The importance of Phetchaburi to the Kingdom of Thailand and the role of the elite from the central state to Phetchaburi in the Govern a town system

Abstract

Phetchaburi is a city where the Thai elite, particularly king and powerful nobles, have always been important and in the interest as a strategic city of Thai state since the Ayutthaya period due to its political, social and economic readiness. After establishing Rattanakosin, Phetchaburi had received a great attention from elites of the central state, who were the centers of power, both the king and the powerful of Bunnag family, as both groups of elites were keen to play an important role in regulating resources of Phetchaburi, where a strategically important source of crops such as rice, salt and sugar, among other crops both agriculture, forest and marine resources. The role of the power structure of any particular noble family did not take place in Phetchaburi until the reign of King Rama III.  Bunnag family began to play a critical role because they discovered Phetchaburi was an important resource and in the reign of King Rama IV, after the Bowring Treaty in 1855, the economic system of Thai state changed dramatically. Its fertility and being an important source of production generated a large amount of revenue for the state. Phetchaburi was therefore a significant source of interest and received an attention of the elites, especially the king Rama IV and Rama V who came to inspect and beam more power to supervise and rule Phetchaburi of the Bunnag family.