By Veena Thoopkrajae
After 259 years, descendants of Ayutthaya captives return to their ancestral heartland.
Last October, Daw Tin Htwe arrived in Ayutthaya for the first time, fulfilling a lifelong dream to see the land of her “Yodia” ancestors. Now in her 80s, Daw had only a vague concept of Thailand’s ancient capital, yet she had a singular mission born from the stories of her elders: to pay her respects at the Phra Ram (Rama) Shrine.
As a member of the eighth generation of Thai captives taken after the Ayutthaya Kingdom fell on April 7, 1767, Daw grew up venerating her village’s Rama Shrine. These shrines represent a fading cultural fingerprint—a “Yodia” (as Ayutthaya is called in Myanmar) identity inherited from a motherland they have never known.
“The shrine was so auspicious,” Daw told Pannapat Kumnueng, the researcher who invited her to Thailand. “I prayed and asked if I could return to Ayutthaya again. My wish was granted so soon.”
A Legacy of Captivity
On April 6, 2026—one day before the 259th anniversary of Ayutthaya’s fall—Tin Htwe and fellow descendants from Sukha village joined a public discussion with Pannapat to remember the lost kingdom. Their visit served a dual purpose: to reconnect with their roots and to make merit for the ancestors lost during the Burmese-Siamese War.
History records a massive displacement following the siege. Between 30,000 and 100,000 people, including King Uthumphon and the royal court of the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, were forcibly relocated to Ava. While the royals settled near Mandalay, ordinary captives were scattered across the region. Most never returned.
Traces in the Kitchen and the Creed
While modern Thais are only now rediscovering this history through new academic records, the Yodia-Burmese have spent two centuries preserving their identity through tradition. Even as they assimilated, distinct “Siamese” traces remained.
Language offers the clearest evidence, specifically within food culture. The villagers still use Thai words like Nam-oy (sugarcane juice) and Bua-loy (a traditional dessert). Interestingly, the Sukha village version of Bua-loy differs from the modern Thai variety; it more closely resembles Khanom Tom, a salted coconut-filled rice ball.
The most striking survival, however, is the Rama Shrine (Saan Phra Ram). While the Burmese of that era did not traditionally worship Rama, these shrines remain central to Yodia villages. Historians believe the Rama Shrine served as a “secret identity”—a way for captives to honor their Siamese roots indirectly when direct worship of Siamese icons might have been forbidden.
Preserving the Bloodline
The spiritual connection extends to rituals like Gor Jedi Saai (building sand pagodas), a merit-making practice typically associated with the Thai Songkran festival. In Sukha village, this tradition remains a pillar of major religious events.
When asked on stage if she knew she carried Ayutthaya blood, one senior guest nodded fervently. She shared how her grandmother frequently told stories of their ancestral home. To maintain this connection, the community has historically remained insular. “They are all single,” the village headman noted of the elderly participants, explaining that the community often married within the village or with the Shan people to preserve their lineage.
New Evidence Emerges
The physical evidence of this migration continues to surface. Beyond Sukha, descendants of the royal bloodline now reside in Yangon and abroad. Recent archaeological finds further bridge the gap: Siamese-style gate architecture, city walls, and Buddha images flanked by the disciples Sariputta and Moggallana—a style uncharacteristic of traditional Burmese art.
Following an earthquake in March 2025, archaeologists at the Yadana Htut Khaung Pagoda in Sagaing discovered several Buddha images bearing Thai inscriptions on the reverse side. For Daw Tin Htwe and her community, these are more than just artifacts; they are the living testimony of a kingdom that refused to be forgotten.
The Final Homecoming
To mark the anniversary of the capital’s fall on April 7, the group traveled to the heart of the Ayutthaya Historical Park. Under the shade of the ancient brick ruins, the visitors—including a direct descendant of the Ban Phlu Luang royal line—performed a merit-making ceremony. For many in the delegation, the act felt like completing the “unfinished business” of their late ancestors, finally bringing a sense of peace to the spirits of those lost centuries ago.
Throughout the visit, the descendants were met with overwhelming hospitality. Thai history enthusiasts and locals welcomed them not as strangers, but as long-lost kin, showering them with traditional souvenirs and tokens of friendship.
The emotional weight of the journey culminated at the airport. As she prepared to depart, Tin Htwe could not hold back her tears. Clutching her memories of the city she had only known through stories, she expressed a simple, heartfelt hope: to return once more to the land of her fathers.
Photo courtesy of Pannapat Kumnueng and Veena Thoopkrajae
