Rise

Long ago, the area of Sukhothai was controlled by the Khmer Empire, a powerful kingdom based farther south in present-day Cambodia. Over time, local Thai leaders grew stronger and wanted to rule themselves. Around the year 1238, they broke away from the Khmer and formed their own independent kingdom. This new kingdom was called Sukhothai, which means “Dawn of Happiness.”

Sukhothai became one of the first Thai kingdoms, and many people see it as the beginning of Thai history.