d in the fifteenth century by an almost legendary King [Borommatrailokanat or Trailok, r. 1444-1488] with a genius for organization" (4). The Ayutthaya Kings were absolute rulers, "the center of the socio-political system, the Lord of Lives" (Siffin 14). King Trailok created a central bureaucracy to tighten his hold over the nobility. All officials were appointed directly by and were accountable to the King. Wyatt said the state governed "an enormously complex hierarchical society in which the place and position of every individual was carefully specified" (59). One's rank was determined by the amount of land and labor one could control, sakdi na. Four rigidly defined classes existed, royal persons or chao, noble officials or khunnang, free men or phrai and slaves that (one third or more of the population). Vella said "the Thai monarch stood at the peak of all pyramids of power --civil, military and religious" (Theravada Buddhist and Brahman or Indian in origin) (318).
One-man rule was solidified against a backdrop of constant military threats under which the Thais lived for centuries from Burmese, Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese and later Western enemies. Siffin said the Thais fought 70 wars between 1488 and 1767 (15). Imported Indian (Hindu) influences favored a stern and distant ruler. Thai Kings held onto power with a passion because it was often tenuous. They rarely were able to select their own successors. During his reign a King usually appointed a designated heir or upanat who sometimes conspired to unseat him. When a King died, an accession council composed of representatives of the leading noble families selected his successor. They were not necessarily bound by his wishes. According to Vella, "palace revolts were a common occurrence;" and the regime was often paralyzed by protracted succession struggles (321). During the last two centuries of Ayutthaya rule, Wyatt said "virtually every royal succession . . . turned into a...