The Siamese kingdom, however, was reconsolidated by King Naresuan the Great. Under this great king, Ayutthaya prospered and became the thriving metropolis as described by 17th century Europena visitors.
In1767, a Burmese invasions succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya. In their hurry to with draw from the conquered capital, the Burmese killed, looted and set fire to the whole city, thereby expunging four centuries of Thai civilization. But despite their overwhelming victory, the Burmeses did’t retain control of Siam for long. A young general named Phya Taksin gathered a small band of followers, broke to the Burmeses encirclement and escaped to Chantaburi. Seven months after the fall of Ayutthaya, he and his forces sailed back to the capital and the Burmese occupation garrison.