lets read the history of the Pattani first then we could
understand....the thai regard it as legend and story, yet many
historian and archeologist disagree.
Patani probably rivals Kedah as among the oldest Malay states on
the Peninsula. The lost Second Century kingdom of Langkasuka may
have spanned the peninsula from Patani on the east coast, to
northern Kedah on the west. Wu-pei-chih, certainly firmly places a
Lang-hsi-chia to the south of Songkla (Singora), up to the Patani
River and the fabled spirit land of Lakawn Suka still features in
the mythology of Patani Malays. Patani was probably one of the Sri
Vijayan empire's conquests and ' Ilangasoka, undaunted in fierce
battles' was certainly recorded as one of Rajendra Cola's conquests
in his raids into Southeast Asia into the empire in 1025.Patani is
also probably one of the earliest Malay states to convert to Islam
- certainly well before Melaka. The Hikayat Patani tells the story
of its king Raja Phya Tu Nakpa who falls gravely ill, with no
apparent cure to his ailment in sight. A holy man by the name of
Syeikh Said claims he can cure the ruler but only if he promises to
convert to Islam as soon as he is healthy. The desperate ruler
promises to do so and, as a result, he makes a miraculous recovery.
However, he forgets his promise and falls ill, and again seeks the
holy man's blessings. This happens three times - but he finally
makes good on his promise the third time and becomes a Muslim,
calling himself Sultan Ismail Shah.It is under Sultan Ismail Shah's
reign that the state takes on the name 'Patani'.
Seeking a location for a new capital, he comes across an ideal spot
on the coast and exclaims to his followers 'Pantai Ini!' ('This
beach!). Another account says that he finds a farmer's hut at this
spot and calls his capital 'Pak Tani' ('farmer'). This capital is
thought to be in modern day Kampong Grisek (Kru Se).Patani was
certainly known to the Portuguese, who first visited the port in
1516, with Godinho de Eredia going as far as describing 'Patane' as
the first seat of the Malay Empire.
The fall of Melaka to the Portuguese in 1511 certainly increased
Patani's popularity with India's Muslim traders. Its location on
the east coast of the Peninsula gave it the added advantage of
being the ideal emporium for goods from China. This economic growth
may have strengthened its military power as well. Taking advantage
of a massive invasion of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1563, Sultan
Ismail's successor, Sultan Muzaffar Shah, launched an attack on the
Siamese, with 200 ships and thousands of men. He died suddenly
during the campaign and is said to be buried at the estuary of the
Menam Chao Phraya.In 1584, Patani entered its golden age with the
rule of four successive Queens, Ratu Hijau ('The Green Queen'),
Ratu Biru ('The Blue Queen'), Ratu Ungu ('The Violet Queen') and
Ratu Kuning ('The Yellow Queen'). Patani expanded its borders to
include Kelantan and Trengganu and became the most powerful Malay
state after Johor.
It was during this time that Patani became renowned for
manufacturing cannon, producing three of the largest bombards ever
cast in the region - 'Mahalela', 'Seri Negara' and 'Seri Petani'.
With each measuring over six metres in length. Certainly, this
technology may have contributed to Patani successfully beating back
no less than four Siamese invasions in - at times with the help of
Malay forces from Johor and Pahang.However, by the middle of the
17th Century, during the reign of the last of the Queens, Patani
fell into gradual decline. This decline probably prompted her to
submit to Siam as a vassal state and send the 'Bunga Mas' to
Ayutthya. She died without an heir and the country descended into
decades of political chaos and conflict.
Fortunately for Patani, Siam was too weak to take advantage of the
situation, being too busy driving off crippling Burmese invasions
into her territory, culminating in the pillaging and complete
destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767.The Siamese general Phraya Taksin
led a war of independence that drove the Burmese out of Siam and
his successor Rama I established the Chakri dynasty, which was to
rule Siam to this day. A resurgent and much stronger Siam demanded
troops and supplies from Patani to face yet another Burmese raid.
When Patani's Sultan Muhammad was reluctant to send troops, Rama
I's son, Prince Surasi, attacked Patani in 1786. Sultan Muhammad
was slain in battle and his capital was burned to the ground. 4,000
Patani Malays were brought in chains and marched barefoot the 1,300
km to Bangkok. It was said that the captives had to have their ear
lobes and legs sewn together with strong rattan to prevent escape.
In Bangkok, they became slaves and were made to dig the city's
system of canals or 'klongs'.
As the ultimate humiliation, the symbols of Patani's strength and
power - the 'Seri Negara' and 'Seri Patani' cannons - were brought
in triumph to Bangkok . Both can still be seen today gracing the
entrance to Thailand's Ministry of Defence building.Further
rebellions erupted in Patani in 1791 and 1808, following which
Patani was partitioned into seven states - Patani, Teluban (Sai),
Nongcik, Jalor (Yala), Jambu(Jering), Legeh (Rangae) and Reman -
and administered directly by the Raja of Ligor. There were few
months of independence when four of the states joined the Kedah
Malays in driving the Siamese out of the peninsula - but their
success was short-lived and they were re-conquered easily. In 1906,
the seven states were reconstituted into a single province. From
the mythical Langkasuka to the seat of Malay empire, the province
of Patani was now formally annexed as an administrative division of
the Kingdom of Thailand.
