Maha Thammaracha

Maha Thammaracha, Maha Thammarachathirat, or Sanphet I, formerly known as Khun Phirenthorathep , was King of Ayutthaya from the Sukhothai dynasty, ruling from 1569 to 1590. As a powerful Sukhothai noble, Phirenthorathep gradually rose to power. After playing many political turns, he was eventually crowned as King of Ayutthaya.

Sukhothai noble

Before his ascension to the throne, Maha Thammaracha was known as Khun Phirenthorathep or "Okya Phitsanulok" (, okya being a high-ranking noble title conferred by the king). He descended from the Phra Ruang dynasty of the former Sukhothai Kingdom, which had been conquered by the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1438. It was however not simply annexed, but its area—now known as the "northern cities" (Mueang Nuea)—continued to be ruled by local aristocrats under Ayutthayan overlordship within the "mandala" model. During the reign of Borommatrailokkanat (1448–1488) however, the power of Sukhothai lords was reduced. Phitsanulok, then the most important of the "northern cities", was subsequently ruled by Uparajas (viceroys), the designated heirs to the throne of Ayutthaya. King Chairachathirat (1534–1546), who before his ascension to the throne of Ayutthaya had resided as Uparaja in Phitsanulok, centralised the administration even further, abolishing the quasi-autonomous rule of Uparajas and summoning members of the old Sukhothai nobility to serve at his court in Ayutthaya.

Khun Phirenthorathep was one of the Sukhothai nobles brought to the court of Ayutthaya by Chairachathirat, who appointed him as head of the royal guard. In 1548, the kingdom fell under the governance of Worawongsathirat and Chairachathirat's widow Si Sudachan of the Uthong dynasty. Since the establishment of the kingdom of Ayutthaya, the Uthong (also known as "Lavo-Ayutthaya") dynasty and the Suphannaphum dynasty (to which King Chairachathirat belonged) had competed for power and fought over the throne. The Uthong clan rose to power at the expense of other clans.

In gratitude for putting him on the throne, Maha Chakkraphat made Khun Phirenthorathep ruler of Phitsanulok and conferred him the semiroyal title of Maha Thammaracha. This was in line with the reigning name of Sukhothai kings in the 14th century. Maha Thammaracha enjoyed a great power and may be referred to as a viceroy of the northern provinces. He married Maha Chakkraphat's daughter, Sawatdirat (later Queen Wisutkasat).

In 1563, Tabinshwehti's successor, Bayinnaung, led the massive Burmese armies to invade Siam. He laid siege on Phitsanulok. Maha Thammarachathirat offered "stout resistance", but surrendered and submitted after all food was gone and a smallpox epidemic spread.

Maha Thammarachathirat had to send his sons Naresuan and Ekathotsarot to Pegu as a captives. With his son in Burmese captivity, Maha Thammarachathirat was forced to ally himself with Bayinnaung.

King of Ayutthaya Maha Thammarachathirat asked Bayinnaung to return his sons Naresuan and Ekathotsarot to Ayutthaya in exchange for his daughter Suphankanlaya as Bayinnaung's secondary wife in 1571. Maha Thammarachathirat made Naresuan the King of Phitsanulok and Uparaja in 1569. Ayutthaya kingdom under Maha Thammarachathirat was tributary to Burma.

Cambodian invasions In 1570, Barom Reachea III the King of Longvek marched his Cambodian armies to Ayutthaya and laid siege on the city but failed. In 1574, under the request from Pegu, Maha Thammaracha led the Siamese armies to subjugate Vientiane. The Cambodians took this opportunity to invade Siam but was also repelled.

In 1578, the Cambodians invaded Khorat and proceeded further to Saraburi. Naresuan sent Siamese armies to ambush the Cambodians at Chaibadan, halting the invaders from reaching Ayutthaya.

Break from Pegu In 1581, Bayinnaung died, succeeded by his son Nanda Bayin. In 1583, the Lord of Ava and the Shans staged a rebellion against Pegu. Nanda Bayin then requested for troops from Ayutthaya. The Siamese armies went slowly to Ava under leadership of Naresuan. Naresuan then renounced loyalty to Pegu in 1584.

In 1584, Nanda Bayin himself led the Peguan armies into Siam but was defeated by Naresuan. For many years the Burmese armies surged into Ayutthaya but was repelled. Maha Thammarachathirat died 30 June 1590. He was succeeded by Naresuan.