History

History

Phuket is the modern name for the island, and a variation on the older spelling ( a Thai 'T' has been substituted for a Thai 'J' in the Thai language spelling of the word ) which evidence shows was itself an exact translation of the word 'manikram', used by Tamil visitors from India as long ago as 1025 A.D.(B.E. 1568). It means 'Crystal (or jewel - like) City.' Because Phuket was a well-known stop among sailor in ancient remains, maps, and texts, the oldest of which is Ptolemy 's dating from the early 3rd century A.D., where it states that in traveling from Suwanapoom, (the'Golden Land' : identified as the Southeast Asian Peninsula) down to the Malay Peninsula, one passes 'Cape Junk Ceylon', which is a name often seen on old maps applied to Phuket.

There are also references in Thai history to Phuket being a part of the Shivite Kingdom of the Malay Archipelago. Later, from the period of the Sri Vichai Empire to that of Siritam Nakorn, Phuket was known as "The Town of TakuaThalang" being number 1 1 in a group of 12 towns that took as their badge the sign of the dog. Phuket was associated with Takua Pa until the age of Sukothai. During the Ayuttaya period, the Dutch arrived and built storehouses to use in the tin trade. Thus the northern, and central parts of the island were governed by Thais, and southern and western portions were where foreigners came to buy tin ore. During the beginning of the Rattanakosin, that is the present period (c. 1780), the Burmese King brought his armies to attack various cities in Thailand, and came constantly to attack Thalang in the south. At that time the governor had recently passed away. Khunying Jan, the governor's wife and Khun Mock, her younger sister, ollected forces to fight with the Burmese army, and finally defeated them on March 13, 1785 ( B.E. 2328). The King Rama I raciously bestowed upon Khunying Jan the honorific title, Thao Thep Krasattri, and upon, Khun Mock, Thao Sri Sunthorn. Afterward Phuket grew and prospered through the mining and sale of tin.