1.Pegu's Hostage
The Pegu forces of King Bayinnaung overrun Phitsanulok, ruled by King Thamaracha, who had hoped for help of forces from Ayutthaya, but King Chakrapadi needed the troops to protect his own city. Bayinnaung demands that Prince Naresuan, the young son of Thamaracha, be given to him as a hostage to ensure Phitsanulok's loyalty. Bayinnaung then takes Naresuan on his military campaign to Ayutthaya, schooling the boy in the ways of war. Ayutthaya falls and becomes a vassal state of Pegu, with Thamaracha installed as its leader.
In Pegu, Naresuan is treated as a son of Bayinnaung and afforded all the comforts and respect due to a prince. He rides his horse into "Siamese town" near the palace, home to Siamese refugees of the war, and rescues another boy who is being chased by a mob because he stole some food. The unkempt street urchin does not know his name so Naresuan names him Bunting. Naresuan is then ordained as a novice monk in the Buddhist temple, and Bunting is made a temple boy. The two friends then befriend a temple girl, Manechan. The three children engage in various sorts of mischief, including taking part in cockfighting, despite the orders of the head monk, Khanchong. Under Khanchong's tutelage, Naresuan learns more about martial arts and methods of war.
Bayinnaung, meanwhile, is continuing his campaign to consolidate control of Siam. Naresuan's older sister, Princess Supankulayanee is brought to Pegu to also serve as a consort to the king. With his sister now held hostage, the young Naresuan decides it is time for him to return to Ayutthaya. Already showing superior fighting skills, he attracts a band of loyal follows and makes his escape to Ayutthaya.
2.Reclaiming Sovereignty
Many years have passed since Naresuan went to Ayutthaya. Now the ruler of Phitsanulok, Prince Naresuan, now a grown man, has attracted more followers to his army. His aide-de-camp is his boyhood friend, Bunting, now christened Lord Rachamanu. Naresuan's fighters include an African warrior and a Japanese samurai. Word is received in Ayutthaya that King Bayinnaung has died. Ayutthaya King Thamaracha believes it is important that he go and pay respects, but his son Naresuan, having been raised in Pegu and who regards Bayinnaung as a second father, convinces Thamaracha to let him go.
In Pegu, representatives of nearly all the kingdoms in the realm gather to pay respects to the departed Bayinnaung and also swear loyalty to the new king, Nonthabureng. Naresuan and Bunting are reunited with their childhood friend Manechan, who is now a lady in waiting to Princess Supankulayanee, Naresuan's sister. Naresuan and Manechan share an immediate romantic connection.
One of the Pegu vassal states, Khang, did not send a representative, so Nonthabureng orders three armies to attack the kingdom. Naresuan take his army into the fight. The first two armies fail in their attack of the impenetrable fortress of Khang, which is defended by fierce archers commanded by Princess Lurkin, daughter of the Khang king. Naresuan, held in reserve, finds a way to penetrate the city's rear entrance and storms the city. Bunting trades blows with Lurkin and is enchanted by the fierce beauty. He chases her down and persists with his romantic overtures until she surrenders to him.
Naresuan now must look for a way to return to Siam. Nonthabureng's son, Prince Upparaja, is jealous of Naresuan's military prowess and surmises that Naresuan is going to betray Pegu. He plots various attacks against Naresuan, including sending a band of headhunters to attack Naresuan.
At a river crossing back into Siam, Naresuan finds his forces under attack. With his army across, Naresuan is given a long rifle by his tutor, the monk Khanchong. Naresuan takes aim at the Pegu commander across the mile-wide river and fires, killing the man and firing the first shot in a declaration of independence for Siam.
The Pegu forces of King Bayinnaung overrun Phitsanulok, ruled by King Thamaracha, who had hoped for help of forces from Ayutthaya, but King Chakrapadi needed the troops to protect his own city. Bayinnaung demands that Prince Naresuan, the young son of Thamaracha, be given to him as a hostage to ensure Phitsanulok's loyalty. Bayinnaung then takes Naresuan on his military campaign to Ayutthaya, schooling the boy in the ways of war. Ayutthaya falls and becomes a vassal state of Pegu, with Thamaracha installed as its leader.
In Pegu, Naresuan is treated as a son of Bayinnaung and afforded all the comforts and respect due to a prince. He rides his horse into "Siamese town" near the palace, home to Siamese refugees of the war, and rescues another boy who is being chased by a mob because he stole some food. The unkempt street urchin does not know his name so Naresuan names him Bunting. Naresuan is then ordained as a novice monk in the Buddhist temple, and Bunting is made a temple boy. The two friends then befriend a temple girl, Manechan. The three children engage in various sorts of mischief, including taking part in cockfighting, despite the orders of the head monk, Khanchong. Under Khanchong's tutelage, Naresuan learns more about martial arts and methods of war.
Bayinnaung, meanwhile, is continuing his campaign to consolidate control of Siam. Naresuan's older sister, Princess Supankulayanee is brought to Pegu to also serve as a consort to the king. With his sister now held hostage, the young Naresuan decides it is time for him to return to Ayutthaya. Already showing superior fighting skills, he attracts a band of loyal follows and makes his escape to Ayutthaya.
2.Reclaiming Sovereignty
Many years have passed since Naresuan went to Ayutthaya. Now the ruler of Phitsanulok, Prince Naresuan, now a grown man, has attracted more followers to his army. His aide-de-camp is his boyhood friend, Bunting, now christened Lord Rachamanu. Naresuan's fighters include an African warrior and a Japanese samurai. Word is received in Ayutthaya that King Bayinnaung has died. Ayutthaya King Thamaracha believes it is important that he go and pay respects, but his son Naresuan, having been raised in Pegu and who regards Bayinnaung as a second father, convinces Thamaracha to let him go.
In Pegu, representatives of nearly all the kingdoms in the realm gather to pay respects to the departed Bayinnaung and also swear loyalty to the new king, Nonthabureng. Naresuan and Bunting are reunited with their childhood friend Manechan, who is now a lady in waiting to Princess Supankulayanee, Naresuan's sister. Naresuan and Manechan share an immediate romantic connection.
One of the Pegu vassal states, Khang, did not send a representative, so Nonthabureng orders three armies to attack the kingdom. Naresuan take his army into the fight. The first two armies fail in their attack of the impenetrable fortress of Khang, which is defended by fierce archers commanded by Princess Lurkin, daughter of the Khang king. Naresuan, held in reserve, finds a way to penetrate the city's rear entrance and storms the city. Bunting trades blows with Lurkin and is enchanted by the fierce beauty. He chases her down and persists with his romantic overtures until she surrenders to him.
Naresuan now must look for a way to return to Siam. Nonthabureng's son, Prince Upparaja, is jealous of Naresuan's military prowess and surmises that Naresuan is going to betray Pegu. He plots various attacks against Naresuan, including sending a band of headhunters to attack Naresuan.
At a river crossing back into Siam, Naresuan finds his forces under attack. With his army across, Naresuan is given a long rifle by his tutor, the monk Khanchong. Naresuan takes aim at the Pegu commander across the mile-wide river and fires, killing the man and firing the first shot in a declaration of independence for Siam.
No comments:
Post a Comment