History of Phuket

History of Phuket has always been attracting visitors from all parts of the world. Mention of Phuket had been made as early as the 3rd century in Ptolemy’s records who, in his Geographia, records that the Cape of Jang Si Lang was to be passed for traveling to the Malay Peninsula from Suwannapum. Jang Si Lang, often known as ‘Junk Ceylon’, is the name given to Phuket on the old maps of Thailand.

Phuket seems to be included in the Shivite Empire during 1000 A.D. It was later included as one of the parts of the Siri Tahm and Srivichai Empires which had reigned over 12 cities in the Malay Peninsula. Phuket was taken over by the Thais in the 13th century and Phuket was connected with the Phang Nga province (Takua-Pah). Phuket became an important centre of Thai economy because of its huge reserves of natural pearls, ivory, gems, spices, hides, firewood, ambergris and waterproof fillers for the hulls of a ship. Phuket also was visited by people from different strata of the society like Tamil traders, Arabian merchants, Han dynasty merchants, Portuguese voyagers and Malay pirates.

A trading post of the Dutch was founded in the 16th century for tin mining in Phuket and the western and southern parts of Phuket remained under Dutch control. Phuket flourished sooner as an important centre of economy as other nations such as the French started taking interest in Phuket and Brother Renee Charbonnaeau was made its governor in 1681. The British also started to explore Phuket due to its possibility as an important base for controlling the Malacca Straits. Captain Francis Light, who was sent to Phuket for inspecting the place, got married to a Phuket girl and started living there.

History of Phuket also includes Ayutthaya’s fall in 1767 to the Burmese and the re-unification of the island by King Taksin. As a result the Burmese raided against Phuket to capture the inhabitants of Phuket and take them away for making them slaves. The Burmese fleet was discovered by Captain Francis Light and Kunyin Jan (widow of the late governor) with her sister Mook, called up the people of Phuket and defended the Burmese who left the island after a month on the 13th of March in 1785. Jan was presented with the title of Thao Thep Kasatri and Mook was given the title of Thao Sri Sunthon by King Rama I. During King Chulalongkorn or Rama V, Phuket was made the administrative hub of the southern provinces which produced tin. In the 19th century tin was the major resource in Phuket for which thousands of Chinese laborers came to Phuket. The Chinese people greatly contributed to the cultural heritage in Phuket, especially in its interior regions whereas the coastal regions were immensely influenced by the Muslim population of the fishermen. Phuket was made a Monthon due to its increasing popularity and it took the control of Satun, Phang Nga, Ranong, Krabi, Takua-Pah and Trang. Phuket was declared a province with the initiation of constitutional monarchy in Thailand (1933). Since then Phuket is being ruled by a governor appointed by the Interior Ministry.

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