Siamese–Vietnamese wars

The Siamese-Vietnamese wars were a series of armed conflicts between the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom and Rattanakosin Kingdom and the various dynasties of Vietnam mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries. The political, dynastic and military decline of the Cambodian kingdom since the 15th century had left a power vacuum in the Mekong floodplains of central Indochina. United under strong dynastic rule, Siam to the west and Vietnam to the east, both sought to become hegemon in the lowland region and the Lao mountains. The Siamese introduced - and Vietnam soon followed - the hostage system for Cambodian royals, who were relocated to their courts, actively undermining royal affairs and shaping future Cambodian policies. Eventually territory was annexed by both powers, who conceived, maintained and supported their favorable Cambodian puppet kings. Actual combat mainly took place on Cambodian territory or on occupied lands. The 19th century establishment of French Indochina put an end to Vietnamese sovereignty and to Siamese policies of regional expansion. Subsequent clashes of the two countries are not caused by regional rivalry, but must be viewed in the context of the 20th century imperial policies of foreign great powers and the Cold War.

Prelude

By the 15th century, the Vietnamese Lê dynasty had been able to annex the modern-day provinces of Lai Châu and Điện Biên in an attempt to conquer the Lan Xang (Lao Qua) kingdom and pacify the Muang Phuan principality of Laos. However this conflict also involved and was fought on Siamese and Burmese soil. As a result Vietnamese forces under Lê Thánh Tông continued to occupy territory in northern Siam for some additional 10 years. Siam, incapable to oppose this incursion therein saw the origin for all future conflict between the two nations.

List of Siamese-Vietnamese wars

No.	Name	Results	Notes
1	Siamese–Vietnamese War (1717)	Siamese victory	Two large Siamese forces invade Cambodia in an effort to help Prea Srey Thomea regain the throne. One Siamese army is badly beaten by the Cambodians and their Vietnamese allies at the Battle of Bantea Meas. The Second Siamese army captures the Cambodian capital of Udong where the Vietnamese supported Cambodian king switches allegiance to Siam. Vietnam loses the suzerainty of Cambodia but annexes several border provinces of Cambodia.
2	Siamese–Vietnamese War (1769–73)	Indecisive	In 1769, King Taksin of Siam invaded and occupied portions of Cambodia. The following year a proxy war between Vietnam and Siam erupted in Cambodia when the Nguyễn Lords responded by attacking Siamese cities. At the outset of the war, Taksin advanced through Cambodia and placed Ang Non II on the Cambodian throne. The Vietnamese responded by recapturing the Cambodian capital and restoring their preferred monarch. In 1773, the Vietnamese made peace with the Siamese in order to deal with the Tây Sơn rebellion. Two years later Ang Non II was proclaimed the ruler of Cambodia.
3	Siamese–Vietnamese War (1785)	Vietnamese victory	First Siamese invasion to Southern Vietnam Decisive victory of the Vietnamese force
4	Cambodian rebellion (1811–12)	Siamese strategic victory Vietnamese tactical victory	First Siamese and then Vietnamese forces invade Cambodia in order to support and enthrone their vassal kings and overthrow their opponent
5	Lao rebellion (1826–28)	Siamese victory	Vietnamese supported Anouvong to revolt against Siam but failed
6	Lê Văn Khôi revolt (1833–1835) and Siamese–Vietnamese War (1831–34)	Vietnamese victory	Second Siamese invasion to Southern Vietnam Siam supports the revolt. Vietnamese defensive victory, invasion of Cambodia
7	Siamese–Vietnamese War (1841–45)	Inconclusive	Siamese and Vietnamese incursions in Cambodia Cambodia becomes vassals of both Siam and Vietnam
8	Franco-Siamese War (1893) (Vietnam as part of French Indochina)	French-Vietnamese victory	French invasion of Laos Laos becomes part of French Indochina
9	Franco-Thai War (1940–41)(Vietnam as part of French Indochina)	Indecisive	Thai invasion of French Indochina Disputed territories given to Thailand by Japan
10	Thai intervention to Vietnam	North Vietnamese victory	Thai involvement as part of the allies Fall of Saigon
11	Vietnamese border raids in Thailand	Inconclusive	Insurgency of Khmer Rouge Undeclared war, but Vietnam achieved the goal of Khmer Rouge's destruction

See also

• Thailand–Vietnam relations
• Military history of Thailand
• Military history of Vietnam
• History of Thailand
• History of Vietnam
• Burmese–Siamese wars

References

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Further reading