The temple was constructed during the reign of King Ramathibodi II (r. 1491-1529), the
10th king of the Ayutthaya Suphannaphum/Suphanburi dynasty in 1503 and received the
name Wat Phra Meru Rachikaram. [1] Wat Phra Meru occupied a prominent place in
front of the Royal Palace. As its name indicates, it must have been established at a Royal
cremation area.
King Chakkraphat (r. 1548-1569) captured a lot of white elephants during his reign and
this news crossed the borders quickly. The King of Burma requested again to obtain two
animals, a request which was turned down by Siam. In 1563 (1), the King of Burma,
Bayinnaung (r.1551-1581), came down with a large army in order to enforce his
request. He captured all the cities in the north and descended on Ayutthaya. King
Chakkraphat saw that the Burmese army largely outnumbered his and decided to resolve
the issue through parleys. He ordered to erect a royal building with two thrones, equal in
height in the area between the Phra Meru Rachikaram Monastery and the Hatsadawat
Monastery. Then he had a jeweled-adorned throne prepared higher than the royal
thrones, and had a Buddha image to preside over the meeting. The terms imposed by the
King of Burma were onerous. Prince Ramesuen, Phya Chakri and Phya Sunthorn
Songkhram, the leaders of the war party, were to be delivered up as hostages, an annual
tribute of thirty elephants and three hundred catties of silver was to be sent to Burma,
and the Burmese were to be granted the right to collect and retain the customs duties of
the port of Mergui - then the chief emporium of foreign trade. In addition to this, four
white elephants were to be handed over, instead of the two originally demanded. King
Chakkraphat had no choice than deliver up to keep a truce. All Siamese prisoners were
released and the Burmese army returned.