The king, Ramkamhaeng, revered as the father of Thailand, also created the Thai alphabet, helping to unite the scattered tribes of the country. After his death, the kingdom of Ayutthaya rose to become a great empire.

Thailand has a history of fierce struggles to maintain its independence. The Burmese captured and destroyed Ayutthaya in 1767. The Thais drove out the enemy and re-established their capital in Bangkok.

The Chakri dynasty came into power and under Rama IV and Rama V held off colonial threats from the British and the French. In 1932, after a bloodless coup, Thailand became a constitutional monarchy.