The Gun Show: How a Few Thai Cannons Helped Shape History [Season 4, Episode 37]

We return to our Thai history series with a fascinating
look at the role that several Thai cannons played in some
important historical events. 


First, with the help of a cool blog on Thai
history from our friend Ken Lohatepanont, Greg tells
the story of some silver cannons gifted by King Narai of Siam to
Louis XIV of France. It turns out that during the world-changing
storming of the Bastille in 1789, those very same cannons were
used by the revolutionaries to bring down the notorious prison.
Who would have thought that Thai military equipment would play
such a key role in world history?


Next, Greg tells the story of two large cannons, known as
Seri Negara and Seri Pattani, used by the southern Sultanate of
Pattani. When Pattani eventually challenged Siam and lost, the
Thai King seized the cannons as spoils of war. Alas, one ended up
at the bottom of the sea, but the other is on display in front of
the Thai Ministry of Defense to this day.


Last, Greg relates the use of cannons by the famous Thai
developer Nai Lert to mark the boundaries of his property that
borders Sukhumvit and Wireless Road. The concrete remains can
still be seen today outside of Central Embassy shopping
mall. 


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