The origin of the Thai people can be traced to
southern China around 1,000 years ago. After coming to
present-day Thailand, they formed the Sukhothai
Kingdom around 1238, following a rebellion against the
ruling Khmers. In 1350 the Kingdom was moved to
Ayutthaya. In 1767 Burmese invaders completely
destroyed Ayutthaya. The Kingdom was reunified under
King Taksin, a survivor of the rout. He established his
base in 1768 at Thonburi along the western side of the
Chao Phraya River. In 1782 the capital was moved to
Bangkok on the opposite bank by King Buddha Yodfa
(Rama I, 1782-1809), who was the first king in the
Chakri Dynasty. The foundations of modern Thailand
were laid by the Chakri Dynasty, which progressively
extended the rule of Siam – south along the Malay
peninsula, north to Laos and east into Cambodia.