Nine Army Battle Historical Park

The Nine Army Battle Memorial has been established by the Royal Thai Army in Chong Sadao in commemoration of the battle between the Siamese and the Burmese here in 1795, a battle between the invading Konbaung Dynasty of Burma and the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand.

The construction of the memorial started in 1999. The site serves as a center for historical research. The main modern-shaped building has a diorama, video displays and a sand pit displaying the major battlefield. A bit further up is a watchtower giving an overview of the terrain in where the battle occurred.

King Bodawpaya of Burma (r. 1781-1819) sent more than a hundred thousand troops in five armies against Siam in 1785. The first was sent against the peninsular region, crossing overland from Mergui to Chumphon and Chaiya and thence south. The second pushed off from Tavoy across the mountains to Ratburi and Phetburi to meet up with the force at Chumphon. The main force, under the command of Bodawpaya himself, crossed the Three Pagodas Pass from Martaban toward Kanchanaburi and was directed against Bangkok. The fourth army was to proceed to Tak and Kamphaengphet and then close in on the capital from the north; the fifth moved from its base in Chiang Saen to Lampang and thence south- eastward toward Phitsanulok. The main force, under the command of the uparat (Rama I's younger brother, the former Chaophraya Surasi) went to Kanchanaburi to block the Three Pagodas Pass invasion route. Early in 1785, the conflict began in the desolate hinterland upstream from Kanchanaburi. The uparat's forces successfully contained Burma there, while harassing their supply lines farther up the Khwae River. As Burma, now famished and tired, became demoralized, the uparat attacked and sent their advance guard fleeing in disarray. Bodawpaya, farther up the river, panicked and withdrew his main force back to Martaban. [Ref: David K. Wyatt - Thailand, A short History - 2nd Ed (2003) - pages 132-4]

Ayutthaya Historical Research