Rama II is supposed to have been the founder of Bangkok. He made it his capital replacing the previous capital at Thonburi. Actually Bangkok had existed already for some time, and European merchants had stopped at Bangkok en route to the first capital Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya had been leveled by Burmese armies in 1767. After that King Taksin decided to move the capital down to the river because he feared another Burmese attack. That would provide him an escape route in case of subsequent attacks.

And so the foundation of Bangkok was a direct result of the Burmese invasions of Siam in both the 16th and 18th centuries. Chiang Mai was captured and the capital of Ayuthaya was destroyed. The Thais soon expelled the Burmese and moved their capital to Thonburi. The current Chakri dynasty was founded by King Rama I, who moved the capital across the river to the small village that would become Bangkok in 1782.

He renamed it Krung Thep Maha Nakhon - that's the abbreviated version. The full name is "Krung thep mahanakhon amorn ratanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilok pop noparatratchathani burirom udomratchanivetmahasathan amornpiman avatarnsathit sakkathattiyavisnukarmprasit" - "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of Indra, the great capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn"

Now Bangkok is a bustling city with a population of over 10 million, and it is the centre of business, administration, transportation, entertainment, communications, education and culture. Bangkok is a fast growing city, a regional hub for this part of the world, with a glorious history ahead of it.