For about 400 years, from the 14th century to the 18th century, there were constant wars between the Thais and the Burmese and the capital at that time of Ayutthaya was destroyed in the 18th century. In 1767, a Chinese-Thai minister, Taksin, stood up against the Burmese independence and moved the capital to Thonburi, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Bangkok. King Rama I (1782) later came to the throne and selected Bangkok as the capital.