prince Yotfa, to kingship, and the High Consort Srisudachan, to be queen, and to serve as regent until such a time as Prince Yotfa, comes of age, and is ready to assume the mantle of kingship." "It is hereby decreed that the Second King, Pra Tien Raja, is to assume guardianship of King Yotfa." "from this moment until King Yotfa comes of age." "Samlee, tell me who is behind the master plan." "Your sentence will be reduced." "I regret to see such beauty vanish by a deadly whip." "Name Prince Tien as a plotter, as a conspirator to poison the King." "Prince Tien is the one who poisoned His Majesty." "Confess the truth to keep your head on your shoulders." "Prince Tien, Prince Tien." "What is it, whore?" "Prince Tien forced me to poison His Majesty." "Prince Tien poisoned His Majesty." "The handmaid confessed before the sword descended, that Prince Tien Raja was behind the assassination plot." "I don't believe that is so." "Prince Tien Raja is not the one who poisoned me." "Then, who did it?" "I'll take him into custody right now." "It was you, Srisudachan." "You planned it with Lord Chinaraj and poisoned me." "Ayothaya must be under the U" " Thong Dynasty forever and ever" "Now, the end of the Suphanna-bhumi Dynasty is at hand." "The next king must be the child in my womb, the one who is of the U-Thong Dynasty, and whose father is also of the U" " Thong Dynasty." "E-Meon has stated that you are the one who poisoned and assassinated the King" "Do you think what she has stated is the truth?" "If I believe that whore, who will say anything to save her from punishment." "I would have come with a full battallion of soldiers." "Not only accompanied by a mere handful of soldiers." "So as not to be laughed at by Captain Raj Saneha." "Then why have you come to this palace?" "This whore is blaming you publicly, Your Highness." "In the presence of the noblemen and other citizens." "The regent won't allow Your Highness to escape the punishment, sire." "What ever you plan to do, Please consider carefully" "Captain Raj Saneha and His Royal Highness soldiers would not let your lordship get close to His Royal Highness." "It seems to be that way." "But I came to Your Highness now to tell Your Highness That at one o'clock." "I will return to this palace again with the royal troops" "But between now and then, I trust Your Highness will find a way to escape from this perilous situation." "What's happened?" "Fire?" "Wait, my robes." "I have to don my robes first." "Search the whole place." "Don't let any one get away." "Go on." "Search the whole area." "Those are Captain Raj Saneha's soldiers." "Where?" "I said stop!" "Don't you all have any sense of right and wrong?" "How dare you fight on sacred grounds?" "Get Prince Tien!" "Stop." "Prince Tien has been ordained and is now in the monkhood." "He will be under protection until this crisis is over." "He has the immunity." "But Prince Tien had been plotting against the late king." "I received a royal decree from the late king." "If there is no evidence implicating Prince Tien as a conspirator, then no one is to harm him." "Especially while he is wearing the yellow robes of the Lord Buddha." "No one can not harm him." "In 1546, the year of the Horse." "Sixth lunar month." "In 1 548, the year of the Monkey." "Sunday, the fifth night of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month." "The messengers from the Northern provinces report" "Those Lords and magistrates are plotting to rebel" "They are secretly meeting aiming to break away to offer obeisance to Hongsawadi's king, Ta-beng Shweti." "It's all because the king is so young." "Always playing and having fun" "He can not rule the country." "Under these dire circumstances, why don't you take the matters into your own hands?" "I am only a woman why should the northern provinces hold me in awe?" "Now that they have rebelled," "I see Lord Worawongsa as the one to take over until His Majesty is of age." "Is there anyone who dares to disagree with me?" "The year 1 548, the year of the Monkey." "Sunday, the fifth night of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month." "I am at my wit's end to name exactly what is the cause of His Majesty's illness." "The symptoms appear to be a gastric problem which makes it difficult for him to breathe." "I'll get some medicine." "How long before he recovers?" "Not more than three nights." "What did you say?" "King Yotfa has died?" "Yes, Your Highness, at dawn." "How did the king meet his demise?" "Laung Tip O-sot pondered deeply on this and it is still not understood." "The first symptoms were not at all serious, but then, His Majesty suddenly passed away at dawn." "His Majesty's death is no different from that of King Chai Raja." "Sir, Raj Seneha." "From now on we must guard His Highness will great heed." "Yes, Your Highness," "I cannot tolerate it any longer." "Never before has the regime been so disreputable." "Even during King Rama-thibodi's reign people wrote anonymous messages against him." "At the time the king commanded the execution of many mandarins." "But now," "Lord Chinaraj has been in power for only a short time and there are riots everywhere." "The northern provinces and defiantly vying for independence." "The southern provinces are all under the sway of the treacherous." "Chan of Mahalok Village" "Your Excellency should be careful what you say." "There are many who favor Lord Chinaraj and Chan, the Second King." "My heart aches for I am a military commander, not only unable to protect the young king," "but worse, I cannot even arrest the assassins and punish them for their heinous crimes, even though I know who they are." "Lord Mahasena dared utter those words?" "How arrogant!" "Yes, Your Majesty." "Lord Rajapakdee urged me to inform you that." "Lord Mahasena is planning to rebel against the king." "I think, we should not continue to let him be a thorn in our side." "Your Excellency must not bear arms into the inner Royal residence!" "Bah!" "I am the military commander, my first obligation is to protect His Majesty." "Not this time." "not even a minister like yourself." "It is a royal decree." "What do you think you're doing?" "How dare you, women?" "Open the gates now" "You dare to plan a rebellion." "Don't be slow Clear the way, now!" "I have business with the High Consort." "She does not wish to see a traitor like you." "Your drunken lout, kill him!" "I have just received a message that Lord Mahasena is dead." "What's the cause?" "He was assassinated at the rear palace gate." "But it is not known who planned it." "Who else?" "It seems that we cannot avoid calamity." "Lord Mahasena was the only noble mandarin who had the courage to defend Prince Tien, and the rest of the royal family." "There is one person who might be able to protect us." "I volunteer to call upon this person" "Who is this courageous person?" "Lord Pitsanulok," "Commander in chief of the Late King Chai Raja," "Lord Pitsanulok's army The border at Cha Gang Rao." "Have you see Lord Pitsanulok's army come this way?" "That way, Sir." "Princess Suriyothai asked me to inform you that Ayothaya is in grave danger." "There is chaos everywhere, people are suffering immensely." "That's what I have heard." "What does Princess Suriyothai want me to do?" "She feels that you alone can put an end to all the suffering and restore peace eternally throughout the kingdom." "She would like you to return to Ayothaya to save the country." "I must fight against the minority rebels in Kampangpet province." "How can I get away from here and be there at the same time?" "She asked me to personally remind you of an oath you had given in front of her." "A warrior's words once said should there ever be a day when she needs to avail of your strength and wisdom then as soon as you learn about it you'll come immediately, without delay no matter how far away." "you will be there." "Lord Pitsanulok." "Has Captain Raj Saneha told you why I summoned you here?" "Even if there were no compelling reasons, if it is your wish I will come." "You must have known already." "that the Kingdom is in danger." "I knew from the very beginning of this reign with my lack of wisdom and strength that I would be unable to do anything." "The cause of all this is Lord Worawongsa and Srisudachan." "Were it not for them the whole Kingdom would be at peace." "But then, we would be without a king." "Prince Tien Raja has all the might and the right and the legitimacy to rule Ayothaya." "Once the Kingdom is devoid of a ruler" "Prince Tien should rule with no opposition," "Or do you disagree with me?" "Mother ordered me to bring this to you" "My business is complete, I beg you farewell." "Won't you stay a while?" "It's a long journey back" "The gate keepers could use a rest." "I'm afraid not, Sir." "My mission is finished." "Then, let me brew you some tea." "It would be an honour for me." "I can't perceive what is in your mind, Your Highness." "What is it that's not clear to you?" "It isn't clear why is that you sacrificed your life and your family." "And yet you are giving the throne to Pra Tien Raja." "It likes killing a snake and throwing it to the bird." "Don't ever say a thing like that again." "Pra Tien Raja has the legitimate right to reign as king." "Your enjoy the same right and legitimacy, Your Highness." "You Father is from the lineage.." "of the House of Sukhothai which rules that region, and your mother is from the lineage of the House of Suphanna-bhumi the same as King Chai Raja." "But I am not wish to inherit the throne." "Is it not because of Princess Sawasdiraj, Your Highness." "I wonder" "Why Lord Piren is coming down to Ayothaya for what purpose?" "Dum." "Yes, Your Highness." "From now on, you must keep an eye on Lord Pitsanulok." "like a tiger eyeing his prey." "If there is anything suspicious," "to inform me or Sir Han." "Yes, Your Highness." "This plan will succeed only if we can assassinate Lord Worawongsa and Srisudachan right away." "You must not underestimate that regent Chan." "The knight of the unholy throne." "If you cut the roots, the tree will die." "When they are gone, where will Second King Chan be able to hide?" "I'm not an enemy." "I'm here to join your fight against injustice." "But you are a royal guard." "Are you thinking of spying on us?" "If I had meant you any harm would I have come alone?" "I am ready to fight and sacrifice my life for the realm." "But, I have only one doubt." "What do you doubt?" "If we eliminate Lord Worawongsa to whom would you offer the throne?" "Sir Sriyod, Captain Raj Saneha Wait for me in front of the chapel." "Do not let anyone inside." "Yes, Sir." "I am a monk." "I should not deal with worldly matters." "If our plan is successful ...the kingdom will be without a king." "You are the only one who is entitled to rule the kingdom." "It we succeed and the kingdom still is without a king." "The people will suffer anyway." "This is similar to the Lord Buddha having to defeat mara." "If I refuse, it will be as if I have no feelings for the people and I would let them suffer." "Therefore, I will accept your request to rule the realm." "May the secured beings of Ayothaya give you blessings to succeed and subdue the enemies restore glory to religion." "and peace throughout the kingdom." "In 1 548, Saturday, the sixth day of the waxing moon of the ninth lunar month." "Your Majesty." "I have brought the political bureau of Lopburi to inform you about an auspicious elephant that has been spotted in the forests of Lopburi." "It should be caught as a royal elephant for His Majesty." "I'm going to be promoted." "This great elephant, is it that powerful?" "Ten knotted ropes cannot hold him" "We are not bestowed with enough merit to capture it, Your Majesty." "There is no one but you in the whole kingdom." "who possesses enough merit to catch that elephant Your Majesty." "Enough." "I 'll go get it myself." "In 1 548, Sunday, the second night of the waxing moon of the fourth lunar month." "Tell us exactly What you intend to do." "Tomorrow at dawn" "King Worawongsa will set out and capture the great elephant that is being lured toward Pleum Temple." "The King will go up to Sa Bua Canal." "We will block the way and assassinate him at Rang Temple, near Pla Maw canal." "Lord lndrathep's barge are our men." "They all will have their weapons hidden." "At the right moment, they will attack the Portuguese mercenaries." "If Second King Chan should find out." "He will bring his troops to aid King Worawongsa, his brother." "Then what will we do?" "I plan to get Captain Raj Saneha." "to disguise himself as a boxer bodyguard." "In that disguise, he will wait for Second King Chan at Seua Temple." "If he crosses through the palace gates, he will immediately get shot by Captain Raj Saneha." "Lord Pichai and his troops will hide on the eastern side of Sa Bua Canal." "North of Pla Maw Canal." "And Lord Sawankalok, you will hide on the western side, in case those on the royal barge try to escape in that direction." "Sir Sriyod, take your boat and wait in the middle of Sa Bua Canal." "and I will wait on Pla Maw Canal." "That will prevent the royal barge from escaping in that direction." "I think, that Lord Piren is up to something." "A little while after sunset I saw his men armed and on the way to Sa Bua Cannel by boat." "Tomorrow morning the King and the High Consort Srisudachan will go to catch the great elephant and will travel past Sa Bua Canal." "That doesn't sound right" "Puek go ready and arm the elephant for me," "I must go and warn the king at the Grand Palace." "Sua Temple" "In front of Regent Chan's palace." "Help me and I will reward you handsomely" "The only thing I want is..." "Whose boat is that?" "Mine, Lord Piren-thora-thep here to chop off your head." "Kill them all!" "Kill them Kill them" "Head the boat to shore, now." "Get off There might be a way to survive this" "What about the king?" "We must save you and the prince first." "Get off the boat, quickly." "I will hold them back." "Kham kaew, take the High Consort to shore." "Fire!" "You have sinned terribly." "You can even kill an innocent child." "Someone like you will only bring down the country and the religion." "You should die for you crimes." "But not by you hand." "Hurry, try to escape before they kill the prince." "No!" "Wait, Lord Pitsanulok." "Prince Srisin is descended from the late King Chai Raja, he should not be executed." "Prince Srisin is the son of the High Consort Srisudachan." "Not to kill him would go against custom, and he will remain a thorn in our sides." "Is there not enough bloodshed?" "If you only cut down the tree and leave the roots the next king and the rest of the dynasty will be under continuous threat." "If not for the sake of the late king, then for me." "I plead with you not to kill the child." "What are you waiting for, Pudkrong?" "Hurry and take Prince Srisin to our boat." "Let Lady Pudkrong take the prince to the boat." "As Princess Suriyothai wishes." "Lord lndrathep help my child." "Lord Pirenthorathep has taken the initiative come forward." "I bestow upon you the title of Somdej Pra Maha Dhammaraja-thiraj.." "governor of Pitsanulok." "Princess Sawasdiraj come sit by his side." "I bestow upon you ...the title of Wisut-krasat-tri, the principal queen of Pitsanulok." "I wish to let it be known.." "to all sacred beings that from now on should any harm befall the families of" "Somdej Pra Maha Dhamma-raja-thiraj" "Lord Sri Dhamma-sokka-raj Lord Mahasena and Lord Pakdi-nuchit and should there be any bloodshed, that rule will be treated as a traitor against my word." "May he be condemned and perish under the royal tiered umbrella" "May all sacred beings bring death upon such a person within three days or three months but no later than three years." "Let him be forever deprived of happiness." "In 1 548, the year of the Monkey, the eleventh month." "The news of the trouble in Ayothaya reaches Hongsawadi" "The king of Hongsa decides if they should attack Ayothaya now the Hongsa army should win easily." "The Hongsa king then conscripts a troop of 30,000 men 700 elephants, 3000 horses." "Assign Bayinnaung as vanguard." "Lord of Prome as supply." "Lord Bassein as rear guard and march toward Ayothaya." "It looks like the black-tongued king of Hongsawadi has ill intentions toward Ayothaya." "The Burmese have prepared their boats so they could cross the Kong River from Martaban shore to Moulmein shore" "For the cavalrymen and soldiers to cross easily." "There is going to be trouble." "Bay, Bai." "Yes, lord." "You two and Jormia go scout and find out when the Hongsa's troops are going to cross the river" "We have watched for seven days and seven nights." "King Hongsa's troops have successfully crossed the Kong river from Martaban shore to Moulmein shore." "It took them seven nights?" "Are there such tremendous numbers of Burmese?" "It's just cavalry and soldiers ...not including the elephant troops that crossed the river some eight hundred kilometers above." "King Hongsa assembled his troops at Martaban." "From there, crossed the Kong river which way would King Hongsa's troops enter Ayothaya?" "Will it be Tongpapoom, the Three Pagodas Pass or Rahang in Tak province?" "I expect King Hongsa would maneuver his troops in the direction of the Three Pagodas area." "Why do you think that?" "Capt. Kla mentioned great numbers of Burmese soldiers and King Hongsa has brought many cannons along." "He would need to travel by water to convey the food supplies, cannons and gun powder." "All of you evacuate to Ayothaya immediately." "Lord Jakri" "Yes, Your Majesty." "Gather some soldiers and set up camp at Lumplee field to intercept King Hongsa's troops from Ayothaya." "Phukao Thong Monastery, Lumplee Field." "Work faster." "You want the Burmese to be here before you going to work." "Lazy asses!" "I think they are doing their best." "Be we have to dig a lot more the distance from Praya Ram fortress to Kue Na canal is a long way." "I heard that King Hongsa's troops have passed the Three Pagodas." "Yes." "My spy told me that King Hongsa had assembled his troops at Sam Sob a while ago intending to build rafts to carry soldiers and food supplies down the Noi river?" "It is just as well that we have these spies and are able to follow his plans." "But still, we are not beyond the enemy, their spies are familiar with Ayothaya." "Hold on!" "now that you've mentioned this, it reminds me a monk once told me there's an old man who lives in a hut by Lumplee field always welcoming strangers." "He has homing pigeons in his hut." "The Lumplee Villagers call him the Birdman Tao nok" "Does anyone know his background?" "No one." "He lives near the temple where I stay yet I have never seen him pay a visit to the temple." "How strange." "That's it." "Bay!" "Yes, sir." "Gather some men ...to capture this Birdman at Lumplee field," "Yes, sir." "He spotted us." "Let's go!" "From Moulmein to the Three Pagodas in less than a month?" "How did King Hongsa manoeuvre his troops so fast?" "King Hongsa must first assemble his troops at Sam Sob.." "before moving further down to Kanchanaburi that should delay him further more." "That could take about two months?" "Or less" "King Hongsa may reach Ayothaya very soon." "I volunteer." "to intercept the troops of the black tongued king at Kanchanaburi." "A handful of soldiers?" "How can we repel hundreds of thousands of King Hongsa's troops?" "Kanchanaburi's fortress is in an ideal location it stands on the cliff about where the Kwai Yai river that joins Tapern river." "The two rivers form a natural wall.." "King Hongsa will find it impossible to cross." "I will be able to resist the Burmese troops until your troops are ready." "You speak as though you will never return to Ayothaya." "Kanchanaburi Fortress, Town of Kao Chon Kai." "Move it!" "Move!" "Even though Kanchanaburi is a small town it has cost me many soldiers and three wasted days to reach here." "I must punish these prisoners of war, to set an example to others!" "Executioner!" "Take these prisoners young, old and behead them." "Burn down their city and all the temples." "and make it known throughout the land that any governors of Ayothaya who rebel against me, will be doomed, with their clans, to die like the people of Kanchanaburi." "The Burmese troops have filled Phukao Thong field, sir!" "They have detected us now." "You must be cautious." "We have a huge number of soldiers more than ten to one" "It is the recklessness that will cause our downfall." "Might you be too old for this battle, Minye Sihatu?" "Give the signal and charge!" "Give the signal to fire!" "Lord Chakri's camp at Phukao Thong is about to be taken over." "Phra Maha Dhamma-raja has brought his troops from the north to join up with Lord Jakri's" "King Prome's troops outnumber us greatly far more than those of Lord Chakri and Pitsanulok combined." "We need to render support for the royal troops." "Go forward!" "Go forward!" "Command a withdrawal now, Tado Dhammaraja!" "Or we'll lose all our people!" "Give the signal to withdraw!" "Retreat!" "Let's head back to our camp, Sormeng." "The Burmese troops outnumber the Ayothaya troops ten to one." "why can you not overthrow Lord Chakri's camp?" "Instead of withdrawing in haste" "like a panicky dog running from a lion degenerating the King's honour" "You probably think it is because of the cannons" "On the fortresses bombarding us?" "Absolutely, Your Majesty." "The cannons on the fortress are able to fire across many miles." "Just like Nandasu said." "Those cannons are three wa long." "Foot long mortars, Your Majesty." "It would be easier just to destroy the cannons the only way to succeed would be to bombard them with our cannons." "While we are on the elephant's back" "This will side track them and we'll have the time to fill up the gully on the other side." "Then, we can take over Lord Jakri's camp." "Let it be to take Lord Chakri's camp in the next battle." "I will make up for Tado Dhamma-raja's failure." "If anyone gets to the camp and opens the gates for our troops." "I will reward that person with 1 000 gold changes." "All cannons fire!" "Fire!" "Seize this camp!" "No one would dare to stand on the rampart." "Their cannon fire is too heavy." "We can resist them a moment longer." "Pra Maha Dhamma-raja is crossing the gully right now." "I am not waiting for his troops!" "But I will deal with the Burmese up on the rampart so they know that people of Ayothaya have no fear!" "King Hongsa had said a reward of 1 000 gold changes to be given to any person who can open this camp's gate." "make haste and do just so." "Kill them all!" "Kill them all!" "Kill them all!" "Burn in hell!" "Kill them, do not withdraw!" "You are here just in time." "The Burmese are full of vigour and vim." "Competing to open the gates expecting the reward from King Hongsa." "If that is so." "I volunteer to open the gates for His Majesty King Ta-Beng Shweti." "I need you to carry a message to him." "But you will carry this message on you!" "Your Majesty Hongsawadi the great." "For you have declared in public an offer of one thousand changes worth of gold to any brave person who is able to open the gate." "Now, I Maha Dhamma-raja the ruler of the Northern province, has done so." "Your Majesty should make haste and pay such reward." "I and my troops shall await you in front of the camp at Makamyong field." "If you are as mighty as they say then make haste and bring my gold instantly." "Spare me Spare me" "Maha Dhamma-raja now awaits us in front of the camp." "I will take this perfect opportunity to erase his insult." "You should think this over" "Maha Dhamma-raja is mockingly provoking us to lure you forward." "Maha Dhamma-raja awaits not far from the camp." "If he blunders, he can retreat conveniently." "My tactic is" "let Prajao Prae go into this battle with Maha Dhama-raja whom if we are rid of." "Ayothaya will be mine." "Our children and I have thought it over the battle is a most difficult one." "The courtiers, soldiers male and female all need to devote their lives to defend the Ayothaya kingdom." "I thank you dearly but it is a man's job to defend the country." "Leave it to me and my brave men." "This Burmese war may look dangerous." "with all of Ta-beng Shweti's men, horses and elephants storming over us like a flood." "Should anything happen to you," "Ayothaya ...will lose its crown and be no more." "Our children and I are ready to fight beside you in every battlefield." "Give a signal to attack" "Archers!" "Prepare!" "Fire!" "Prepare!" "Fire!" "Keep fighting!" "Don't let them near the camp!" "The royal guards have come to aid us." "Yes, Your Majesty the King." "Yes." "The Royal troop has moved it's force!" "He is not as cowardly as they say must be expecting to fight with me" "How well suited!" "The great spirits of Burma have inspired the King of Ayothaya to emerge and hasten our victory" "Great!" "We shall trap this King" "Signal the King of Prome to withdraw, and bring the Royal troops to our trap." "Look!" "The Burmese are withdrawing." "Their troops are scattered and dispersing everywhere." "May I?" "Give the withdrawal signal!" "We have been tricked!" "Maha Dhamma-raja has fallen for King Hongsa's plan." "Sir Kojasit!" "Prepare the royal elephant Plai Kao Chakarpat now!" "But this is walking straight into King Hongsa's trap!" "To take your life!" "If I don't go to this battle" "Ayothaya's soldiers will be dispirited." "No matter how enormous the enemy's troops are" "I still must go into this battle!" "Pudkrong!" "Order Srichaithip to prepare" "Plai Song Suriya Krasat..." "I will join His Majesty." "Are you sure, Your Majesty?" "It is very dangerous!" "You will surely be harmed." "But if anything should happen to our King do you think I will survive?" "But our lives are not important" "I and my husband have no care for our lives our main concern are the people of Ayothaya and Ayothaya itself." "If the King should die we will also die at the hands of the Burmese." "The royal army is here!" "Urge the elephant to hasten on!" "Kill them, kill them all!" "In 1 549, the year of the Cock." "Queen Suriyothai, the Queen of King Chakkraphat... the ruler of Ayothaya sacrificed her life in the war against Hongsa in order to save her husband from death at the hand of their enemy."