Person

Ramathibodi I

1314–1369 · 14th century · Also known as King U Thong, U Thong, Uthong

Ramathibodi I, known before his accession as U Thong, was the founder and first king of Ayutthaya, ruling from 1351 to 1369. Linked by family to the older centres of Lavo and Suphannaphum, he built his capital on an island where three rivers meet the Chao Phraya. Tradition credits him with Ayutthaya's first written laws and with promoting Theravada Buddhism as the religion of the court.

Ramathibodi I
Image: CKasa · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 2 profiles

Sukhothai KingdomDeclineAyutthaya KingdomFoundation, Summary

Mentioned in 4 state histories

DvaravatiLavo KingdomSuphannaphumAyutthaya Kingdom

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Ramathibodi I. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ramathibodi-i
MLA
“Ramathibodi I.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ramathibodi-i. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Ramathibodi I.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ramathibodi-i.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Ramathibodi I’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/ramathibodi-i (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻