Dutch East India merchants at the court of Ayutthaya : Dutch
perceptions of the Thai Kingdom, c. 1604-1765
Ruangsilp, B.
Citation
Ruangsilp, B. (2007, March 7). Dutch East India merchants at the court of Ayutthaya :
Dutch perceptions of the Thai Kingdom, c. 1604-1765. Retrieved fromhttps://hdl.handle.net/1887/11406
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DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY MERCHANTS AT THE COURT OF AYUTTHAYA
DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY MERCHANTS
AT THE COURT OF AYUTTHAYA
Du tc h Pe rc e p tio n s o f th e Th a i K in g d o m ,
c . 1 6 0 4 - 1 7 6 5
Pro e fsc h rift te r v e rk rijg in g v a n
d e g ra a d v a n Do c to r a a n d e Un iv e rsite it L e id e n ,
o p g e z a g v a n d e Re c to r Ma g n ific u s, p ro f. m r. P.F . v a n d e r He ijd e n , v o lg e n s b e slu it v a n h e t Co lle g e v o o r Pro m o tie s
te v e rd e d ig e n o p w o e n sd a g 7 m a a rt 2 0 0 7 k lo k k e 1 6 .1 5 u u r
d o o r
B h a w a n Ru a n g silp g e b o re n te B a n g k o k - Th a ila n d
in 1 9 7 1
Promotiecommissie:
Promotor: p rof. d r. J.L . B lu ssé v a n Ou d -Alb la s Co-p romotor: p rof. d r. P.J.A.N. Rietb erg en
(Ra d b ou d Un iv ersiteit Nijmeg en ) Referen t: d r. Dh ira v a t n a Pomb ejra
(Ch u la lon g k orn Un iv ersiteit, Th a ila n d ) Ov erig e led en : p rof. d r. F.S. G a a stra
p rof. d r. D.H.A. K olff d r. H. ten B ru mmelh u is (Un iv ersiteit v a n Amsterd a m)
d r. L .J. W a g en a a r (Un iv ersiteit v a n Amsterd a m) d r. R. Ra b en (NIOD)
De v oltooiin g v a n d it p roefsch rift w erd g esu b sid ieerd d oor h et TANAP (Tow a rd s a New Ag e of Pa rtn ersh ip ) Prog ra mma .
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements viii
Abbreviations x
Glossary x i
Maps x iii
Introduction 1
Previous Studies 1
The Topic 3
The Observer: The Dutch East India Company , 1 6 0 2 -1 7 9 6 5 The Observed: The Court of Ay utthay a, c. 1 6 0 0 -1 7 6 7 9
Source Material and Structure of the Thesis 1 4
Chapter One: The Company and the Court 1 7
Introduction 1 7
Trade Partners 1 8
Political Allies 2 5
Diplomatic Counterparts 2 9
Conclusion 3 4
Chapter Two: The Company Men and Settlement in Siam 3 5
Introduction 3 5
Dutch Attitudes to Siamese Law 3 6
Ex traterritoriality : The V OC Men and Siamese Jurisdiction 3 8 Order and Protection: The V OC Settlement in Siam 4 1
Conflicts 5 0
Conclusion 5 3
Chapter Three: Learning the Language of Ritual: the Dutch at the
Court of King Prasatthong 5 5
Introduction 5 5
Dutch-Siamese Diplomatic Ex change 5 6
Two Hours of Honour: The Dutch Embassy , 1 6 2 8 5 7 Two Ex hausting Hours: De Roij’s Embassy , 1 6 3 3 6 2 The Beginning of the Troubles: Schouten’s Embassy , 1 6 3 6 6 4 The Benefit of an Unaccomplished Mission: V an V liet’s
Embassy , 1 6 4 1 6 8
Siam’s Asian Diplomacy : Dutch Observations 7 0
v
Siam’s European Diplomacy: The Dutch and the Portuguese
in 1639 74
Dutch Participation in Siamese Court Ceremonies 83
Conclusion 90
Chapter Four: Learning Siam’s Politics: The Case of King
Prasatthong 91
Introduction 91
Theoriz ing Absolute Rule 91
Contest from Within: The Conflicts of Succession 95
Challenge from Outside: Vassal Rebellions 101
Daily Manipulation: The King’s Men 103
Conclusion 110
Chapter Five: Observing King Narai’s Widening World 111
Introduction 111
The VOC and the Conflicts of Succession of 1656 112
The Dutch and King Narai’s Officials 117
Novelties at Court: The French and Constantine Phaulkon 122
King Narai’s Diplomacy 129
The Material World of King Narai 140
King Narai’s Intellectual World 143
Conclusion 147
Chapter Six: Redefining the Relationships: The Dutch and the
Court of King Phetracha 149
Introduction 149
The Palace Revolution of 1688 150
A ‘Mutual Disappointment’ 155
The ‘Talapoin’ Rebellion of 1689 161
Manipulating the King: Court Members in Dutch Views 164
The Purge of 1699 169
The Change of the Reign, 1703 173
Another Fraught Relationship: The VOC and King Sü a 176
Conclusion 179
Chapter Seven: Remain or Leave?: The Dutch and the Eighteenth-
Century Siamese Court 180
Introduction 180
Diplomat or Despot?: Dutch Evaluations of King Borommakot 181 The VOC and the Eighteenth-Century Siamese Officials 192 The VOC as a Cultural Broker between Siam and Kandy 194
Eighteenth-Century Court Politics 199
CONTENTS
vi
The VOC, Kandy, and Siam: The Prince Thepphiphit Episode,
1760-1762 208
The Last Decisions of the Dutch 212
Conclusion 218
Conclusion 221
Notes 225
Appendices 261
Bibliography 265
Samenvatting 273
Curriculum vitae 275
CONTENTS vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Th e c o m p le tio n o f th e p re se n t stu d y c o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n p o ssib le w ith - o u t th e su p p o rt o f th e TANAP (To w a rd s a Ne w Ag e o f P a rtn e rsh ip ) P ro g ra m m e a n d its sta ff a t Le id e n U n iv e rsity .
P ro fe sso r Jo h n E. Wills Jr, Dr H a rr y Kn ip sc h ild a n d Dr Jo s Go m m a n s k in d ly o ffe re d to re a d p a rt o f th e th e sis. R o se m a r y R o b so n n o t o n ly c o r- re c te d th e En g lish o f m y th e sis b u t a lso sh o w e d e n c o u ra g in g in te re st in its sto r y . Alw a y s b u sy h e rse lf, Cy n th ia V ia llé w a s v e r y k in d to in v e st h e r tim e a n d sk ills v o lu n ta rily to im p ro v e th e fin a l v e rsio n o f th e th e sis. Th e m a p s w e re sk ilfu lly d ra w n b y m y b ro th e r Su e b sa k u l R u a n g silp .
Th e sta ff m e m b e rs o f th e Na tio n a a l Arc h ie f, Th e H a g u e , th e KITLV Lib ra r y in Le id e n , a n d th e Le id e n U n iv e rsity Lib ra r y p ro v id e d a d m ira b le se r v ic e s. With th e k in d h e lp o f La n g g e n g B u d i, I w a s a llo w e d to re a d so m e o f th e V OC d o c u m e n ts c o n c e rn in g Sia m a t th e Arsip Na sio n a l R e p u b lik In d o n e sia , Ja k a rta , in 2 0 0 3 . Dr Ka th r y n An d e rso n We lle n a n d h e r c o lle a g u e s a t th e Asia n R e a d in g R o o m , Lib ra r y o f Co n g re ss, d id th e ir b e st to h e lp m e e x p lo re th e ir re m a rk a b le Th a i-la n g u a g e c o lle c tio n s w ith - in a sh o rt tim e in 2 0 0 5 .
I th a n k m y te a c h e rs in th e Du tc h la n g u a g e , Dr To n H a rm se n , Y o la n d e Sp a a n s a n d R e n é We z e l, fo r th e le sso n s a s m u c h a s fo r th e so c ia l a c tiv itie s th e y a rra n g e d fo r m e a n d m y TANAP c o lle a g u e s. My sp e c ia l th a n k s g o to Dr H u g o s’Ja c o b , w h o h a s b e e n th e g re a te st h e lp sin c e I sta rte d to d d lin g th ro u g h th e te x ts in se v e n te e n th - a n d e ig h te e n th -c e n tu r y Du tc h . H e a n d Na n d a Dijk e rs h a v e b e e n a g re a t so u rc e o f c o m fo rt o n c o u n tle ss o c c a - sio n s. Na ta lie Ev e rts h a s b e e n a t a ll tim e s w illin g to h e lp ta c k le d iffic u lt te x ts a n d to g ra n t g ra c io u s c o n v e rsa tio n s in th e a rc h iv e . Th e e v e r-e ffe c tiv e Ilo n k a Oo m s a n d Ma rijk e v a n Wisse n -v a n Sta d e n m a y n o t e v e n re a liz e h o w im p o rta n t th e ir e ffo rts w e re to m a k in g life a s sm o o th a s p o ssib le fo r a fo re ig n stu d e n t lik e m e . Gijs Kru ijtz e r k in d ly h e lp e d w ith th e Du tc h su m m a r y o f th e th e sis. Sin c e o u r c o -o p e ra tio n fo r th e c o m m e m o ra tio n o f 4 0 0 -y e a rs Th a i-Du tc h re la tio n s in 2 0 0 4 , Dr Na n d a n a Ch u tiw o n g s (R ijk sm u se u m v o o r V o lk e n k u n d e ) h a s b e e n k in d ly sh a rin g h e r k n o w le d g e o f th e c o n te m p o ra r y Th a i-Du tc h re la tio n sh ip w ith m e . I a m g ra te fu l to Dr R u d o lf Ste ie rt fo r b e in g m y lo v in g ‘su rro g a te fa th e r’ in Eu ro p e fo r th e so m e tw e lv e y e a rs w h ic h I sp e n t in Ge rm a n y a n d th e Ne th e rla n d s.
My TANAP c o lle a g u e s fro m Asia , So u th Afric a , a n d th e Ne th e rla n d s h a v e o ffe re d m e y e a rs o f c u ltu ra l a n d in te lle c tu a l e x c h a n g e a s m u c h a s a jo y fu l frie n d sh ip , w h ic h m a d e th e n e w a g e o f p a rtn e rsh ip c o m e tru e , in p a rtic u la r: Na z li Az iz , Kw e e H u i Kia n , Ko h Ke n g We , Liu Y o n g , Ota v iii
Atsushi, Anjana Singh, Chiu Hsin Hui, Alicia Schrikker, Hoang Anh Tuan, Supaporn Ariyasasiskul, Binu John Parambil, and Chris Nierstrasz.
Enny Jansen provided, with her characteristic warmth, a place I called home for two years.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Chulalongkorn University for granting me a long sabbatical which enabled me to complete my study, together with a generous book allowance. My former teachers and now colleagues at the History Department did everything in their power to make sure that I obtained these necessary privileges, especially the former and present Heads of the Department, Professor Piyanart Bunnag, Associate Professor Suwadee Thanaprasitpattana, Associate Professor Pipada Youngcharoen, and Assistant Professor Sawitri Charoenpong.
Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family who tolerated my absence for all these years. Their sacrifice allowed me to follow in the footsteps of my historian grandfather, Chai Ruangsilp.
It was a small relief, though, to know that I left them in the good compa- ny of our ‘friends in the house’, who also deserve a word of appreciation here. This book is dedicated to my family with love and gratitude.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix
ABBREVIATIONS
BKI Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indië CIO C om p agnie des Indes O rientales, the French East India Company EIC The English East India Company
JA S Journal of A sian S tudies JS E A S Journal of S outheast A sian S tudies JS S Journal of the S iam S ociety JR A S Journal of the R oy al A siatic S ociety
JR A S S L Journal of the R oy al A siatic S ociety S ri L anka
KITLV Koninklijk Instituut voor T aal-, L and- en V olkenkunde, L eiden M A S M odern A sian S tudies
S E A R S outh E ast A sia R esearch SLNA Sri Lanka National Archive
VOC (Archives of the) V erenigde O ostindische C om p agnie, the Dutch East India Company
x
GLOSSARY
C.: Chinese; D.: Dutch; M.: Malay; T.: Thai
bahar (M.) a measure of weight: 1 bahar = 300 catties ban (T.) village; community under the responsibility of a nai bunga emas dan perak (M.) silver and golden flowers used as tributary gifts (bu-nga
mat in Thai)
catty (Thai chang) (M.) a monetary unit: 1 catty = about 112.8-144.0 guilders;
a measure of weight: 1 catty = about 6 hectogram
chao (T.) royalty, princes
chaofa (T.) prince(s) born of a q ueen chulasakkarat (T.) the Lesser Era (CS) comptoir or factorij (D.) the local office of the VOC dagregister(s) (D.) diary/diaries
kampong (M.) village; camp or settlement khunnang (T.) nobility, officials
Khlang (T.) the Treasury Department
krom (T.) household(s) of the prince(s); or administrative division(s) of the official(s)
krommun kromkhun kromluang
kromphra (T.) conferred ranks of the princes (in ascending order) Krom Tha Sai (T.) Department of Eastern Maritime Affairs and Crown Junks Krom Tha Khw a (T.) Department of Western Maritime Affairs
laken (D.) woollen textile, broadcloth
last (D.) a measure of weight: 1 last = 1,250 kilogram
mahatlek (T.) royal page(s)
nai (T.) master(s); head(s) of the ban namrak black liq uid lacq uer
okmun, mun okkun, khun okluang, luang okphra, phra okya, phraya
chao phraya (T.) ranks of Thai officials (in ascending order) opperhoofd(en) (D.) head(s) of VOC’s local office in Ayutthaya
phrai (T.) freeman, freemen
prahu (M.) barge(s)
P hrakhlang (T.) Ministry of External Relations and Maritime Trading Affairs of Ayutthaya, its Minister
phutthasakkarat (T.) the Buddhist Era (BE)
recognitiegelden (D.) fees given by the VOC to the Siamese Treasury Department (recognitiepenningen) in lieu of taxes
resident (D.) head of the VOC’s local office, lower-ranking than opperhoofd
rijksdaalder(s) (D.) coin. 1 rijksdaalder = about 3 guilders
roede(n) (D.) a measure of length: 1 Amsterdam roede = 4.53 metres
sangha (T.) Buddhist clergy
sakdi na (T.) dignity marks
xi
tael (Thai tamlueng) (C.) a monetary unit: 20 taels = 1 catty; a measure of weight:
1 tael = 30 gram
tra (T.) seal; official document carrying a seal Syahbandar (M.) harbour master
U parat (T.) the second-highest-ranking prince after the king, often heir apparent
wat (T.) Buddhist temple
wang (T.) palace, princely residence
W angna (T.) the Front Palace, the residence of the U parat GLOSSARY
xii
Map 1 The Kingdom of Ayutthaya in Asia
xiii
Map 2 The Kingdom of Ayutthaya and its Neighbours
xiv MAPS
Map 3 Ayutthaya and its Surroundings
MAPS xv
