Thailand: King Taksin battle statue in the middle of King Taksin Park, Chanthaburi, Chanthaburi Province

Chanthaburi is celebrated across Thailand because of its heroic links with King Taksin the Great, the conqueror who fought back against the Burmese Although Taksin only ruled briefly from his new capital at Thonburi (1768-82), his name remains greatly revered, and is commemorated. 82), his name remains greatly revered, and is commemorated across Chanthaburi in a number of shrines, monuments, parks and even a boat yard.<br/><br/><br/>The city is also known as the "capital of the new capital". King Taksin (Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat; Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช; April 17, 1734 - April 7, 1782) was the only King of the He is greatly revered by the Thai people for his leadership in liberating Siam from the Burmese occupation after the Second Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, and he was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom. Ayutthaya in 1767, and the subsequent unification of Siam after it fell under various warlords.<br/><br/><br/>He is greatly revered by the Thai people for his leadership in liberating Siam from Burmese occupation after the Second Fall of King Taksin established Thonburi as his new capital, since Ayutthaya had been almost completely destroyed by the Burmese. His reign was characterized by numerous wars, fought to repel new Burmese invasions and to subjugate the northern Thai kingdom of Lanna, the Laotian principalities, and a threatening Cambodia.<br/><br/><br/> He was succeeded by the Chakri dynasty and the Rattanakosin Kingdom under his long time friend King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.