political crisis" (a short 121).
The leadership abilities of the late Ayutthaya kings varied as did their fortunes in wars, which they mostly fought with Burma. In general, the Thais tightened their control over outlying regions such as the Lao kingdoms, Lan Na and Lan San, and Cambodia in the south which they attempted to hold in thrall as tributary or vassal states. Internally, the power of the king was enhanced as, for example, under King Phetracha (r. 1688-1703), who created "a rigid establishment, with its own reserves and control over labor, in order to counteract the power of the nobles" (108). However the last Ayutthaya ruler, King Taksin (r. 1768-1781), went mad, and was executed. He was followed by a successful military commander, General Chaophraya Chakri or Rama I (r. 1782-1809), who moved the capital to Bangkok.
Preliminary Moves toward Modernization: Ramas I, II & III
Rama I's most significant accomplishment in the 1780s and 1790s was largely eliminating "the Burma threat to Siam's existence" (Wyatt a short 134)
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