It was a small trading post in the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom and came to the forefront of Thailand when made capital in 1768 after the burning of Ayuthaya.
However, the current Rattanakosin Kingdom began in 1782 when the capital was moved across the river after being sacked by the Burmese. The Rattanakosin capital is now more formally called "Phra Nakorn", pertaining to the ancient boundaries in the metropolis' core and the name Bangkok now incorporates the urban build-up since the 18th century which has its own public administration and governor.
