Chapter 3a - Boromoraja II (1424-fl1432)
A Warrior King
Boromaraja II came to the throne in a time of war. A skilled general (1), he took personal command of the army. Young nobles flocked to his banner (2), enabling him to reorganise the army as a fully mounted force. Everyone awaited the order to march.
An Outbreak of Peace
However, that order did not come. To the south and west, the flame of battle died as the various wars sputtered to indecisive conclusions. The rump of Malacca paid off the Atjans in July, the same month that Myanmar reluctantly accepted the 'protection' of Arakan. Taungu and her ally gave up the profitless struggle the following January. Boromoraja occupied himself instead with tasks of peace, giving a cousin in marriage to his ally the Sultan of Atjeh (who had recently attracted Arakan to their compact) and extending the new Office of Internal Revenue to Kwai province.
The Fall of Dai Viet
One war did produce a decisive outcome. In February of 1426, the ruler of Dai Viet, his nation wholly overrun by Chinese armies, threw himself upon the Emperor's mercy (3).
The Emperor was not feeling merciful. Tanh Noah, Lao Cai and Da Nang provinces were seized by China, along with a concession of military access and a heavy indemnity.
When, a few weeks later, the humbled ruler proclaimed the 'Empire of Dai Viet' in pathetic imitation of his new master (4), few observers knew whether to laugh or cry.
The Champa War
It is said that a false word may do more harm than a thousand swords. The truth of this old saying was brought rudely home to the king of Champa who, apparently angered by Ayutthaya's new pro-muslim policies, was heard to remark publicly that the Kingdom of the Elephant was now the Land of the Sacred Pig.
Boromoraja knew only one answer to such an insult. Gathering his whole force, and securing passage from a friendly Cambodia, he marched against Champa in April of 1426. An outbreak of rebellion in Perak delayed him only slightly, the army of Champa delayed him not at all. Da Lat fell in June of 1427, Saigon in February of 1428, and Boromoraja returned home with an apology, a treaty of vassalage and the Champan treasury.
He celebrated by extending the duties of the Office of Internal Revenue to Phuket province.
Curiously, the Sultan of Malacca also declared war on Champa during this time. It is unclear what, if anything, he intended, but no military operations ever occurred, and if the Sultan hoped to attract the young King's favour, he did not succeed.
The Drums Beat Again
The brief outbreak of regional peace had already faded. Bengal and Orissa fought an indecisive war from 1427-1429; Makassar skirmished with Mataram over tha same period.
Perhaps attracted by the prospect of glory overseas, Boromoraja ordered the foundation of the Ayutthayan navy in 1429 (5), though no suitable ships could be found.
By 1430, however, the war drums were beating on the borders. Cambodia, supported by the rump of Dai Viet, assaulted a weakened Champa in January, eventually securing Da Lat province after two years of war. Late in the year, Pegu again attacked Myanmar, to no great effect. And by the start of 1431, the elephant was ready to move.
The Second Malaccan War
Citing alleged Malaccan support for a recent revolt in Johor (6), Boromoraja cancelled his treaty of military access in January of 1431 and declared war in April. Atjeh and Arakan offered their support, but it was hardly needed. The forces of Malacca were crushed, Malacca itself was invested and the city fell in July of 1432. Shortly thereafter, the Sultanate was annexed to the Kingdom. Malacca's great port and its rich trade revenues were now Ayutthaya's.
There were other prizes too. By a quirk of history, the first ships received by the Ayutthayan navy were captured Malaccan vessels (7).
The Two Moons' War (8)
No sooner had the Malaccan War been concluded, than conflict broke out in the north. War erupted between Arakan and Pegu, and both sides called upon thier allies. Ayutthaya and Atjeh rallied to the side of Arakan, while Pegu was supported by their fellow Buddhists of Cambodia and Dai Viet.
Even as Boromoraja rushed his army north, the Cambodians seized the opportunity to launch a major invasion of Bangkok province. Boromoraja reached his capital to find it under seige.
Outnumbered, but maneuvering brilliantly, the Ayutthayan Army routed the invaders and pursued them into Cambodia, only for Arakan to make a shameful peace shortly theafter, paying a humiliating indemnity to Pegu.
Boromoraja returned reluctantly to his capital and the neglected affairs of state. 'To better regulate the market of Malacca', he concluded Trade Agreements with Atjeh and Brunei (but not Arakan). This measure caused great unhappiness among the Ayutthayan merchants, who were dismayed at this grant of privileges to foreigners (9).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Notes
(1) 3/2/4/1 Leader
(2) Enthusiasm for the Army - 5,000 free cavalry
(3) Watching China steamroller Dai Viet cured me of my ambitions in that direction. I lost count of Chinese troops at 50,000.
(4) Sometime scripted events fire at the sillest times...
(5) +1 Naval, now Land 4. I wanted to colonise Jakarta before someone else did.
(6) I had no CB, but it didn't look like Atjeh was going to DOW for me. I wanted that CoT!
(7) 3 warships, 4 transports. And worth their weight in gold.
(8) So named because it lasted two months.
(9) And I lost all my trade research. Gnash.
A Warrior King
Boromaraja II came to the throne in a time of war. A skilled general (1), he took personal command of the army. Young nobles flocked to his banner (2), enabling him to reorganise the army as a fully mounted force. Everyone awaited the order to march.
An Outbreak of Peace
However, that order did not come. To the south and west, the flame of battle died as the various wars sputtered to indecisive conclusions. The rump of Malacca paid off the Atjans in July, the same month that Myanmar reluctantly accepted the 'protection' of Arakan. Taungu and her ally gave up the profitless struggle the following January. Boromoraja occupied himself instead with tasks of peace, giving a cousin in marriage to his ally the Sultan of Atjeh (who had recently attracted Arakan to their compact) and extending the new Office of Internal Revenue to Kwai province.
The Fall of Dai Viet
One war did produce a decisive outcome. In February of 1426, the ruler of Dai Viet, his nation wholly overrun by Chinese armies, threw himself upon the Emperor's mercy (3).
The Emperor was not feeling merciful. Tanh Noah, Lao Cai and Da Nang provinces were seized by China, along with a concession of military access and a heavy indemnity.
When, a few weeks later, the humbled ruler proclaimed the 'Empire of Dai Viet' in pathetic imitation of his new master (4), few observers knew whether to laugh or cry.
The Champa War
It is said that a false word may do more harm than a thousand swords. The truth of this old saying was brought rudely home to the king of Champa who, apparently angered by Ayutthaya's new pro-muslim policies, was heard to remark publicly that the Kingdom of the Elephant was now the Land of the Sacred Pig.
Boromoraja knew only one answer to such an insult. Gathering his whole force, and securing passage from a friendly Cambodia, he marched against Champa in April of 1426. An outbreak of rebellion in Perak delayed him only slightly, the army of Champa delayed him not at all. Da Lat fell in June of 1427, Saigon in February of 1428, and Boromoraja returned home with an apology, a treaty of vassalage and the Champan treasury.
He celebrated by extending the duties of the Office of Internal Revenue to Phuket province.
Curiously, the Sultan of Malacca also declared war on Champa during this time. It is unclear what, if anything, he intended, but no military operations ever occurred, and if the Sultan hoped to attract the young King's favour, he did not succeed.
The Drums Beat Again
The brief outbreak of regional peace had already faded. Bengal and Orissa fought an indecisive war from 1427-1429; Makassar skirmished with Mataram over tha same period.
Perhaps attracted by the prospect of glory overseas, Boromoraja ordered the foundation of the Ayutthayan navy in 1429 (5), though no suitable ships could be found.
By 1430, however, the war drums were beating on the borders. Cambodia, supported by the rump of Dai Viet, assaulted a weakened Champa in January, eventually securing Da Lat province after two years of war. Late in the year, Pegu again attacked Myanmar, to no great effect. And by the start of 1431, the elephant was ready to move.
The Second Malaccan War
Citing alleged Malaccan support for a recent revolt in Johor (6), Boromoraja cancelled his treaty of military access in January of 1431 and declared war in April. Atjeh and Arakan offered their support, but it was hardly needed. The forces of Malacca were crushed, Malacca itself was invested and the city fell in July of 1432. Shortly thereafter, the Sultanate was annexed to the Kingdom. Malacca's great port and its rich trade revenues were now Ayutthaya's.
There were other prizes too. By a quirk of history, the first ships received by the Ayutthayan navy were captured Malaccan vessels (7).
The Two Moons' War (8)
No sooner had the Malaccan War been concluded, than conflict broke out in the north. War erupted between Arakan and Pegu, and both sides called upon thier allies. Ayutthaya and Atjeh rallied to the side of Arakan, while Pegu was supported by their fellow Buddhists of Cambodia and Dai Viet.
Even as Boromoraja rushed his army north, the Cambodians seized the opportunity to launch a major invasion of Bangkok province. Boromoraja reached his capital to find it under seige.
Outnumbered, but maneuvering brilliantly, the Ayutthayan Army routed the invaders and pursued them into Cambodia, only for Arakan to make a shameful peace shortly theafter, paying a humiliating indemnity to Pegu.
Boromoraja returned reluctantly to his capital and the neglected affairs of state. 'To better regulate the market of Malacca', he concluded Trade Agreements with Atjeh and Brunei (but not Arakan). This measure caused great unhappiness among the Ayutthayan merchants, who were dismayed at this grant of privileges to foreigners (9).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Notes
(1) 3/2/4/1 Leader
(2) Enthusiasm for the Army - 5,000 free cavalry
(3) Watching China steamroller Dai Viet cured me of my ambitions in that direction. I lost count of Chinese troops at 50,000.
(4) Sometime scripted events fire at the sillest times...
(5) +1 Naval, now Land 4. I wanted to colonise Jakarta before someone else did.
(6) I had no CB, but it didn't look like Atjeh was going to DOW for me. I wanted that CoT!
(7) 3 warships, 4 transports. And worth their weight in gold.
(8) So named because it lasted two months.
(9) And I lost all my trade research. Gnash.
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