Songtham or Intharacha III was the King of Ayutthaya from 1610/11 to 1628 of the House of Sukhothai. His reign marked the prosperity of the Ayutthaya kingdom after it regained independence from Toungoo Dynasty, and saw the commencement of trade with foreign nations, especially the Dutch and the Japanese. Songtham filled his guards with foreign mercenaries, most notably the Japanese, Yamada Nagamasa.
Statue of Songtham in the King Songtham Shrine of Wat Phra Phutthabat, Saraburi
Wat Phra Phutthabat, Saraburi Province, constructed by King Songtham
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Mon and later Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. European travellers in the early 16th century called Ayutthaya one of the three great powers of Asia. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is considered to be the precursor of modern Thailand, and its developments are an important part of the history of Thailand.
Three pagodas of Wat Phra Si Sanphet which house the remains of King Borommatrailokkanat, Borommarachathirat III, and Ramathibodi II
Wat Phra Phutthabat, Saraburi, constructed by King Songtham as a royal pilgrimage site
Wat Chaiwatthanaram, constructed by King Prasat Thong during the Age of Peace and Commerce (1600–1688)
Painting by Johannes Vingboons of Ayutthaya, c. 1665.