Muay Thai
16th century

According to history, Muay Thai have been developed by the Siamese army as a form of self-defence and to date back at least to the 13th century according to the King Ram Khamhaeng's war strategics manual. In Ayutthaya Kingdom, the war strategics manual was recomposed in 1518 AD by King Ramathibodi II called Tamra Phichaisongkram. (Thai: ตำราพิชัยสงคราม).

King Naresuan practiced martial arts and rearranged his soldiers for 15 years at peace-time. He had learned warrior fighting techniques from Burmese Royal courts after he was raised on his aged 9 by King Bayinnaung for 6 years in Burma after the invasion by Bayinnaung's army to Ayutthaya Kingdom in the Burmese–Siamese War (1563–1564). King Naresuan also improved the war strategics manual version of King Ramathibodi II to version of King Naresuan after he was backed to Ayutthaya Kingdom to be capable for self-defence in wars engagement during his reign.

In 1687 AD reign of King Narai. Simon de la Loubère, a French diplomat to Siam of King Louis XIV, handwrote of Muay Thai was one of occupation of Siamese people in his famous book, Du Royaume de Siam, reads:-

La chaleur du climat fait en eux affez de diſſipation. La lutte, & le combat à coups de poing ou de coude y ſont des mêtiers de batteleur. La courſe des balons eſt donc leur ſeul exercice.

(Translation): The hot weather weakened the Siamese people to be tired. Wrestling, and fighting with fists or elbows (Muay Thai), were just their occupations. Thence, paddling course was only their exercises.

In 1698 AD, according to the second French mission to Siam by King Louis XIV who after appointed Guy Tachard to be in charge of French ambassador to Siam. Muay Thai was being trained to prepare for an engagement with French expeditionary force after Dutch captain informed Siamese Royal court the news about French battleships to siege Puducherry and Myeik seaport of Kingdom of Ayutthaya in reign of King Phetracha after the Siamese revolution of 1688.

Monsieur Braud’s letter to Directors of the International Affairs Kingdom of Ayutthaya (Jun 9, 1699) reads:-

ข่าวอันนี้ได้ทำให้ข้าราชการในราชสำนักตกใจเป็นอันมาก พระเจ้ากรุงสยามจึงได้ตั้งต้นเกณฑ์คนฝึกหัดการต่าง ๆ บางทีหัดให้ปล้ำกัน บางทีหัดให้ต่อยมวย บางทีหัดกระบี่กระบอง และหัดการต่าง ๆ ชนิดนี้อีกหลายอย่าง การฝึกเหล่านี้ได้ทำให้ขุนนางข้าราชการมีงานมากขึ้น

(Translation): This news caused vassals of Siamese Royal court suddenly shocked. King Phetracha then announced the force recruitment to train fighting techniques such as wrestling, muay, krabi–krabong and many others. These training courses carried a heavy burden on the vassals.

In 1702 AD reign of King Suriyenthrathibodi. The king questioned his vassals about Siamese people festival held outer boundary of Ayutthaya Royal Palace. The government official responded to the king that the temple fair will be held at Khwaeng Wiset Chai Chan (now Ang Thong province, Thailand.) tomorrow, there are buddhist monastery celebration, grand competitions and amusements. King Suriyenthrathibodi then responded back that he hasn’t punched Muay boxing for a long time since enthroned and he decided to join Muay boxing competitions tomorrow.

The next festival day, King Suriyenthrathibodi disguised himself as general public with few royal polices and went to the festival by boat to join the Muay boxing competitions. King Suriyenthrathibodi won both the first and the second matches as The Royal Chronicle of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya reads:-

จึ่งดำรัสให้ข้าหลวงว่าแก่นายสยาม ให้จัดหาคู่มาเปรียบอีก แลนายสนามก็จัดหาคู่มาได้อีกแล้วให้ชกกัน แลคนมวยผู้นั้น ธารบุญมิได้ก็แพ้ในกึ่งยก คนทังหลายสรรเสรีญฝีมือพระหัถมี่ไป แล้วว่ามวยกรุงคนนี้มีฝีมือยี่งนักแลนายสนามก็ตกรางวันให้เหมือนหนหลังนั้น แล้วสมเดจ์พระเจ้าอยู่หัวก็ภาข้าหลวงคืนมาสู่เรือพระธินั่งค่อยสำราญพระราชหฤไท แล้วเสดจ์กลับยังกรุงเทพมหานคร ๚ะ๛

(Translation): King Suriyenthrathibodi royally requested the second match, boxing referee then rearranged another rival to compete him. King Suriyenthrathibodi won again among loundly applauded by general public and got award for one baht fifty satang. Later, he got on his boat and enjoyed the result of the competition, then went back to Krung Sri Ayutthaya.

In 1767 AD after the fall of the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, when the invading Burmese troops rounded up thousands of Siamese citizens. They then organised a seven-day, seven-night religious festival in honour of Buddha 's relics. The festivities included many forms of entertainment, such as costume plays, comedies and sword fighting matches. King Hsinbyushin wanted to see how Thai fighters would compare to his fighters. Nai Khanomtom was selected to fight against the King's chosen champion and the boxing ring was set up in front of the throne. When the fight began, Nai Khanomtom charged out, using punches, kicks, elbows and knees to pummel his opponent until he collapsed. The King supposedly asked if Nai Khanomtom would fight nine other Burmese champions to prove himself. He agreed and fought one after the other with no rest periods. His last opponent was a great kickboxing teacher from Rakhine State whom Nai Khanomtom defeated with kicks.

King Hsinbyushin was so impressed that he allegedly remarked in The Royal Chronicle of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya reads:-

"ฝ่ายพระเจ้าอังวะยังอยู่ ณะ เมืองย่างกุ้ง ทำการยกฉัตรยอดพระมหาเจดีย์เกษธาตุสำเรจ์แล้วให้มีการฉลอง จึ่งขุนนางพม่ากราบทูลว่า คนมวยเมืองไทมีฝีมือดียิ่งนัก จึ่งตรัสสั่งให้จัดหามาได้นายขนมต้มคนหนึ่ง เปนมวยดีมีฝีมือแต่ครั้งกรุงเก่า เอาตัวมาถวายพระเจ้าอังวะ พระเจ้าอังวะจึ่งให้จัดพม่าคนมวยเข้ามาเปรียบกับนายขนมต้มได้กันแล้ว ก็ให้ชกกันหน้าพระธินั่ง แลนายขนมต้มชกพม่าไม่ทันถึ่งยกก็แพ้ แล้วจัดคนอื่นเข้ามาเปรียบชกอิก นายขนมต้มชกพม่าชกมอญแพ้ถึ่งเก้าคนสิบคนสู้ไม่ได้ พระเจ้าอังวะทอดพระเนตรยกพระหัตถ์ตบพระอุระตรัสสรรเสรีญฝีมือนายขนมต้มว่า ไทมีพิศม์อยู่ทั่วตัว แต่มือเปล่าไม่มีอาวุธเลยยังสู้ได้ คนเดียวชณะถึ่งเก้าคนสิบคนฉนี้ เพราะจ้าวนายไม่ดีจึ่งเสียบ้านเมืองแก่ข้าศึก ถ้าจ้าวนายดีแล้วไหนเลยจะเสียกรุงศรีอยุทธยา แล้วพระราชทานรางวัลแก่นายขนมต้มโดยสมควร"

(Translation): "While King Hsinbyushin of Burma was residing at Yangon to raise an umbrella crown of The Shwedagon Pagoda for celebration, Burmese nobleman informed him of Siamese-skilled muai thai man. The King then stated a royal order to arrange a Siamese man name, Khanom Tom, a famous fighter from Ayutthaya to confront a Burmese boxer in front of the throne. The first round, the latter collapsed by Khanom Tom, and others round he confronted nine and ten other Burmese boxers. King Hsinbyushin was applauding him and said that Siamese was surrounding by dangerous situation but he can confront opponents up to nine and ten while unarmed. Because of King of Ayutthaya's negligent behaves that caused the aftermath of Ayutthaya Kingdom, the kingdom could stay if he's good. King Hsinbyushin then royally rewarded Khanom Tom as should."

To commemorate the story of Nai Khanom Tom, the Muay Thai Festival and Wai Khru Muay Thai Ceremony are staged annually every year on March 17.

This historiography was largely extrapolated from brief mentions in written records, including four episodes in the royal chronicles of the 18th century: one where King Sanphet VIII fought an incognito match at a temple fair, Khwaeng Mueang Wiset Chai Chan in 1702; one where Nai Khanom Tom, as a war captive following the fall of Ayutthaya, fought in front of the Burmese king and defeated ten Burmese fighters; one of the military commander Phraya Phichai Dap Hak, who in his youth was a Muay Thai fighter; and one of Muen Phlan, who was chosen by King Rama I to fight against two French challengers.
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