LOCATION OF PHRA PRADAENG: FROM KLONG TOEI TO NAKORN KHUEN KHAN THEN PHRA PRADAENG

Abstract

The name of the city, “Phra Pradaeng” which first appeared in the Royal Annals of Ayutthaya, composed in the reign of Phra Cakravartiphongsa (Cat) stated that King Somdej Pramahacakrabarti had transferred the Buddha image found in Klong Sumrong to this city. The name could have originated from the word “Kramarangteng”, meaning a sacred icon. In considering the European map, we can ensure that before the mid- 23rd century, the city could have been located at the present location of Klong Toei. Later, in the reign of Phra Borommakode of Ayutthaya, the city was moved to the mouth of the Chaopraya River, the present area of Samutprakarn province.

However, the Nakorn Khuen Khan city, which was established in the reign of King Rama II of Rattanakosin, has no relevancy to the ancient the city of Phra Pradaeng. In the reign of King Rama VI, the name Nakorn Khuen Khan was changed to Phra Pradaeng.