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The Amphawa district is an important place and
is much involved with Thai history from the Ayutthaya period to the
early Rattanakosin period. In the past, it was called Khwaeng Bang Chang,
the small community prospered in both agriculture and commerce. There
are credible evidences that suggest that during King Prasatthong era,
Kwaeng Bang Chang had a market called Bang Chang Market. Ms. Noi was
the head of the market who had a title of Thao Kaeo Phaluek. She was a
member of the Bang Chang family a very rich family. Later, the family
was granted the surname of Na Bang Chang by the King.
In the year 2303 B.E. (1760), during the reign
of King Ekkathat in the late of Ayutthaya era, he promoted Nai Thong
Duang (later to become King Rama I) to the position of Luang Yok Krabat
governing Muang Ratchaburi, the fourth-grade city under Ayutthaya.
Later, Luang Yokkrabat married Khun Nak, a daughter of the rich Bang
Chang family, they settled behind Wat Chulamani. Some time later, the
house was gutted from a fire, so they relocated to a new house behind
Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram, where they stayed for 3 years.
In 2310 B.E. (1767), the Burmese conquered
Ayutthaya, Luang Yokkrabat and his family escaped to the deep of the
jungles. At that time, Than Kaeo (Somdet Krom Phra Srisudarak) an elder
sister of Luang Yokkrabat gave birth to a daughter named Boon Rod (who
later became Princess Srisuriyenthara Borommarachinee, the queen to
King Rama II). When Phraya Wachiraphrakarn gathered an army and was
able to repel the Burmese, he was crowned as King Taksin. So Luang
Yokkrabat and his family moved back to their hometown.
At that time, Khun Nak gave birth to their
fourth son, Chim (who later became King Rama II). After that Luang
Yokkrabat served King Taksin. He received the title of Phrarajawarin
Chao Krom Phra Tamruajnokkwa, then was promoted to Prince
Phrayamahakasatsuek and later on was crowned as King Rama I, the
founder of Chakri Dynasty. Khun Nak, his wife, was promoted to Queen
(Somdej Amarintharamat). Khun San, Khun Nak's mother, was promoted to
Princess Phrarubsirisopharkmahanaknari.
But because Queen Amarintharamat was a native of
Bang Chang, she had many close relatives who owned fruit orchards at
Bang Chang. When promoted to Queen Amarintharamat, she became a noble
Bang Chang. Therefore her relatives are related to the noble Bang Chang
Family. Somdet Phra Amarintharamat always visited her relatives, so it
was called Suan Nok which means the suburb that belonged to members of
the queen's family. Bangkok, the region of the royal family was called
Suan Nai. The catchphrase of Bang Chang Suan Nork, Bangkok Suan Nai was
used until the reign of King Rama IV.
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