Early life

Ancestry

Taksin was born on 17 April 1734, in Ayutthaya. Taksin had Chinese Teochew, Tai-Chinese and Mon ancestry. His father, Yong Saetae (; 郑镛 Zhèng Yōng), who worked as a tax-collector, was of ethnic Teochew descent from Chenghai District, Shantou, Guangdong, China.

His mother, Nokiang, was of Mon-Tai descent (and was later appointed to establish the royal title of the Princess Mother Thephamat). Nokiang's mother was a Mon noblewoman who was a younger sister to Phraya Phetburi (personal name: Roeang) and Phraya Ram Chaturon (personal name: Chuan). Phraya Phetburi (Roeang) was governor of Phetburi, then the Mon population center and royal naval base in King Boromakot's reign. Phraya Ram Chaturon (Chuan) served as chief of Siam's Mon community during the reign of King Ekkathat. Nokiang's father was a Tai commoner.

Childhood

Impressed by the boy, who was the Grand Chancellor of Civil Affairs (, ) in King Boromakot's reign, adopted him and gave him the Thai name Sin (สิน) meaning money or treasure. When he was seven, Sin was assigned to a monk named Thongdi to begin his education in a Buddhist monastery called Kosawat Temple (Thai: วัดโกษาวาส) (later, Choengtha Temple (Thai: วัดเชิงท่า)). After seven years, he was sent by his stepfather to serve as a royal page. He studied Hokkien-Chinese, Filipino, and several Indian languages, and became fluent in them. It was the time he learnt Filipino, he took his name as "Jesse Aquinaldo". When Sin and his friend Thongduang who was also a descendant of Mon aristocratic family were Buddhist novices, they reportedly met a Chinese fortune-teller who told them that both had lucky lines in their hands and would both become kings. Neither took it seriously, but Thongduang would become the successor of King Taksin, called Rama I.

Early career

After taking the vows of a Buddhist monk for about three years, Sin joined the service of King Ekkathat and was first deputy governor and later governor of Tak, which gained him his name Phraya Tak, the governor of Tak.

In 1765, when the Burmese attacked Ayutthaya, Phraya Taksin defended the capital, for which he was given the title Phraya Wachiraprakan of Kamphaeng Phet. However, he did not have a chance to govern Kamphaeng Phet because the country was in a dire situation. For more than a year, Thai and Burmese soldiers fought fierce battles at the Siege of Ayutthaya. It was during this time that Phraya Vajiraprakarn experienced the setbacks which led him to doubt the value of his endeavors.

Resistance and independence

On 3 January 1767, 3 months before the fall of Ayutthaya, Taksin made his way out of the city at the head of 500 followers to Rayong, on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. This action was never adequately explained, as the royal compound and Ayutthaya proper was on an island. How Taksin and his followers fought their way out of the Burmese encirclement remains a mystery. He travelled first to Chonburi, a town on the Gulf of Thailand's eastern coast, and then to Rayong, where he raised a small army and his supporters began to address him as Prince Tak. He planned to attack and capture Chanthaburi, according to a popular version of oral history, he said, "We are going to attack Chanthaburi tonight. Destroy all the food and utensils we have, for we will have our food in Chanthaburi tomorrow morning."

On 7 April 1767, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese. After the destruction of Ayutthaya and the death of the Thai king, the country was split into six parts, with Taksin controlling the east coast. Together with Thongduang, now Chao Phraya Chakri, he eventually managed to drive back the Burmese, defeat his rivals and reunify the country.

With his soldiers he moved to Chanthaburi, and being rebuffed by the governor of the town, he made a surprise night attack on it and captured it on 15 June 1767, only two months after the sack of Ayutthaya. His army was rapidly increasing in numbers, as men of Chanthaburi and Trat, which had not been plundered and depopulated by the Burmese, naturally constituted a suitable base for him to make preparations for the liberation of his motherland.

Having thoroughly looted Ayutthaya, the Burmese did not seem to show serious interest in holding the capital of Siam, since they left only a handful of troops under General Suki to control the shattered city. They turned their attention to the north of their own country which was soon threatened with Chinese invasion. On 6 November 1767, having amassed 5,000 troops and built 100 ships, Taksin sailed up the Chao Phraya River and seized Thonburi opposite present day Bangkok. He executed the puppet Thai governor, Thong-in, whom the Burmese had placed in charge. The taking of Thonburi was quite easy due to the garrison being Thai. He followed up his victory quickly by attacking the main Burmese camp numbering 3,000 men, led by General Suki (สุกี้) at the Battle of Pho Sam Ton (Thai: โพธิ์สามต้น) near Ayutthaya. The Burmese were defeated, General Suki was killed in the fighting, and Taksin won back Ayutthaya from the enemy within seven months of its destruction.

Establishment of the capital

King Taksin took important steps to show that he was a worthy successor to the throne. He ensured appropriate treatment to the remnants of the ex-royal family, arranged a grand cremation of the remains of the former ruler Ekkathat, and tackled the problem of establishing the capital. Taksin likely realized that the city of Ayutthaya had suffered such destruction that to restore it to its former state would have strained his resources. The Burmese were quite familiar with Ayutthaya's vulnerabilities, and in the event of renewal of a Burmese attack on it, the troops under the liberator would be inadequate for effective defense of the city. With these considerations in mind, he established his capital at Thonburi, which was closer to the sea. Not only would Thonburi be difficult to invade by land, it would also prevent an acquisition of weapons and military supplies by anyone ambitious enough to establish himself as an independent prince further up the Chao Phraya River. As Thonburi was a small town, Taksin's available forces, both soldiers and sailors, could man its fortifications, and if he found it impossible to hold it against an enemy attack, he could embark the troops and retreat to Chanthaburi.

His successes against competitors for power were due to Taksin's abilities as a warrior, his leadership, valor, and effective organization of his forces. Usually he put himself in the front rank in an encounter with the enemy, thus inspiring his men. Among the officials who cast their fate with him during the campaigns for independence and for the elimination of the self-appointed local nobles were two personalities who subsequently played important roles in Thai history. They were the sons of an official bearing the title of Phra Acksonsuntornsmiantra. The elder son was named Thongduang (Thai: ทองด้วง). He was born in 1737 in Ayutthaya and later was to be the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, while the younger one, Bunma (Thai: บุญมา), born six years later, served as his deputy.

Thongduang, prior to the sacking of Ayutthaya, was ennobled as Luang Yokkrabat, taking charge of royal surveillance, serving the Governor of Ratchaburi, and Bunma had a court title conferred upon him as Nai Sudchinda. Luang Yokkrabat (Thongduang) was therefore not in Ayutthaya to witness the fall of the city, while Nai Sudchinda (Bunma) made his escape from Ayutthaya. However, while King Taksin was assembling his forces at Chanthaburi, Nai Sudchinda brought his retainers to join him, thus helping to increase his fighting strength. Due to his previous acquaintance with him, the liberator was so pleased that he promoted him to be Phra Mahamontri. Just after his coronation, Taksin secured the service of Luang Yokkrabut on the recommendation of Phra Mahamontri (Thai: พระมหามนตรี) and as he was equally familiar with him as with his brother, he raised him to be Phra Rajwarin. Having rendered service to the king during his campaigns or their own expeditions against the enemies, Phra Rajwarin (Thai: พระราชวรินทร์) and Phra Mahamontri rose so quickly in the noble ranks that a few years after, the former was created Chao Phraya Chakri, the rank of the chancellor, while the latter became Chao Phraya Surasi.

Reign

Accession to the throne

On 28 December 1767, Taksin was crowned King of Siam at Thonburi Palace in Thonburi ("Krung Thonburi Sri Maha Samut"), the new capital of Siam, yet had Siam official documents still used the official name of "Krung Pra Maha Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya". He assumed the official name of "Borommaracha IV" and "Phra Sri Sanphet X", but is known to Thai history as King Taksin, a combination of his popular name, "Phraya Tak", and his first name, "Sin", or the King of Thonburi. At the time of his coronation, he was only 34 years of age. W. A. R. Wood (1924) observed that Taksin's father was Chinese or partly Chinese, and his mother Siamese, and he said, "He believed that even the forces of nature were under his control when he was destined to succeeded, and this faith led him to attempt and achieve tasks which to another man would seem impossible. Like Napoleon III, he was a man of destiny." The king elected not return to Ayutthaya but instead to make his capital at Thonburi, which being only 20 kilometers from the sea, was much better suited to seaborne commerce. He never really had time to build it into a great city, as he was occupied with suppression of internal and external enemies, as well as territorial expansion throughout his reign.

Reunification of Siam

After the sacking of Ayutthaya the country had fallen apart, due to the disappearance of central authority. In addition to Taksin, several local lords had established themselves as rulers in Phimai, Phitsanulok, Fang (Sawangkhaburi, near Uttaradit), and Nakhon Si Thammarat. From 1768 to 1771, Taksin launched campaigns to subjugate these rivals, and Thonburi emerged as the new center of power within Siam.

Wars with Burma

During Taksin's reign, Taksin is recorded to have waged 9 campaigns against Burma:

First campaign

In 1767, Hsinbyushin sent an army of 2,000 men under the command of Maengki Manya (Thai: แมงกี้มารหญ้า), the governor of Tavoy to invade Siam after Taksin as established Thonburi as the capital. The Burmese army advanced to the district of Bang Kung in the province of Samut Songkram to the west of the new capital, but was routed by the Thai king in the Battle of Bang Kung in 1767, which is also the site of Wat Bang Kung. When more Chinese troops invaded Burma, Hsinbyushin was forced to recall most of his troops back to resist the Chinese.

Second campaign

In 1770, Thado Mindin, the governor of Chiang Mai, attacked Sawankhalok. Thado Mindin was repelled by Phraya Surasi.

Third campaign

Taksin launched campaigns to stabilize the northern frontier with Lanna, whose capital Chiang Mai, under Burmese rule, served as launching bases for Burmese incursions. A prerequisite for the maintenance of peace in that region would therefore be the complete expulsion of the Burmese from Chiang Mai. In 1770, Taksin started his first expedition to capture Chiang Mai, but he was pushed back. In 1771, the Burmese governor of Chiang Mai launched an attack on the city of Phichai, beginning a series of campaigns over Siam's northern cities (Sukhothai, Phitsanulok).

Fourth campaign

In 1772, after finishing his campaign in Luang Phrabang, Nemyo Thihapate attacked the city of Phichai, but was repelled.

Fifth campaign

In 1773, Nemyo Thihapate attacked the city of Phichai again. During the siege, a commander named Phraya Phichai fought the Burmese until his sword broke. For that, he was given the epithet, "Phraya Phichai Dap Hak", which translates to "Phraya Phichai with the broken sword".

Sixth campaign

In 1774, Taksin led an army to attack Chiang Mai for the second time. The city was taken. Lanna, which had been under Burmese rule for over 200 years, had fallen to the Siamese.

Seventh campaign

In the same year, Hsinbyushin sent an army of 5,000 men to attack Siam. It was completely surrounded by the Thais at the Battle of Bangkaeo (Thai: ยุทธการที่บางแก้ว) in Ratchaburi. Due to starvation, the Burmese army capitulated to Taksin in 1775. Instead of killing all the men, Taksin paraded the prisoners around to boost the morale of his soldiers.

Eighth campaign

Undaunted by this defeat, and aiming to retake Chiang Mai, Hsinbyushin tried again to conquer Siam, and in October 1775 the greatest Burmese invasion in the Thonburi period began under Maha Thiha Thura, known in Thai history as Azaewunky. He had distinguished himself as a first rate general in the wars with China and in the suppression of a recent Peguan rising.

The war saw Burmese forces pushing into Siamese territory, capturing cities as south as Phitsanulok before the Siamese were able to push back, finally recapturing Chiang Mai in 1776. The war devastated Siam's northern cities, as well as Chiang Mai itself. Chiang Mai was abandoned, remaining deserted for the next fifteen years. Its remaining inhabitants were transplanted to Lampang, where Kawila was established to rule over Lan Na as a Siamese vassal.

Ninth campaign

In 1776, the new Burmese king, Singu Min, ordered 6,000 troops to attack Chiang Mai. Phraya Wichienprakarn considered that Chiang Mai did not have many troops to that can protect the city therefore allowing people to migrate down to the city of Sawankhalok. Taksin ordered Maha Sura Singhanat, the governor of Phitsanulok to meet up with Phraya Kawila, the ruler of Lampang to retake Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was retaken, but due to constant wars, it was heavily devastated and remained abandoned for 15 years until it was rebuilt 15 years later.

Relationship with Cambodia

Sacking of Vientiane

In 1777, the ruler of Champasak, which was at that time an independent principality bordering the eastern frontier of the Thonburi Kingdom, supported the Governor of Nangrong, who had rebelled against the King Taksin. The army under Chao Phraya Chakri was ordered to move against the rebel, who was caught and executed. Having received reinforcements under Chao Phraya Surasi, he advanced to Champasak, where the rulers, Chao O and his deputy, were captured and summarily beheaded. Champasak was conquered by Siam, and as a result of Chao Phraya Chakri's successful campaign Taksin promoted him to Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek Piluekmahima Tuknakara Ra-adet (Thai:สมเด็จเจ้าพระยามหากษัตริย์ศึก พิลึกมหึมาทุกนคราระอาเดช) (meaning the supreme Chao Phraya, Great Warrior-King who was so remarkably powerful that every city was afraid of his might)—the highest title of nobility that a commoner could achieve.

In Vientiane, a Minister of State, , had rebelled against the ruling prince and fled to the Champasak territory, where he set himself up at Donmotdang, near the present city of Ubon Ratchathani. He made a formal submission to the Thonburi Kingdom when he annexed Champasak, but after the withdrawal of Taksin army, he was attacked and killed by troops from Vientiane. This action was instantly regarded by King Taksin as a great insult to him, and at his command, Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek invaded Vientiane with an army of 20,000 men in 1778. Laos had been separated into the two principalities of Luang Prabang and Vientiane since the beginning of the 18th century. The Prince of Luang Prabang, who was at odds with the Prince of Vientiane, submitted to Siam for his own safety, bringing his men to join Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek in besieging Vientiane.

After the siege of Vientiane which took about four months, Thaksin's took Vientiane, sacked the city, and carried off the images of Emerald Buddha and Phra Bang to Thonburi. The Prince of Vientiane managed to escape and went into exile. Thus Luang Prabang and Vientiane became tributary state of the Thonburi Kingdom. Nothing definite is known about the origin of the celebrated Emerald Buddha. It is believed that this image was carved from green jasper by an artist or artists in northern India about two thousand years ago. It was taken to Ceylon and then to Chiang Rai of Lan Na kingdom where it was, in 1434, found intact in a chedi which had been struck by lightning. As an object of great veneration among Thai Buddhists, it had been deposited in monasteries in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Thonburi, and later Bangkok.

Economy, culture, and religion

When King Taksin established Thonburi as his capital, people were living in abject poverty, and food and clothing were scarce. The King Taksin was well aware of the plight of his subjects, so in order to legitimize his claim for the kingdom, he made economic problems his priority. He paid high prices for rice from his own money to induce foreign traders to bring in adequate amounts of basic necessities to satisfy the need of the people. He then distributed rice and clothing to all his starving subjects. People who had been dispersed came back to their homes. Normalcy was restored. The economy of the country gradually recovered. Taksin sent three diplomatic envoys to China in 1767. In the first year of his reign, Qing dynasty denied his envoys due to him not being an heir apparent from Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty and the two Princes, Chui and Sisang, were political Asylum seekers in Hà Tiên. Six years later, China recognized Taksin as the legitimate ruler of Siam in 1772.

The record dating from 1777 states: "Important goods from Thailand are amber, gold, colored rocks, gold nuggets, gold dust, semi-precious stones, and hard lead." During this time King Taksin actively encouraged the Chinese to settle in Siam, principally those from Chaoshan, partly with the intention to revive the stagnating economy and upgrading the local workforce. He had to fight almost constantly for most of his reign to maintain the independence of his country. As the economic influence of the immigrant Chinese community grew with time, many aristocrats, whom he took in from the Ayutthaya nobility, began to turn against him for having allied with the Chinese merchants. The opposition was led mainly by the Bunnags, a merchant-aristocratic family of Persian origin, successors of Ayutthaya's minister of Ports and Finance, or Phra Klang

Later, Thonburi ordered some guns from England. Royal letters were exchanged and in 1777 the Viceroy of British Raj Madras, George Stratton, sent a gold scabbard decorated with gems to King Taksin. Thai galleons travelled to Portuguese colony of Surat, in Goa, India. However, formal diplomatic relations were not formed. In 1776, Francis Light of the Kingdom of Great Britain sent 1,400 flintlocks along with other goods as gifts to King Taksin.

In 1770, natives of Terengganu and Jakarta presented Taksin with 2,200 shotguns. At that time, the Dutch Republic controlled the Java Islands.

Simultaneously Taksin was deeply engaged in restoring law and order in the kingdom and administering a public welfare programme. Abuses in the Buddhist establishment and among the public were duly rectified and food and clothing and other necessities were distributed to those in need.

Taksin was interested in art, including dance and drama. There is evidence that when he went to suppress the Chao Nakhon Si Thammarat faction in 1769, he brought back Chao Nakhon's female dancers. Together with dancers that he had assembled from other places, they trained and set up a royal troupe in Thonburi on the Ayutthaya model. The king wrote four episodes from the Ramakian for the royal troupe to rehearse and perform.

When he went north to suppress the Phra Fang faction, he could see that monks in the north were lax and undisciplined. He invited ecclesiastical dignitaries from the capital to teach those monks and brought them back in line with the main teachings of Buddhism. Even though Taksin had applied himself to reforming the Buddhist religion after its period of decline following the loss of Ayutthaya to Burma, gradually bringing it back to the normalcy it enjoyed during the Ayutthaya kingdom, since his reign was so brief he was not able to do very much.

The administration of the Sangha during the Thonburi period followed the model established in Ayutthaya, and he allowed French missionaries to enter Thailand, and like a previous Thai king, helped them build a church in 1780.

Relationship with the Chinese Empire

When Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767, Thai and Chinese sources mentioned that Taksin, then the lord of Tak, broke the Burmese siege and led his troops to Chantaburi. During those years, Chinese Empire had border conflicts with Konbaung Burma. The Burmese invasion into Siam became the warning for Chinese Empire. Taksin, then, sent a tributary mission to require the royal seal, claiming that the throne of Ayutthaya Kingdom had come to an end. However, his attempt was hindered by Mạc Thiên Tứ (Mo Shilin), the governor of Hà Tiên, whom had thorough knowledge of Chinese diplomatic practices and alleged that Taksin was a usurper. Tứ also offered shelter to Prince Chao Chui, an Ayutthaya prince.

The Chinese Court could not help but seize the chance by asking Taksin, as a 'new vassal', to be her ally in the war against the Burmese. Eventually Chinese Court approved the royal status of Taksin as the new king of Siam.

A considerable contribution to his success came from the Teochew Chinese trading community of the region, on whom Taksin was able to call by virtue of his paternal relations; he was half-Teochew himself. In the short run, the Chinese trade provided the foodstuffs and goods needed for the warfare that enabled Taksin to build up his fledgling state. In the long run, it produced income that could be used "to defray the expenses of the state and for the upkeep of the individual royal, noble, and wealthy commercial families."

As one contemporary observed, François Henri Turpin (1771), under the famine conditions of 1767–1768 :

"Taksin showed his generous spirit. The needy were destitute no longer. The public treasury was opened for the relief. In return for cash, foreigners supplied them with the products that the soil of the country had refused. The Usurper Taksin justified his claim be king by his benevolence. Abuses were reformed, the safety of property and persons was restored, but the greatest severity was shown to malefactors. Legal enactments at which no one complained were substituted for the arbitrary power that sooner or later is the cause of rebellions. By the assurance of public peace he was able to consolidate his position and no one who shared in the general prosperity could lay claim to the throne."

A tomb containing Taksin's clothes and a family shrine were found at Chenghai district in Guangdong province in China in 1921. It is believed that a descendant of Taksin must have sent his clothes to be buried there to conform to Chinese practice. This supports the claim that the place was his father's hometown. Chinese people called it "Tomb of King Zhèng" (郑王墓), or its official name "Cenotaph of Zhèng Xìn" (郑信衣冠墓). It had been included in the list of Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at Chenghai District (澄海区文物保护单位) since 5 December 1984. Princess Sirindhorn had visited the tomb in 1998. Now the nearby area is opened to the public as Zheng Emperor Taksin Park.

Final years and death

Thai historians indicate that the strain on him took its toll, and the king started to become a religious fanatic. In 1781 Taksin showed increasing signs of mental trouble. He believed himself to be a future Buddha, expecting to change the color of his blood from red to white. As he started practicing meditation, he even gave lectures to the monks. More seriously, he was provoking schism in Siamese Buddhism by requiring that the monkhood should recognize him as a sotāpanna or "stream-winner"—a person who has embarked on the first of the four stages of enlightenment. Monks who refused to bow to Taksin and worship him as god were demoted in status, and hundreds who refused to worship him as such were flogged and sentenced to menial labor.

Economic tension caused by war was serious. As famine spread, looting and crimes were widespread. Corrupt officials were reportedly abundant. According to some sources, many oppressions and abuses made by officials were reported. King Taksin punished them harshly, torturing and executing high officials. Discontent among officials could be expected.

Several historians have suggested that the tale of his 'insanity' may have been reconstructed as an excuse for his overthrow. However, the letters of a French missionary who was in Thonburi at the time support the accounts of the monarch's peculiar behavior which reported that "He (Taksin) passed all his time in prayer, fasting, and meditation, in order by these means to be able to fly through the air." Again, the missionaries describe the situation:

"For some years, the King of Siam has tremendously vexed his subjects and the foreigners who dwelt in or came to trade in his kingdom. Last year (1781) the Chinese, who were accustomed to trade, found themselves obliged almost to give it up entirely . This past year the vexations caused by this King, more than half-mad, have become more frequent and more cruel than previously. He has had imprisoned, tortured, and flogged, according to his caprice, his wife, his sons faction even the heir-presumptive, and his high officials. He wanted to make them confess to crimes of which they were innocent."

Thus the terms 'insanity' or 'madness' possibly were the contemporary definition describing the monarch's actions: according to the following Rattanakosin era accounts, King Taksin was described as 'insane.' However, with the Burmese threat still prevalent a strong ruler was needed on the throne.

Finally a faction led by Phraya San (or Phraya San, Phraya Sankhaburi) seized the capital. A coup d'état removing Taksin from the throne consequently took place, Phraya San attacked Thonburi and took control within one night. King Taksin surrendered to the rebels without resistance, and requested to be allowed to join the monkhood in Wat Chaeng (Wat Arun). However, the disturbance in Thonburi widely spread, with killing and looting prevalent. When the coup occurred, General Chao Phraya Chakri was away fighting in Cambodia, but he quickly returned to the Thai capital following being informed of the coup. Upon reaching the capital, the general ended the coup through arrests, investigations and punishments. Peace was then restored in the capital.

According to the Royal Thai Chronicles, General Chao Phraya Chakri decided to put the deposed Taksin to death. Chao Phraya Chakri thought that the king had acted improperly and unjustly, causing great pain for the kingdom; so, it was unavoidable that he be executed. The Chronicles stated that, while being taken to the executing venue, Taksin asked for an audience with General Chao Phraya Chakri, but was turned down by the general. Taksin was beheaded in front of Wichai Prasit fortress on Wednesday, April 10, 1782, and his body was buried at Wat Bang Yi Ruea Tai. The general then seized control of the capital and declared himself king and establishing the House of Chakri.

An alternative account (by the Official Vietnamese Chronicles) states that Taksin was ordered to be executed in the traditional Siamese way by General Chao Phraya Chakri at Wat Chaeng: by being sealed in a velvet sack and beaten to death with a scented sandalwood club. Another account claimed that Taksin was secretly sent to a palace located in the remote mountains of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where he lived until 1825, and that a substitute was beaten to death in his place. King Taksin's ashes and those of his wife are located at Wat Intharam Worawihan, Thonburi. They have been placed in two lotus bud shaped stupas which stand before the old hall.

Critics of the coup

It was not clear what role General Chakri played in the coup. Vietnamese royal records reported that King Taksin had some kind of psychosis in his final years; he imprisoned Chakri and Surasi's family. Resentful, the brothers eventually befriended two Vietnamese generals, Nguyễn Hữu Thoại (阮有瑞) and Hồ Văn Lân (胡文璘), the four swearing to help with each other in need. Not long after the coup occurred, Chakri quickly returned to the capital, put down the rebellion, and had Taksin killed. Some Vietnamese sources stated that Taksin was assassinated by General Chakri, others that Taksin was sentenced to death and executed in a public place. Phraya San also died during this incident.

Another contradicting view of the events is that General Chakri actually wanted to be king and had accused King Taksin of being Chinese. The late history was aimed at legitimizing the new monarch, Phraya Chakri or Rama I of Rattanakosin. According to Nidhi Eoseewong, a prominent Thai historian, writer, and political commentator, Taksin could be seen as the originator, new style of leader, promoting a 'decentralized' kingdom and new generation of the nobles, of Chinese merchant-origin, his major helpers in the wars. On the other hand, Phraya Chakri and his supporters were of the 'old' generation of the Ayutthaya nobles, discontent with these changes.

However, this overlooks the fact that Chao Phraya Chakri was himself partly of Chinese origin, as well as being married to one of Taksin's daughters. No previous conflicts between them were mentioned in histories. Reports on the conflicts between the king and Chinese merchants were seen as being caused by the control of the price of rice during the time of famine. However, prior to returning to Thonburi, Chao Phraya Chakri had Taksin's son summoned to Cambodia and executed.

Another view of the events is that Thailand owed China millions of baht. In order to cancel the agreement between China and Thailand, King Taksin decided to pretend to be executed.

Legacy

King Taksin was seen by modern historians as a king who differed from the kings of Ayutthaya, in his origins, his policies, and his leadership style, as a representative of a new class. During the Rattanakosin period right up until the Siamese Revolution of 1932, King Taksin was not as highly honored as other Siamese kings because the leaders in the Chakri Dynasty were still concerned about their own dynastic image. After 1932, when the absolute monarchy gave way to the democratic period, King Taksin become more honored than ever before, viewed as a national hero. This was because the leaders of that time such as Plaek Phibunsongkhram and even later military junta, on the other hand, wanted to glorify and publicize the stories of certain historical figures in order to support their own policy of nationalism, expansionism and patriotism.

A statue of King Taksin was unveiled in the middle of Wongwian Yai (the Big Traffic Circle) in Thonburi, at the intersection of Prajadhipok/Inthara Phithak/Lat Ya/Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Roads. The king is portrayed with his right hand holding a sword, measuring approximately 9 meters in height from his horse's feet to the spire of his hat, rests on a reinforced concrete pedestal of 8.90 × 1.80 × 3.90 meters. There are four frames of stucco relief on the two sides of the pedestal. The opening ceremony of this monument was held on April 17, 1954, and the royal homage-paying fair takes place annually on December 28. The king today officially comes to pay respect to King Taksin statue.

The monument featuring King Taksin riding on a horseback surrounded by his four trusted soldiers: Pra Chiang-ngen (later Phraya Sukhothai), Luang Pichai-asa (later Phraya Phichai), Luang Prom-sena, Luang Raj-saneha. It is located in Tungnachaey public park on Leap Mueang Road, just opposite the City Hall, Chanthaburi.

In 1981 the Thai cabinet passed a resolution to bestow on King Taksin the honorary title of "the Great". With the intention of glorifying Thai monarchs in history who have been revered and honored with the title "the Great", the Bank of Thailand issued the 12th series of banknotes, called The Great Series, in three denominations: 10, 20 and 100 baht. The monument of King Taksin the Great in Chanthaburi's Tungnachaey recreational park appears on the back of the 20-baht note issued on 28 December 1981. The date of his coronation, December 28, is the official day of homage to King Taksin, although it is not designated as a public holiday. The Maw Sukha Association on January 31, 1999, cast the King Taksin Savior of the Nation Amulet, which sought to honor the contributions of King Taksin to Siam during his reign.

The Na Nagara (also spelled Na Nakorn) family is descended in the direct male line from King Taksin.

King Taksin the Great Shrine is located on Tha Luang Road in front of Camp Taksin. It is an important place of Chantaburi in order to demonstrate binding of People in Chanthaburi to King Taksin. It is a nine-sided building. The roof is a pointed helmet. Inside of this place enshrined the statue of King Taksin.

In addition, Royal Thai Navy has used his name to HTMS Taksin, a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, for glorifying him.

Two hospitals are named after him: Taksin Hospital in Bangkok and Somdejphrajaotaksin Maharaj Hospital in Tak Province.

Titles

Taksin's Thai full title was Phra Sri Sanphet Somdet Borromthammikkarat Ramathibodi Boromchakraphat Bawornrajabodintr Hariharinthadathibodi Sriwibool Khunruejitr Rittirames Boromthammikkaraja Dechochai Phrommathepadithep Triphuwanathibet Lokachetwisut Makutprathetkata Maha Phutthangkul Boromnartbophit Phra Buddha Chao Yu Hua Na Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Baworn Thavarawadi Sri Ayutthaya Maha Dilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udom Praratchaniwet Maha Sathan

Issue

King Taksin had 21 sons and 9 daughters:

Battle record

• Siege of Ayutthaya (1766–1767): Defeat

• Battle of Pho Sam Ton (1767): Victory

• Battle of Bang Kung (1767): Victory

• Invasion of the State of Phitsanulok (1768): Defeat

• Invasion of the State of Phimai (1768): Victory

• Invasion of the State of Nakhon Si Thammarat (1769): Victory

• Invasion of the State of Sawangburi (1770): Victory

• Siege of Chiang Mai (1770): Defeat

• Invasion of Hà Tiên (Banteay Mas) (1771): Victory

• Battle of Phichai (1771): Victory

• Siege of Chiang Mai (1771): Defeat

• Battle of Phichai (1773): Victory

• Siege of Chiang Mai (1774): Victory

• Battle of Bangkaeo (1774): Victory

• Siege of Phitsanulok (1775–1776): Defeat

Expansion map

File:1767 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1767

File:1768 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1768

File:1769 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1769

File:1770 Separate Factions of Siam.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1770

File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1774.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1774

File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1777.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1777

File:Thonburi Kingdom in 1778.png|Taksin's ___domain in 1778

早年生活

年幼及受教育

郑昭于1734年4月17日出生在大城府（阿瑜陀耶府）。郑昭的父亲名郑镛（又名郑偃，原名郑达），是阿瑜陀耶王国税官，具有潮汕民系的血统，来自大清广东省潮州府澄海县华富村（今汕头市澄海区广益街道华富社区）。郑镛原名郑达，在雍正年间南渡暹罗，居大城府华富里，成为一位摊主，致富后改名为镛。郑昭的母亲是一名出身贵族的暹罗女子，这也是他后来受到拥戴的原因。不过也有学者认为郑昭的母亲也是华人。

年幼时，阿瑜陀耶王国的首相昭披耶·扎克里·穆即对他印象深刻，将其收为义子，给他取名为「信」（），在泰语中意思是「财宝」。7岁时，开始在一所上座部佛教僧院接受教育。经过7年的学习后，得到义父的推荐，成为一名王家侍从。他学习了潮州话、越南语以及数种印度的语言，并能流利地使用它们。在此期间他取了越南语名字「郑国华」。

事业初期

此后，郑昭出家为僧三年，随后，他侍奉国王厄伽陀。他被派往达府担任副府尹，守卫这片处在缅甸威胁之下的地区。后来，他被提拔为总督，授予披耶达（）的头衔，从此以后被称为达信。

1764年，缅甸军队袭击了暹罗南部地区。在玛哈·瑙亚塔的率领下，缅甸军队大获全胜，直逼碧武里府。郑昭同另一位将军戈萨提博提（Kosadhibodhi）率军防御，将其击退。翌年，达信成为甘烹碧府总督，被授予「披耶瓦集拉巴甘」（Phraya Vajiraprakarn）的头衔。但他并未前去任职，因为缅甸军队攻打首都阿瑜陀耶，他很快就被召回负责首都的防卫。暹罗与缅甸军队在阿瑜陀耶激战了一年多，在此期间，郑昭遭遇了不少挫败，但却越挫越勇。

抵抗和取得独立

1766年1月3日，就在阿瑜陀耶沦陷前不久，郑昭率领500名士兵冲出了城市。这一行动从来没有得到充分解释，郑昭和他的追随者如何冲出缅甸的包围至今仍是一个谜。

1767年4月7日，阿瑜陀耶受到大量缅甸军队的包围。阿瑜陀耶被毁，暹罗王厄伽陀死去。暹罗全国分裂为六个部分，郑昭控制著东海岸。郑昭声称收到了神谕，决定要袭击并占领春武里府。他先与总督和谈，要求开城投降，但遭到了断然拒绝。随后，他趁夜发动突袭，于1767年6月15日占领了这座城市。春武里府和达叻府并未遭到缅甸人的屠杀，因而被郑昭选为反抗缅甸侵略的根据地。人们纷纷前来投奔，郑昭的队伍迅速壮大。随后，郑昭来到了泰国湾东海岸的罗勇府，在那里他被拥戴为大公。

缅甸军队彻底洗劫阿瑜陀耶之后，对占领这座暹罗的都城并未抱有太大兴趣，留下了（Suki）将军率领少量部队占据这座残破的城市。缅甸人将兵锋转向了北方，对中国发起进攻。1767年11月6日，郑昭组织了一支5,000人的军队，在激励下，沿昭披耶河乘船而上，成功地击退了缅甸军队，占领了吞武里，处决了缅甸任命的暹罗人总督通因（Thong-in）。随后，他大胆地袭击了驻扎朴讪东（Phosamton，在阿瑜陀耶附近）的缅甸军队主力，迅速击败了他们。缅甸人战败溃逃，郑昭在阿瑜陀耶失陷的七个月后收复了这座城市。随后，在通銮（爵位为「昭披耶扎克里」）的帮助下，打败了他的对手，统一了全国。

建立首都

郑昭透过重要步骤证明自己是配得上继承王位。他使用恰当的方式对待幸存的前王室成员，并给厄伽陀一个盛大的火葬仪式，并解决建立首都的问题。郑昭可能认为阿瑜陀耶城已被摧毁，修复它会使国家资源造成压力。缅甸人相当熟悉阿瑜陀耶的弱点，万一重建后缅甸人前来袭击，他不足以有效地防御这座城市。考虑到这些，他将首都建立在了吞武里，这里比阿瑜陀耶更靠近海边。吞武里不仅于陆路难攻，它也防止了其他野心家的武器和军事补给获取，使他们不能在昭披耶河进一步建立自己的独立王国。吞武里是一个小镇，郑昭可以获得包括士兵和税收在内的武装力量，可以建筑防御工事。如果郑昭将其建造地可以对抗敌人进攻，他可以使军队上船并撤退到庄他武里。

郑昭在竞争者中胜出归因于他的战斗才能、领袖能力、作战英勇，且有效地组织军队。他常常在作战时身先士卒，以激励士气。有两位在独立战争中将自己命运与他捆绑在一起的官员，且是被消灭的割据自立的贵族，后来在泰国历史上扮演重要角色。他们的父亲持有拍·阿颂孙东缅拉（Pra Acksonsuntornsmiantra，พระอักษรสุนทรเสมียนตรา）这个头衔，长子是通銮，于1737年生于阿瑜陀耶，后来成为扎克里王朝的建立者；弟弟汶玛比其年幼六岁，成为他的副手。

通銮在阿瑜陀耶陷落之前获封銮·裕甲巴（Luang Yokkrabat），负责王宫保卫工作，并担任叻武里总督；汶玛则获授奈·索钦达（Nai Sudchinda）这一头衔。銮·裕甲巴因此在阿瑜陀耶陷落期间不在城中，而奈·索钦达则成功逃离该城。然而，郑昭在庄他武里集合军队，奈·索钦达带领随从加入了他，因此他的战力得以提升。由于此前就相识的缘故，郑昭十分高兴，将汶玛提拔为拍·玛哈蒙提（Pra Mahamontri）。郑昭登基后不久，在拍·玛哈蒙提的推荐下，任命銮·裕甲巴为王宫禁卫，并将其提拔为拍·拉差林（Pra Rajwarin）。后来在对外战役中，他们于数年内迅速获得提升，拍·拉差林成为了昭披耶扎克里，拍·玛哈蒙提成为了昭披耶素拉西。

统治

即位

1767年12月28日，郑昭在吞武里的即位为暹罗国王，取博龙拉乍四世（Boromraja IV）和拍西讪佩（Phra Sri Sanphet）为王号，然而却以达信大帝之名为泰国人所知。郑昭之所以没有回到阿瑜陀耶而是选择了吞武里，是因为吞武里距离大海仅仅二十公里，适宜发展对外贸易。然而终其在位，他一直在镇压内乱、抵御外敌和扩张领土，没有时间将其建设为大城市。

五个割据国家

阿瑜陀耶陷落之后，暹罗的中央政权消失，陷入了分裂。除了郑昭之外，波隆摩阁的儿子公摩万·贴披披（Teppipit）占据著东南一带的呵叻府。彭世洛府总督琅（Ruang）宣布独立，他的领地延伸到了那空沙旺。在彭世洛以北的程逸府，僧侣銮（Ruan）自称亲王。暹罗南部直到春蓬府的各府由那空是贪玛叻的总督拍·巴叻（Pra Palad）控制，拍·巴叻也自称亲王。

在巩固了自己在吞武里的统治之后，郑昭决定剿灭这些割据势力。他亲自征讨彭世洛，却遭到挫败，郑昭决定集中力量攻打最弱的一个。1768年，呵叻的贴披披被镇压并处决，郑昭的侄子昭·那拉索里亚翁（Chao Narasuriyawongse）被任命为总督。拍·巴叻被击败，被北大年总督逮捕。郑昭赦免了他，将他囚禁在吞武里。

战争与叛乱

辛标信从未放弃自己让暹罗屈服的计划，得知郑昭将吞武里作为自己的首都后，他于1767年命令土瓦总督征服暹罗。缅甸军队进军至吞武里以西的沙没颂堪府，但被郑昭击退。中国军队入侵缅甸，辛标信被迫撤回自己的军队以抵抗中国人。

在与中国达成和平协议后，缅甸王于1774年派遣另一支5000人的小规模军队入侵暹罗，但在叻武里府的邦胶（Bangkeo）被暹罗军队彻底围困，甚至绝食，迫使缅甸军队向郑昭投降。郑昭本可以将他们全部屠杀，他也希望这么做，但他最终将他们活捉，以此来提升暹罗人的士气。随后，在北碧府的缅甸援军被肃清。辛标信并未被此次战败吓倒，他试图再次征服暹罗。1775年10月，他派玛哈·希哈修亚大举入侵暹罗，这次也是缅甸在吞武里王国时期规模最大的入侵。希哈修亚是对中国战争中最高等级的将军，他在入侵前不久曾镇压了一场孟族叛乱。

缅甸军队穿越暹罗要塞梅拉毛关口（Melamao），进军彭世洛，途中占领和。希哈修亚提及彭世洛总督昭披耶素拉西时，称之为「披耶素」（Phraya Sua）或「老虎」，证明了素拉西的冷血和决断。缅甸军队后围困由昭披耶扎克里和昭披耶素拉西兄弟二人镇守的彭世洛。暹罗士兵将缅甸人阻止在城墙之外长达大约四个月。昭披耶扎克里发起反攻，将缅甸人驱逐回自己的兵垒中。得知此事后，希哈修亚安排了一场会见。在见面期间，希哈修亚赞扬了扎克里的将才，并建议他爱护自己。希哈修亚还预言他未来一定会成为国王。如果说希哈修亚的目的是离间郑昭和扎克里的关系的话，他失败了，因为二人在随后的军事扩张中亲密合作。

尽管郑昭在尽力袭击缅甸的后方，但由于缺乏食物，扎克里和素拉西再也无法守住彭世洛了。在召集大部份居民之后，他们成功冲破敌人的防线，并将碧差汶作为新的指挥部。1776年3月底，希哈修亚进入这座被遗弃的城市，但随即面对著食物短缺问题。在此时刻，新继位的新古王指示他撤离暹罗土地。因此希哈修亚率领军队离开了暹罗，但残馀势力仍旧继续对抗，直到同年9月被驱逐出国。

郑昭认为，只要清迈一天被缅甸人统治，暹罗北部就会时刻遭受缅甸人的侵袭。维持这块地域和平的先决条件是将缅甸人逐出清迈。1771年，清迈的缅甸总督率军南下围攻披猜，但被郑昭击退。郑昭跟随缅甸军队是为了学习他们的长处。他的军队没有准备对城池发动直接攻击。在遭遇顽强抵抗后，他撤退了，大概是相信一个关于两次试图夺取清迈的古老的预言。那莱王在占领清迈前曾两次试图夺取此地。

郑昭第二次远征清迈是以缅甸人未能占领披猜而开头的。1773年，缅甸军队威胁披猜，但遭伏击并被打垮。披猜的总督披耶披猜参与对缅甸军队的一场白刃战，直至自己两把长刀都被砍断，因此也赢得了「断剑」之名。昭披耶扎克里和昭披耶素拉西率领一支暹罗军队抵达南邦的时候，缅甸将领披耶·差班（Phraya Chaban）和披耶·甲威叻（Phraya Kawila）叛变并且加入他围困清迈的队伍中。随后郑昭加入了他们。此城于1775年1月落入暹罗军队手中，但缅甸总督及指挥官带著家小成功逃离了。在回吞武里前，郑昭给参战有功的人员授予荣衔。披耶·差班被任命为清迈总督，授予爵位（Phraya Wichienprakarn）；和披耶·韦翁（Phraya Waiwongsa）则分别被任命为南邦和南奔总督。昭披耶扎克里留下协助他们以平定北部，包括寮国的各国。缅甸国王将寮国各国当作维护缅甸在更远的东部地域权力的基地，亦及应夺取琅勃拉邦、万象和清迈，故而一支6000人的缅甸军队于1776年被派往那里。缅甸军队入城，但昭披耶素拉西率领的暹罗援军到达，并将之逐出。清迈遭遇了近期的战役后，其人口急剧减少且一贫如洗，倘若缅甸在此进攻，该城市无法进行防御。郑昭抛弃了这座城市，将其剩馀人口转移到南邦。清迈因而成为一座空城长达十五年之久。在未来几年，郑昭成功控制了清迈，在多次军事战役之后，于1779年将柬埔寨变成暹罗的附庸国。

对外扩张

1769年，柬埔寨陷入动荡，乌迭二世（Narairaja）与安农二世（Ramraja）争夺王位。乌迭在越南人的支持下击败了安农。安农自称国王，并向暹罗请求庇护。这给了郑昭重建暹罗对柬埔寨宗主权的机会。他派遣一支军队协助安农归国掌权，但没有成功。

占巴塞被吞并间接促使郑昭派遣军队对抗万象。1777年，占巴塞国王支持总督反抗暹罗王室的统治。郑昭派昭披耶扎克里前去征讨，逮捕并处决了娘隆总督。在素拉辛哈那的援军的帮助下，扎克里追击到了占巴塞，将国王Chao O及其摄政逮捕并立即斩首。占巴塞被并入了暹罗，郑昭对扎克里的战胜非常高兴，封他为「Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek Piluekmahima Tuknakara Ra-adet」（สมเด็จเจ้าพระยามหากษัตริย์ศึก พิลึกมหึมาทุกนคราระอาเดช），意思是「镇压者昭披耶，权力引人注目、令所有城市畏惧的伟大战士之王」，为有史以来最高的贵族头衔。

1770年，郑昭发起战争，对抗越南阮主在柬埔寨的统治。根据越南史料的记载，郑昭攻打柬埔寨的目的是为了将阿瑜陀耶残馀势力连根拔除。据记载，阿瑜陀耶的两位王子逃到外国，昭西桑（เจ้าศรีสังข์，二王探马提贝之子）逃往柬埔寨；昭最（เจ้าจุ้ย，阿派王子之子，国王泰沙之孙）逃往河仙镇，受到越南河仙镇都督鄚天赐的收留。在经历过几场小败仗之后，暹罗柬埔寨联军于1771年和1772年击败了阮军，并使安农二世重登王位。这些战败激起了越南国内的叛乱，随后叛乱的西山起义军迅速推翻了阮主政权。1773年，阮主同郑昭达成和解，将他们控制的一些柬埔寨领地归还给了暹罗。

1771年，郑昭入侵河仙镇，并将之占领。鄚天赐逃往嘉定（今胡志明市），寻求阮主避难。郑昭任命潮州人披耶·披披（陈联）担任新的河仙总督。鄚天赐不得不在嘉定滞留了两年。直到1773年暹罗与阮主达成和平协议后，暹罗军队撤离，他才有机会回到河仙。

西山起义爆发后，郑昭虽然曾与越南人在柬埔寨发生冲突，但还是给越南避难者提供庇护，这些人中大部份是阮主的官僚和将领。其中一位避难者就是原河仙镇都督鄚天赐，此人被郑昭授予「披耶·拉差社提·阮」（）的爵位。阮福映在继承阮主之位后试图寻求与暹罗同盟，但在西山军重要将领阮惠的离间下，郑昭处决了数名越南避难者，并将其他人员流放到遥远的边疆。此后，暹罗与越南阮军在柬埔寨重新发生了冲突。

暹罗军队虽然于1771年将安农二世推上王位，但他却退往柬埔寨东部。两位王子达成妥协，安农担任国王，乌迭担任副王，由王子安丹（Ang Tam）担任摄政。然而这一妥协却是不如人意的，安丹被谋杀，副王乌迭突然死亡。不少重要官员认为是安农制造了他们的死，在王子召华塔拉哈 (穆)（，）的率领下发动叛乱，1780年将安农抓获，投入河中溺死。塔拉哈立乌迭年仅四岁的儿子安英为国王，并自封摄政。这与郑昭的政策发生对立。郑昭派20000人，由扎克里率领入侵柬埔寨，欲立自己的儿子因他拉披他为新的柬埔寨王。塔拉哈在越南军队的帮助下在金边抵抗暹罗军队。然而就在战争开始之前，暹罗国内发生重大骚乱，扎克里决定率军回国，将指挥权交给了素拉辛哈那。

在万象，大臣帕沃反叛万象的亲王，随后逃到占巴塞境内，驻扎在乌汶附近的。帕沃向暹罗人投降，但暹罗军队撤离之后，帕沃遭到万象军队的袭击，被捕处决。此事件立刻被郑昭当作是对对自己的巨大侮辱，1778年，令扎克里率20000人入侵万象。对万象充满敌意的琅勃拉邦亲王为求自保向暹罗屈服，派兵追随扎克里围攻万象。

在围城四个月之后，暹罗人占领了万象，将玉佛和勃拉邦佛劫掠到了吞武里，万象亲王成功逃脱并开始逃亡生涯。万象和琅勃拉邦成为了暹罗的附庸国。

经济、文化和宗教

郑昭建立首都吞武里的时候，民不聊生，食不果腹，衣不蔽体。郑昭十分注意自己的困境，为了使即位合法化，他优先处理经济问题。他自己出高价来吸引外国商人，让他们带来足够的基本必需品来满足百姓的需求。随后向饥饿的百姓分发粮食和衣服，并遣送他们回自己的家乡。国家秩序恢复了，经济也渐渐复苏。1767年，郑昭派遣三个外交使团来到中国，此时的中国处在清乾隆帝的治下。郑昭在位第一年，由于他没有对阿瑜陀耶王位的继承权，而昭最和昭西桑这两位王子又在国外寻求政治避难，清朝拒绝了他的请求。六年之后的1772年，中国承认了他暹罗合法统治者的地位。

1777年起的文献指出，来自泰国的重要商品为琥珀、黄金、有色宝石、砂金、半宝石、硬铅等。郑昭鼓励华人（大部份来自潮州）来暹罗定居，在一定程度上有让停滞的经济复苏，以及提升当地劳动力的意图。郑昭在位的大部份时间为了维持国家独立而战斗。华人社群在经济的影响力随著时间而扩大，许多来自阿瑜陀耶的贵族转而反对他与中国商人结盟。反对者主要由汶那家族领导，这一家族是有波斯血统的商人权贵家族，世代担任外交大臣职务。

暹罗人的帆船来到葡属印度的苏拉特，然而正式外交关系未能建立。1776年，英国的弗朗西斯·莱特向郑昭赠送了1400杆燧发枪以及其他若干货物作为礼物。此后暹罗下令自英国进口枪械。1777年，二国互换国书，马德拉斯总督送给郑昭一个装饰有宝石的金质刀鞘。

1770年，登嘉楼和巴达维亚的当地人赠送给郑昭2200杆散弹枪。此时的爪哇诸岛由荷兰共和国控制。

郑昭深入致力于重建国家的法律秩序，以及执行一项公共福利计划。佛教徒权威人士以及民众间的恶习被适时纠正，食物、衣服及其他必需品分发给所需之人。

郑昭对包括舞蹈和戏剧在内的艺术感兴趣。有证据证明他于1769年镇压了昭·那空是贪玛叻的势力之后，将昭·那空的女舞者带了回来。他召集从其他地方来的舞者一起，在吞武里以阿瑜陀耶的模式，训练并建立了一支皇家剧团。他为皇家剧团写了四段来自拉玛坚中的插曲，让他们排练并表演。

当他去北方镇压拍·方的势力的时候，他看见北部的僧侣废弛且无修养。他自首都邀请僧团的显赫人物来这里教导这些僧侣，使他们与佛教主要教义一致。虽然郑昭致力重整阿瑜陀耶陷落之后衰落的佛教，然而他的统治过于短暂，因而无法深入实现。

吞武里王国的僧伽管理制度沿袭了阿瑜陀耶王国的模式。他也准许法国传教士进入暹罗。与先前的一位暹罗国王一样，他于1780年帮助他们建立了一个教堂。

与中国的关系

1767年阿瑜陀耶被缅甸攻陷后，中国与缅甸发生边界冲突。郑昭随后派使臣前往清朝，希望维持与清朝的宗藩关系，宣称阿瑜陀耶王统断绝，自己起兵复国报仇，被国人推戴成为国王，请求赐予国王之印。然而他的企图遭到河仙镇都督鄚天赐的阻挠，鄚天赐透过外交途径向中国声称郑昭是一个篡位者。鄚天赐同时给予阿瑜陀耶王子昭最提供政治避难。

乾隆帝没有帮助暹罗，但却接受了他重新建立宗藩关系的请求，并将其看做是对抗缅甸的同盟。清代文书最初只称之为「暹罗头目」、「暹罗国长」，或以甘恩敕、丕雅新等名号称之。后来清廷才承认了其暹罗国王身份，改称其为郑昭。「郑昭」一名是他在请求清朝册封的国书中所使用的名字；中国学者戴可来指出，「昭」即泰语「」，意思是「王」，这并非他的真名。根据清朝史料记载，继郑昭之后的拉玛一世自称是他的儿子「郑华」，此后的泰国国王对清朝朝贡的时候都使用了郑姓的中文名字。据现代学者考证，这是朝贡使团的华人翻译国书时肆意歪曲内容所导致的，后来拉玛四世决定断绝同中国的朝贡贸易时曾发布布告，谴责他们篡改国书的行为。中国学者段立生则认为，郑昭即位后曾请求清朝册封自己为暹罗国王；但因郑昭非王室成员登基导致长期不能得到清朝的承认。为避免类似事件发生，拉玛一世在对清朝外交时假冒自己是郑昭之子「郑华」。事实证明十分奏效，不久后即得到册封。此后，历代泰王在对清朝朝贡时都使用郑姓的中文名字。

在郑昭继位期间，当地潮汕侨商社群贡献甚大。由于郑昭具有一半的潮州人血统，他得以利用父系关系号召潮汕侨民。在短期内，这些潮汕侨民提供食物及战争所需货物，使郑昭能够草创国家。长远来看，这可以创造收益，用来支付国家开销，以及各自皇室、贵族以及富商家庭的维持。

与之同时期的指出郑昭为人慷慨，而赤贫者希望不再贫穷。郑昭在位期间建立公库来救济百姓，以展现自己的仁慈。财产和人身安全重新得到保障。但他对犯罪分子异常严厉。法律法规被专制所取代，随后导致了叛乱。

郑昭祖先是潮汕人，因此受到泰国华人的尊崇，泰国华人以潮州话称之为郑王公（）。1921年，中国广东省澄海县华富村（今汕头市澄海区广益街道华富村）建立起郑昭的衣冠冢及祖庙。据称郑昭的一个后裔将他的衣冠送回故乡，以中国礼仪下葬。这也证实了这里是郑昭的故乡。此衣冠冢在当地被称为郑王墓，墓碑上书「暹罗郑皇达信大帝衣冠墓」。1984年12月5日，以「郑信衣冠墓」之名，列入澄海区文物保护单位。1997年，诗琳通公主曾拜访此墓。现今衣冠冢周围区域已被开辟为公园，以其名字命名为「郑皇达信公园」。

晚年

泰国历史学家指出，血统的问题给郑昭不利影响，郑昭开始成为一名宗教狂热分子。从1781年开始，郑昭逐渐受到精神疾病的困扰。他认为自己是一尊未来的佛，期望把自己的血液从红色变为白色。他开始实践冥想，甚至向僧侣发表演讲。更严重地，他要求僧侣授予自己须陀洹的位阶，激起了暹罗佛教的教派分裂。拒绝屈服并尊他为佛的僧侣们都遭到降级，拒绝尊崇他的许多人遭到鞭打，罚作卑贱的苦力。

因为战争造成的经济紧张非常严重。饥荒、抢劫和犯罪蔓延各地。官场上充斥著腐败，发生许多官逼民反的事件。郑昭因而用严峻的刑罚处罚他们，酷刑拷打并处决高级官员，导致官员们对他普遍不满。

有些历史学家认为郑昭「精神失常」的传说可能是改造的，目的是给他被推翻找藉口。然而，一位当时身处吞武里的法国传教士支持郑昭举止怪异的说法，声称郑昭把所有时间用于祈祷、斋戒和冥想，这么做目的是想让自己升入天空。传教士们又声称，数年以来，暹罗国王对自己的身份以及住在暹罗或前来贸易的外国人极为烦恼。1781年，中国人发现自己几乎被强迫放弃他们所习惯的贸易。1782年，烦恼使郑昭近乎半疯，比从前更加频繁而且残忍。他喜怒无常，将高级官员、妻子、儿子甚至王位的推定继承人投入监狱、折磨、鞭打。他希望他们承认莫须有的罪名。

1782年，发动宫廷政变，叛军在一夜之内控制了首都吞武里，郑昭没有任何抵抗就向叛军投降了。他要求保住自己性命，进入黎明寺出家为僧。吞武里陷入大规模骚乱，全城充斥著杀戮和劫掠。政变发生后，得知消息的昭披耶扎克里自柬埔寨前线返回。二十八天后，昭披耶扎克里抵达吞武里，通过逮捕、侦查和惩罚的手段，迅速平定了叛乱。

根据《皇家泰国编年史》，扎克里决定判处郑昭死刑。扎克里认为郑昭不道德且不公正，给国家造成了巨大伤害，因此无可避免地应该被处以死刑。该编年史称，郑昭被押到处决地点时，要求见扎克里将军一面，但被将军拒绝了。1782年4月10日，郑昭在吞武里宫旁的Wichai Prasit要塞前被斩首，其尸体被埋葬于Wat Bang Yi Ruea Tai。扎克里将军随后掌握了政权，自封为国王，称拉玛一世，建立扎克里王朝。

而越南的官方编年史则记载，扎克里下令在黎明寺前按照处决了郑昭，即将他装入天鹅绒制的麻袋中，用檀香木棍子活活打死。而另有史料称被打死于宫中的是郑昭的替身，其本人被秘密送往那空是贪玛叻山中，直到1825年才逝世。

对政变的评论

扎克里将军在政变中的角色不明。越南官方史料声称，郑昭在晚年患有某种精神疾病，他囚禁了扎克里和素拉西的家庭成员。这使两兄弟焦虑和不满，因而他们与越南将军阮有瑞和胡文璘结为朋友。四位将军发誓在患难的时候互相帮助。不久以后政变发生。扎克里迅速回到首都，平定叛乱并将郑昭杀害。一些越南史料指出郑昭被扎克里将军暗中杀害，另一些指出他被判处死刑并被公开处决。披耶·讪也在这次事件中丧生。

另一个对此事件反驳观点认为扎克里将军事实上希望成为国王，并指控郑昭是个中国人。随后的历史旨在对新继位的拉玛一世合法化。根据泰国历史学家、作家、政治评论员的说法，可以被视为一个新式领袖和开山之祖，他推动王国的权力下放，并产生具有中国商人血统的新一代贵族，而这些人是他在战争中主要的帮助者。另一方面，扎克里及其支持者是阿瑜陀耶的旧一代贵族，对此变化不满。

然而，这忽视了扎克里自己本身也具有中国血统，而他也娶了郑昭的一个女儿。史料并未提到此前二人有冲突。有国王和中国商人就饥荒期间米价控制权而发生冲突的记载。然而，在回到吞武里之前，扎克里将郑昭的儿子召唤到柬埔寨并将其处决。总而言之，扎克里事实上是暹罗王国的最高级贵族，以首相之职管理国家事务。因此他最有潜力成为新领袖。

另一个对此事件的观点是泰国欠了中国许多钱。为了取消中国与泰国之间的协议，郑昭决定任命扎克里为国王，并假装死于处决。

纪念与传说

纪念

郑昭被一些激进的历史学家认为是一位与阿瑜陀耶王不同的国王，他在出身、政策、领导方式上代表了一个新的阶级。在曼谷时期直至暹罗立宪革命，郑昭据说并不如扎克里王朝国王一样被高度尊崇，因为扎克里王朝的君主仍然担心自己的政治合法性。1932年以后，绝对君主制给民主时期让步，郑昭开始得到比从前更多的尊崇。相反地，郑昭成为民族英雄之一。这是因为在另一方面，这时期的领袖銮披汶·颂堪甚至之后的军政领袖希望对过去特定历史人物故事美化和宣传，以此来支持他们民族主义、扩张主义和爱国主义。

郑昭的雕像被竖立在Wongwian Yai的中心，位于Prajadhipok、Inthara Phithak、Lat Ya、Somdet Phra Chao Taksin路的交叉口处。郑昭右手持剑，从帽子至马脚大约9公尺高，竖立在8.90 × 1.80 × 3.90公尺的混凝土底座上。底座两侧有四个纸灰粉刷的边框。揭幕仪式于1954年4月17日举行，每年王室的效忠宣誓集会于12月28日在这里举行。今日国王通常来到郑昭雕像前表示尊重。

庄他武里也有一座达信大帝纪念碑，位于Leab muang路的Toong na-chey公园内，在市政厅对面。此雕像描述郑昭骑在马上，围绕著四位忠实士兵：Pra Chiang-ngen（后为Phraya Sukhothai）、Luang Pichai-asa （后为披耶披猜）、Luang Prom-sena、Luang Raj-saneha。

1981年，泰国内阁通过决议，给郑昭授予「大帝」的头衔。为了达到美化泰国历史上被授予「大帝」头衔的人物的目的，泰国银行发行第12版钞票系列，称之为「大帝系列」，共发行三种面额：10泰铢、20泰铢和100泰铢。庄他武里Tungnachaey娱乐公园的达信大帝纪念碑于1981年12月28日出现在20泰铢的纸币上。其加冕的日期12月28日被规定为官方节日郑王节，以向他致敬，但未被指定为公众假期。Maw Sukha协会于1999年1月31日铸造国家护身符的达信救星，以向郑昭在位期间对暹罗的贡献致敬。

Na Nagara（或拼作Na Nakorn）家族是郑昭的男性直系后裔。

泰国皇家海军护卫舰中有以他名字命名的HTMS Taksin，其是从中国的053H型飞弹护卫舰改造而成。

传说

据泰国民间传说，郑昭在年幼为僧时，曾同于寺中当沙弥的好友通銮出寺托钵化缘，见一中国算命老先生。算命先生看了手相告诉他们，他们两人将成为国王。他们当然没有认真对待，但后来郑昭果然成为暹罗王，而通銮也真的成为郑昭的继承者拉玛一世。

潮汕民间有郑昭称王后以金银财宝赠送同乡的传说。郑昭在称王之后，有一位叔父前来觐见，郑昭赠送给他盐蒜头三十坛。叔父愤怒，在船上将二十九坛蒜头卖了，只剩下一坛运回故乡，想要以此来证明郑昭的吝啬。不料回家后打开一看，才发现蒜头下填满了黄金，十分后悔。此传说的另一个版本称，郑昭称王时，在澄海的乡亲搭船去庆祝。离别时，郑昭赠送了十八缸礼物给乡亲，千嘱万咐不要中途揭封观看，回乡以后再分赠。航行途中，他们忍不住打开看到缸口盛满咸菜，大失过望，又打开多缸发现皆为咸菜，盛怒之下便把十七缸子全丢入海。回到潮州澄海后，众乡亲都争相来看剩下唯一的咸菜缸，才发现咸菜下面是金银珠宝。

泰国另一个知名的民间传说是通銮的暹罗札克里王朝只能传到第十世。据说通銮发动政变推翻郑昭时，遵从泰国的习俗，国王的血不能流到地上，于是郑昭被装到麻袋里，用檀香木杖敲击头部致死。当郑昭被装在麻袋里，被活活打死的时候，发下了诅咒说：「夺我王位者，十世而亡。」

家族

郑昭有21个儿子和9个女儿：

此外，拉玛一世的长女是郑昭的王妃，不过在1779年先于丈夫过世。

注释