In 1351, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya marked the beginning of the development of Thai people into an independent nation.
Ayutthaya's history is characterized by battles for power at the royal court as well as for the influence in the tributary regions.
The history of Ayutthaya is also the history of weaponry: Every king who could buy more superior weapons or hire mercenaries began a war. Typically with Burma in the North and West or with the Khmer in the East.
And who supplied the highly developed weapons? Who else than the European naval powers.