Bangkok is the capital and the most populous city of Thailand.
The area of Bangkok dates at least to the early 15th century,
when it was a village on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River,
under the rule of Ayutthaya.
Because of its strategic location near the mouth of the river,
the town gradually increased in importance. Bangkok initially served as a customs outpost with forts on both sides of the river,
and became the site of a siege in 1688 in which the French were expelled from Siam.
After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese Empire in 1767, the newly declared King Taksin established his capital at the town,
which became the base of the Thonburi Kingdom. In 1782, King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) succeeded Taksin,
moved the capital to the eastern bank's Rattanakosin Island, thus founding the Rattanakosin Kingdom.
The City Pillar was erected on 21 April,
which is regarded as the date of foundation of the present city.
The etymology of the name Bangkok is unclear. Bang is a Thai word meaning "a village situated on a stream",
and the name may have been derived from Bang Ko (บางเกาะ), ko meaning "island",
a reference to the area's landscape which was carved by rivers and canals.
Another theory suggests that it is shortened from Bang Makok (บางมะกอก), makok being the name of Elaeocarpus hygrophilus,
a plant bearing olive-like fruit.
This is supported by the fact that Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, used to be named Wat Makok.
Officially, however, the town was known as Thonburi Si Mahasamut "city of treasures gracing the ocean" or Thonburi,
according to Ayutthaya chronicles. Bangkok was likely a colloquial name, albeit one widely adopted by foreign visitors,
whose continued use of the name finally resulted in it being officially adopted with the creation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
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