The Legend of King Naresuan (; ) is a Thai biographical historical drama film film series about King Naresuan the Great, who ruled Siam from 1590 to 1605.
Directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol as a follow-up to his 2003 film The Legend of Suriyothai, the series chronicles Naresuan's life from his captivity in Burma during childhood to his rise as a military leader and eventual declaration of Siamese independence. The films were released in the United States under the collective title Kingdom of War.
The six-film series traces the life of King Naresuan from his childhood as a royal hostage in the court of King Bayinnaung, through his training as a novice monk and the formation of key alliances and rivalries in Pegu, to his rise as a military commander and his declaration of Siamese independence. The later films depict his major campaigns against the Burmese, including the escalating conflicts with King Nanda Bayin, culminating in the decisive confrontation with Crown Prince Mingyi Swa and the final campaigns that shaped the course of Ayutthaya's relationship with the Burmese kingdoms.
In production for more than three years, the project had an estimated budget of 700 million baht, making it the most expensive Thai film ever made.Na Talang, Jeerawat. January 16, 2007., "Naresuan should be great" , The Nation.Rithdee, Kong. November 24, 2006. "Twin films", The Bangkok Post, Realtime, Page R5.Rithdee, Kong. "'King Naresuan' expands to trilogy", Variety.
As King of Fire, Part II was selected as Thailand's submission to the 80th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.Rithdee, Kong. August 24, 2007. "Naresuan II reigns in Oscar race" , Variety."63 films qualify for foreign Oscar category", Hollywood Reporter.
Plot
Part I: Hongsawadee's Hostage The film focuses on the childhood of King Naresuan. Born in 1555, he was taken to Burma as a political hostage, where he grew up exposed to military training and swordsmanship—skills that would later make him a serious threat to the Burmese empire.
The story opens in 1564, during the Burmese siege of Phitsanulok, then the center of the declining Sukhothai polity. After surrendering, Naresuan's father, Maha Thammarachathirat, is compelled to hand over his two sons—Naresuan (known as the Black Prince) and Ekathotsarot (the White Prince)—to be raised in Pegu, the capital of the Hanthawaddy kingdom, under the supervision of King Bayinnaung. Bayinnaung assures that Naresuan will be treated as if he were his own child.
The decision creates a deep rift between Naresuan's parents, as Queen Wisut Kasattri resents the humiliation of seeing her sons removed while Phitsanulok becomes a Burmese vassal. Soon afterward, the neighboring Ayutthaya also falls to Burmese control.
Upon arriving at the Burmese court, Naresuan quickly becomes aware of palace politics, including the rivalry between himself and Bayinnaung's grandson, Mingyi Swa. Naresuan is soon sent to study as a novice monk under a Mon monk named Khanchong at a monastery outside the palace.
While exploring the nearby Thai village—inhabited by Siamese families displaced by Bayinnaung's expansionist campaigns and forced relocations to Hanthawaddy—Naresuan befriends a Mon street child who is later taken in as a temple boy, Bunthing (who would eventually become the Mon leader Lord Rachamanu). He also forms a friendship with Maneechan, a girl who works at the monastery.
Under Khanchong's guidance—who had once trained Bayinnaung himself—Naresuan develops both his military skills and his moral discipline.
Part II: Reclaiming Sovereignty Bayinnaung dies in the beginning of the film from natural causes. Thammaracha, the governor-king of Ayutthaya, believes it is important that he go and pay respect to the dead king out of fear that the new Burmese king Nanda would deem it as an insult and attack Ayutthaya. Prince Naresuan, however, having been raised in Pegu (the kingdom of Hanthawaddy) and who regards Bayinnaung as a second father, convinces Thammaracha to let him go in his place.
Upon arriving in Hanthawaddy (Hongsawadi in Thai), Naresuan's childhood teacher, a Buddhist monk named Khan Chong, informs him about the dangers that king Nanda and many factions in Burma are plotting his assassination. At king Bayinnaung's funeral, all representatives from vassal kingdoms are present besides for one, the Krang kingdom. King Nanda sees it as disrespect and seizes the opportunity to wage war and siege the mountain top city. Naresuan's Ayutthaya army is successful in taking the mountain top city and proves itself superior to the rival Burmese armies, namely of the Lord of Pyay and of Mingyi Swa (the eldest son of Nandabayin). Burmese rivals felt even more threatened by the strength and wits of Naresuan's army. During the battle, Naresuan's friend, Bunthing, now a highly skilled general under Naresuan, falls for the princess of Krang, who becomes his companion.
A plot is uncovered by Naresuan's childhood friends, two Mon rulers, that the Burmese are in fact planning the assassination of Naresuan. Upon finding out, Naresuan executes the plotters and ceremoniously declares Ayutthaya free and sovereign from Hanthawaddy. King Nanda and his Burmese are furious and begin a military campaign to capture and kill king Naresuan before his forces and liberated Siamese subjects can reach the Sittaung River. King Naresuan uses the strategy of a fighting retreat. His forces built a wooden bridge across the river and engage the pursuing Burmese army as they follow. Several battles took place during the crossing. However, as the Burmese forces catch up, the Siamese citizens and forces have already crossed to the other bank.
The Burmese, determined to defeat the Siamese, try to pursue Naresuan's forces by crossing the river. The king is then approached by his revered Buddhist teacher, Mon monk Khanchong. Here, he is given a special musket, which is capable of firing across the river. According to history, the movie portrays king Naresuan firing the musket across the Sittaung River, and with one strike, killing the general of the Burmese army. With the general dead, Burmese forces retreated back to Hanthawaddy. King Naresuan and his now independent Siamese forces head back to Ayutthaya and the king declares; "It's not over yet, there is more work for us to do!"
Part III: Naval Battle In 1584, at Kraeng, King Naresuan continued the war for the independence of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The conflict escalated when King Nanda Bayin of the Toungoo dynasty secretly ordered two armies to attack Ayutthaya. The first force, led by the Lord of Pathein, advanced through the Three Pagodas Pass. The second, commanded by Nawrahta Minsaw of Lan Na (Chiang Mai), marched from the north and established a camp at Ban Sra Ket.
While both Burmese and Lanna armies were preparing their offensive, the king of Longvek sent a Chinese official, Lord Jinjantu,Originally, for the role of Lord Jinjantu, Chatrichalerm Yukol had intended to cast Norman Chui, the well-known Hong Kong actor familiar to Thai audiences. to spy in Ayutthaya. However, he soon retreated after King Naresuan discovered his mission. Following a fierce river battle between Jinjantu's Chinese troops and Siamese gunboats under Naresuan's personal command, he managed to escape.
When the King of Longvek learns of Naresuan's military skill, he attempts to form an alliance with Ayutthaya by sending his reluctant brother, Prince Srisuphanrachathirat, to assist in the war against Hanthawaddy. As Naresuan prepares for the coming campaign, he realizes that Ayutthaya's forces are significantly outnumbered by the two Burmese armies. He therefore resolves to defeat each force separately before they can unite.
Naresuan first confronts and defeats the army of the Lord of Pathein west of Ayutthaya. He then engages the northern force commanded by King Nawrahta Minsaw of Lanna and, after a hard-fought battle, secures another victory. Once King Nanda Bayin concludes his war with Inn Wa, he resumes his campaign against Ayutthaya; however, Naresuan ultimately succeeds in preserving Ayutthaya's independence.mmushrm, 2011. "King Naresuan: Part Three", IMDb [Online] Available: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1878964/reviews-1 [3 December 2013]. "King Naresuan The Great of Siam (Film) / Best Filmmaker Scene by Scene of Asia-Pacific 2008, 2009", twssg.blogspot [Online] Available: http://twssg.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-post_27.html [3 December 2013].
Part IV: The Nanda Bayin War Naresuan is injured trying to storm a Burmese camp. His advisors told him to avoid direct contact with enemy troops but he ignores and climb the ladder. He initially slays a few Burmese soldiers before the Burmese camp commander stabs him with a spear.
Nanda Bayin orders his son, Mingyi Swa to eliminate King Naresuan, saying that he doesn't care what losses the Burmese suffer. They must take down the king so that the Siamese forces would be easier to defeat.
The Burmese send their army to defeat Siam but were unsuccessful.
Part V: Elephant Battle Nanda Bayin was humiliated by his crushing defeats by King Naresuan. He sent his son Mingyi Swa with an army to attack Ayutthaya. Naresuan planned the battle with his generals and came up with a decision to fight at Nong Sarai. The larger Burmese force under Mingy Swa was faced with a smaller army by King Naresuan. Naresuan calls Mingyi Swa for an elephant duel. Fearing humiliation of his royalty, he accepts the duel. Ekathosarot also duels with Chaophraya Chaiyanuphap. Naresuan and Mingyi Swa fought in the middle of an open field. Naresuan was cut in his helmet, but managed to continue fighting and was able to slay Mingyi Swa. Ekathosarot also slays Chaophraya Chaiyanuphap. The Burmese army soon retreats from Siam. This will be the last Burmese invasion that Nanda Bayin will have ordered. After his victory, Naresuan planned to order the execution of all his soldiers that didn't participate in the fight with him, but he was convinced by Khanchong, his childhood monk teacher to not have them executed and sent to fight Burma.
Part VI: The end of Hong Sa Naresuan receives news from a Burmese deserter that the Burmese king Nanda Bayin, enraged over the loss of his son, had ordered the deaths of most of the military leaders in his Army, on the grounds that they had 'let his son die'. There was also news that, in his rage, Nanda Bayin had also killed off Suphankalaya, Naresuan's older sister. This angers the King, and he quickly announces his intention to gather an army, capture Pegu, and burn it to the ground as revenge. Nanda Bayin was met by the viceroy of Toungoo and was requested to leave Pegu and retreat to Toungoo. The Lord of Pyay marched his army to loot the city. The city was later sacked by the Arakans. When Naresuan reached the city, he saw the once glorious city in ruins. His generals advised him that supply lines are stretched thin and he could march up to catch Nanda Bayin, but Naresuan insisted that the Siamese army can use Mawlamyine to supply. The Siamese army marched up to Toungoo. Toungoo was besieged by the Siamese army after the viceroy of Toungoo refused to hand over Nanda Bayin. Natshinnaung the prince of Toungoo didn't enjoy Nanda Bayin's presence in the city so he got into an agreement with Naresuan. He would allow Naresuan to get into the palace of Toungoo and execute Nanda Bayin. Nanda Bayin crossed the moats of the city and entered Nanda Bayin's chamber. Nanda Bayin then admits his guilt to Naresuan and shows his burnt face. Naresuan then spares Nanda Bayin and takes the Siamese army back to Ayutthaya. Natshinnaung later assassinates Nanda Bayin by poisoning him. Naresuan arrives back to Ayutthaya to tell his monk that we will retire and be a monk. His brother Ekathosarot would ascend to the throne.
Cast
Wanchana Sawatdee as Naresuan Pratcha Sananvatananont as Naresuan (youth) Napatsakorn Mitr-em as Mingyi Swa