One of the most important figures in Thai history, King Ramkhamhaeng ruled the ancient Sukhothai kingdom from 1278-1298. Regarded as a benevolent and wise ruler, one of his major achievements was the compilation of a system of writing and a new Thai alphabet which he adapted from the various forms of Khmer script that were previously used.
The alphabet King Ramkhamhaeng the Great devised in 1283 is essentially the same as that which is used today in Thailand and he is sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of the Thai language’. He has also been credited as the most important figure in establishing Theravada Buddhism in Thailand although the extent of his role is disputed by some historians.