By contrast, evidence from village oral histories and archival sources reveals a Lannathai court which extracted economic wealth from the peasantry through slavery, corvee labor, tribute and taxation. An understanding of the political economy of the Lannathai courts must begin with an understanding of royal military power. Although scholars have recognized that slavery existed in Thailand, they generally portray it as resulting from indebtedness. Not only have scholars argued that the entry into servitude was the voluntary choice of the slave, but they have also asserted that slaves were well-treated. Excluded from this dominant narrative have been village voices and archival accounts which suggest that a clear majority of slaves were war captives who suffered during their forced marches and in their relocations. Ethnic homogeneity is a frequent claim of contemporary Thai nationalist historiography. However, recognition of the extent of was captives brings about a realization of the extent to which the villagers of mainland Southeast Asia were ethnically heterogeneous.