History of the Royal Barges - a Timeless Tradition

The history of the royal flatboats days of the month back to the Sukhothai epoch
in the 13th century when the first royal flatboats were reportedly
seen. The flatboats were originally troop bearers at a time when
it was more than expedient to transport military personnel into conflict along
rivers.

As life in Kingdom Of Thailand then was so intimately linked to the river,
these flatboats were also used for spiritual and ceremonial
purposes.

During the Ayutthaya epoch between the 14th - 18th centuries, the
Royal Barge Ceremonies flourished, particularly during the
reigns of King Naresuan and King Narai.

King Naresuan (1590 – 1605 AD) named his personal flatboat
Suphannahongsa and so started the first coevals of this
celebrated royal barge. Since then this have been the name of the
King's personal barge. Two more than than than versions have got been built
since.

In the reign of King Narai, the Royal Barge Processions
became more luxuriant and one such as procession had more than
100 vessels.

Unfortunately all this came to an disconnected end in 1767 when the
Burmese sacked Ayutthaya and destroyed all the barges. It was
a sad time period in the history of the royal barges.

The Thonburi epoch (1767 – 1782) under King Taksin saw a
reemergence of royal flatboat activity. During his reign the
Emerald The Buddha was brought from Laotian Capital to Ayutthaya. A hundred and 15 flatboats went to Ayutthaya to have this
holy statue and convey it back to Bangkok. Another 131 vas
went up river to welcome the Emerald Buddha.

The Capital Of Thailand era, which commenced in 1782, saw a new dawning
in the history of the royal barges. King Rama Iodine revived the
tradition of the royal barges. Sixty were built and modeled on
designings in the early Capital Of Thailand era. A new Suphannahongsa was
built to function as the King's personal barge.

Royal flatboat building continued under the reign of the
Shari kings. King Rama four ordered the building of the
Anantanakkharat with the seven-headed snake Naga on the
bow.

During the reign of King Rama V, a new Suphannahongsa was
built. It was completed during the reign of King Rama six in
1911. This version of Suphannahongsa is being used to this twenty-four hours
as the King's personal barge.

The coup d'etat in 1932, when Kingdom Of Thailand changed from an absolute
monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, brought about another
disconnected arrest to royal flatboat activity. Subsequent authorities
ceased the Royal Barge Ceremonies for the adjacent 25 years.

The royal flatboats suffered a additional reverse when they were
damaged by Nipponese bombs during World War II. Damaged
subdivisions of these flatboats are still preserved at the Royal Barge
Museum.

In 1957 the history of the royal flatboats took a bend for the
better when King Rama IX had the flatboats restored to their
former glory.

On 19 May 1957, the first Royal Barge Procession in 25 old age
sailed down the Chao Phraya River to mark the 25th
century of the Buddhist Era. Since then, the tradition and
grandeur of the royal flatboats have got continued to this day.

The history of the royal flatboats reflects an abiding tradition
that flowings on timelessly like the Chao Phraya River.

For inside information on the royal barges, delight see Types of Royal Barges.