SURYOTHAI
WHERE DID WE
GET OUR NAME?
During the 14th to 17th centuries Thailand (formerly Siam) was at war on several fronts. Heroism was not purely a male prerogative during these times of war. Several Thai women have been immortalised for their bravery. The most famous of these was Queen Suryothai, wife to King Mahachakrapat. The Queen accompanied her husband into battle at the Three Pagodas Pass, wearing full warrior garb and seated on an armoured war elephant. During a sortie against the Burmese, the King was engaged in single combat with the Price of Prome, his flank was left dangerously exposed to the enemy. This brave Queen rode her elephant between the King and the Burmese soldiers, saving her husband’s life but in the process being cut down and killed. In Thailand today Queen Suryothai is remembered as a great heroine and has a shrine to her name in Ayuddhaya, the ancient capital of Siam. We visited the shrine on our last Tracking the Warrior Tour of Thailand. Walking three times around the golden prang we wished for good luck before visiting the temple dedicated to this great queen's name and paying our respects to this amazing and truly great lady.