Wat Phichai Songkhram

Wat Phichai Songkhram, or the Monastery of War Victory, is a temple still in use by the monastic clergy. It is a classic-built temple with an ordination and sermon hall. While no prang is in situ and the vihara is relatively large, it was likely constructed in the late Ayutthaya period. A copper plate at the monastery indicates that it was built shortly before the final war between Burma and Ayutthaya in 1765 CE. The temple is located outside the city island in the Kramang Sub-district, at the mouth and south bank of Khlong Ban Bat.

The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya mention the temple as the place where the Phraya of Kamphaeng Phet (the later King Taksin), with his followers, set up camp in December 1766 CE.

The Phraya of Tak was promoted to Phraya Kamphaeng Phet by the Siamese King Suriyamin (Ekathat) and appointed as a brigade commander of a boat army that he had to constitute at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon to confront the Burmese in the open plains southeast of Ayutthaya. Phraya Kamphaeng Phet assigned the Phraya of Phetburi as his front guard while Luang Saraseni's troops were in support. The front guard, consisting of five fighting boats, got in contact with the enemy. The boats of the Phraya of Phetburi were entirely encircled by the numerous boats of the Burmese. Phraya Kamphaeng Phet and Luang Saraseni moored their boats and watched but did not advance to reinforce the front guard. The troops of the Phraya of Phetburi were slain, and the latter, after a heroic battle, was impaled by the Burmese. Phraya Kamphaeng Phet and Luang Saraseni fled the scene, did not return to the capital, and set up stockades, respectively, near Wat Phichai and the adjacent Wat Kluei. Phraya Kamphaeng Phet, likely convinced that Ayutthaya would soon be lost to the Burmese, decided to seek his fortune in the south, while Luang Saraseni went his own way and fled elsewhere.

Ayutthaya Historical Research