Enlightenment · Southeast Asia · Politics
1656
Narai Crowned King of Ayutthaya
1656
Prince Narai ascended the Siamese throne at Ayutthaya after a brief succession crisis. His reign would open the kingdom to European merchants and missionaries to an unprecedented degree, and his Greek adventurer favorite Constantine Phaulkon would briefly direct court policy in a wildly cosmopolitan experiment. The era ended abruptly when a palace revolution overthrew foreign influence and sealed Siam's borders.
In context
Also in 1656 (3 other events on record)
- Velazquez Paints Las Meninas · Europe · Culture
- Huygens Builds Pendulum Clock · Europe · Technology
- First Jews Return to England · Europe · Religion
Before and after in Southeast Asia
Before and after in Politics
- Before: 1655: Queen Nzinga Dies in Matamba
- After: 1657: Shah Jahan Falls Ill
Era
Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.
Sources