History Sultanate of Singora

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 independence
1.3 destruction
1.4 cession france

history
early history

siamese vassal states in deep south showed allegiance ayuthaya sending tribute. along slaves , weapons, tribute consisted of bunga mas, small tree decorated gold.

the sultanate of singora, known songkhla @ khao daeng, port city in deep south of thailand , precursor of present-day town of songkhla. located near southern tip of sathing phra peninsula, on , around foothills of khao daeng mountain in singha nakhon. british , dutch east india company traders called city sangora; japanese officials knew shinichu; contemporary french writers used names singor, cingor , soncourat.

singora founded in 17th century dato mogol, persian muslim accepted siamese suzerainty , paid tribute kingdom of ayutthaya. port said ideal , able accommodate more 80 large vessels; network of overland , riverine routes expedited trans-peninsular trade sultanate of kedah. jeremias van vliet, director of dutch east india company s trading post in ayuthaya, described singora 1 of siam s principal cities , major exporter of pepper; french traveller , gem merchant john baptista tavernier wrote city s abundant tin mines. cottonian manuscript @ british library discusses singora s duty-free policy , viability hub regional trade:

itt not amiss build strong howse in sangora lyeth 24 leagues northwarde of patania, under gouerment of datoe mogoll, vassall king of siam: in place maie rendezvouz bee made bring thinges shall gather provideing of ffactories of siam, cochinchina, borneo , partlie our ffactorie in japan, shall gather according advises thereof, , hither bring such wares wee shall gather foresaid places bee sent bantam , jaccatra: howse willbee found bee verie necessarie, charges willbee highe in patania besides inconveniences there; charges shall spare @ sangora: there pay no custome, onlie small gift datoe mogoll cann effect here.

dato mogol died in 1620 , succeeded eldest son, sulaiman. period of turmoil erupted ten years later when queen of pattani branded new ruler of siam, king prasat thong, usurper , tyrant. queen withheld tribute , ordered attacks on ligor (present-day nakhon si thammarat) , bordelongh (present-day phatthalung); ayuthaya responded blockading pattani army of 60,000 men, enlisting of dutch people in capturing city. singora became involved in dispute , in 1633 sent envoy ayuthaya requesting help. outcome of request not known, dutch records show singora severely damaged , pepper crop destroyed.

independence

in december 1641 jeremias van vliet left ayuthaya , sailed batavia. stopped en route @ singora in february 1642 , presented sulaiman letter of introduction phra khlang (known dutch berckelangh), siamese official responsible foreign affairs. sulaiman s response sheds light on attitude towards suzerainty:

on 3rd of february delegate van vlieth landed @ sangora , received governor, angry @ berckelangh s letter, saying country open netherlanders without siamese introduction , letter had not been necessary. , other haughty acts displeased hon. van vlieth.

later year sulaiman declared independence ayuthaya , appointed himself sultan sulaiman shah. modernised port, ordered construction of city walls , moats, , built network of forts spanned harbour summit of khao daeng. trade flourished: city frequented dutch , portuguese merchants , enjoyed amicable relations chinese traders. ayuthaya tried @ least 3 times reclaim singora during sulaiman s reign; each attack failed. 1 naval campaign ended in ignominy when siamese admiral abandoned post. fend off overland assaults, sulaiman assigned brother, pharisees, strengthen nearby town of chai buri in phatthalung.

sultan sulaiman died in 1668 , succeeded eldest son, mustapha. war pattani broke out after, despite being outnumbered more 4 one, singora rejected attempts @ mediation sultan of kedah , trusted in army of experienced soldiers , cannoneers. during late 1670s greek adventurer constance phaulkon arrived in siam. sailed country java on british east india company vessel and, heeding orders employer, promptly embarked on mission smuggle arms singora. escapade ended in failure when shipwrecked.

destruction

remains of sultanate of singora include forts on , around khao daeng mountain, stretch of city walls, dutch cemetery , tomb of sultan sulaiman shah (shown above).

in 1679 ayuthaya mounted final offensive quash singora rebellion. samuel potts, british east india company trader based in singora, recorded city s preparations war:

this king has fortified city, gunned forts upon hills, making provision can defence, not knowing how king of siam oppose him.

in letter dated august 1679 potts informed east india company colleague siamese fleet had arrived , stressed impending danger. events followed decisive: in 1680, after siege lasting more 6 months, singora destroyed , abandoned. contemporary french sources document city s destruction , provide wealth of detail. head of french east india company s operations in ayuthaya described how singora s trés bonne citadelle had been razed after war of more thirty years; missionary working in ayuthaya in mid 1680s told how king of siam sent finest ships destroy sultanate de fond en comble (from top bottom). simon de la loubère, france s envoy siam in 1687, recounted story french cannoneer crept city 1 night , single-handedly captured sultan:

some have upon account informed me thing, in opinion, appear incredible. tis of provincial named cyprian, still @ surat in french company s service, if has not quitted it, or if not lately dead: name of family know not. before entrance companies service, had served time in king of siam s army in quality of canoneer (...) cyprian wearied seeing armies in view, attempted no persons life, determin d 1 night go alone camp of rebels, , fetch king of singor tent. took him indeed, , brought him siamese general, , terminated war of above twenty years.

while loubère s account of life in 17th-century siam received contemporaries in france, veracity of tale cyprian , singora s demise has been questioned. article published in journal of royal asiatic society of great britain , ireland, example, described story might have passed in romantic age, improbable history . in memo dated 1685 french east india company official claimed singora captured means of ruse. thailand s ministry of culture supports version of events , discusses spy tricked way city, enabling siamese troops enter , burn ground.

cession france

in 1685 siam attempted cede singora france: hope french east india company, supported garrison of troops, rebuild city, establish trading post , counter strong regional dutch influence. city offered france s envoy siam, chevalier de chaumont, , provisional treaty signed in december; siamese ambassador kosa pan sailed france following year ratify cession. french, however, not interested: secretary of state navy, marquis de seignelay, told kosa pan singora ruined , of no further use, , asked trading post in bangkok instead.

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