Officially known as Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya (Great Sacred City of Ayutthaya), the founders borrowed the name of an ancient Indian city that was home to King Rama in the Ramayana epic. After taking control of the Chao Phraya River basin, the Ayutthaya kingdom’s realm spread over much of mainland Southeast Asia. Its trade networks stretched from Persia to Japan, eventually reaching as far as London.