History

Songkhla was formerly known as ‘Sathing Phra’. The old city was located in Sathing Phra district. Indian, Persian and Arab merchants called this town Singha-la (lion), a name inspired by the two islands which look like kneeling lions which they saw when sailing through Songkhla Lake. Local people call these islands Koa Nu (Rat island) and Koa Maw (Cat island).

Songkhla was first mentioned as one of the 16 colonies of the Ayutthaya kingdom in the Ayutthaya Chronicle, in 1436 A.D. The city at that time was sited near Khai Muang mountain. In 1620 A.D. Chao Phaya Kalahom Suriyawong carried out a coup d’etat against King Arthitayawong and reigned as the next king of Ayutthaya under the name King Prasat Thong. The dependency cities took this opportunity to liberate themselves from the central power. Ayutthaya deployed armies to suppress the secessionist states many times but never succeeded until 1690 A.D, during the reign of King Narai.

When the Ayutthaya kingdom was defeated by the Burmese in 1767 A.D., many colony cities declared their independence and tried to create their own realms. Songkhla joined the group led by Nakhon Si Thammarat. King Tak Sin, who established a new Siamese capital at Thonburi sited on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river, opposite present day Bangkok, deployed the military and suppressed the Nakhon Si Thammarat group. Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla’s governors fled to Pattani. King Tak Sin stayed there for one month and appointed Yoom, a local person, as Songkla’s new governor.

In 1831 A.D. Saiburi, Pattani, Yaring and Yala’s Load, incited by Sai Parae Ngun Load and his son, sent troops to attack Songkhla. The Siamese army was deployed from Thonburi to protect Songkhla. The rebels retreated to Pae-ra and were defeated by Thai troops there. King Rama IV gave a royal order to move Songkhla city to its present location on the east coast.

24 years later King Rama IV traveled to Songkhla by steamboat, anchored at Rat Island and stayed at Lam Sai for nine days.

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