The country once known as Siam - since 1939 known officially as the Kingdom of Thailand - has a long and distinguished history since Tai peoples first settled in the Maenam-Chaophraya Basin in and around 1000 CE. As the Tai grew in numbers and power they established their first capital at Sukhothai (1238-1583), before absorbing the central plains Mon Kingdom of Dvaravati and peninsular Thailand. Centres of power were subsequently established at, Ayutthaya (1350-1767), Lopburi (1644-88), Thonburi (1768-1782) and eventually Bangkok (1782), which remains the capital today. In the far north, however, the ancient cities of Haripunchai (now Lamphun) and Chiang Mai were part of the neighbouring Tai Kingdom of Lan Na, and never fully part of Siam - though today they, too, form an important part of the Thai Kingdom.

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