Ayutthaya, located about an hour north of Bangkok,
is the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam. From 1351 until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767, Ayutthaya was the seat of a territory that included all or parts of modern day Burma, China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the northern Lanna provinces of Siam. By the end of the 14th century, Ayutthaya was considered to be the strongest power in Indochina. The city was held until the late 1700’s when it fell to Burmese raiders after a lengthy siege. Shortly afterward, the current capital was established in Bangkok, or Krung Thep, as it is called by Thais.