Baramaraja

Baramaraja () was a ruler of Xiān's Ayodhya from 1310 to 1344 in the reconstruction of early Siamese history drawn from Thai chronicle tradition. Of mixed Siamese, Mon and Chinese descent, he came to the throne on the death of his elder brother Dhammaraja.

His reign saw a return to the expansionist activity of his father-in-law Suvarnaraja, after the quiet years under Dhammaraja, and ended with his abdication in favour of his only son, the future Uthong V.

Family and accession

Baramaraja was the second son of Dharmatriloka, king of Si Satchanalai, by a Chinese princess. His principal consort was Sunandhadevī, the younger daughter of Suvarnaraja.

He succeeded his elder brother Dhammaraja at Ayodhya in 1310. On his abdication in 1344 he entered the monastic life, and was succeeded by his only son, Varashreṣṭhakumāra (), who took the throne as Uthong V, also known as Ramathibodi I, and under whom the Ayutthaya Kingdom is conventionally reckoned to begin in 1351.

Campaign against Champa

In 1313, a few years after his accession, Xiān launched an invasion of Champa that ran for two years. The campaign failed after Champa received military support from the emperor of Đại Việt, who sent an army under Đỗ Thiên Hư to its aid.

Foreign relations

Tributary missions went to the Yuan dynasty in 1314, 1319 and 1323. Later embassies appear under the names Xiānluó hú () and Xiānluó (), designations for the polity later identified with the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Xiān also rendered tribute to Đại Việt in 1335 to commemorate the Trần dynasty campaign against Ai Lao (later known as Sip Song Chau Tai), names Xiān () among the parties that came bearing local products to meet the emperor, alongside the crown prince of Champa and Chân Lạp.

A Thai chronicle compilation records trade in this reign with China, the Kula, Vilanda, Japan, India and others.

See also

• Dhammaraja
• Uthong V
• Xiān