King Naresuan grew up as a Siamese prince in the Royal Burmese court at Pegu. He was a hostage held by the Burmese King, Bayinnaung of the Toungoo Dynasty, in order to prevent the prince’s father, King Maha Thammarachathirat , from launching a rebellion against Burmese political influence of Ayudhya. While a captive, the prince, along with other royal hostages from the Burmese empire, was trained in the art of war by Portuguese mercenaries and the Burmese. A fellow student and childhood friend was the grandson of King Bayinnaung, Prince Minchit Sra. The prince’s paths would fatally cross later at the battle of Nong Sarai (near Suphan Buri).