| Abstract: |
the mid-1820s was a critical period when Siam had to act upon various events: the first Anglo-Burmese War, leading to the rise of British power and the decline of Burma
the visit to Bangkok of a British mission
and the resurgence of Lao power under king Anu of Vientiane. This paper attempts to read the available sources 'between the lines' in order to get a grasp of the crucial questions, virtually ignored in the existing literature, of how the Siamese leaders pondered, argued, and planned in reaction to these regional developments. Focusing on Chiang Mai and neighboring principalities in the years 1823-1827, it proposes an insight into behind-the-scenes debates in higher circles.
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