Phuket History

The island has a long historical record. 

Early records of Phuket history are from the beginning of the 11th century. The first inhabitants of what is now known as Phuket or Junk Ceylon as it was known during Portuguese and English colonial times were the sea gypsy’s, also known as Moken in Thailand and Salone in Myanmar or Burma. 

Sea gypsies seems to be a branch of the Negritos or Malay the indigenous inhabitants of South East Asia. An earlier mention of Junk Ceylon was in a book written in the year of 157 AD. The book was written by the Greek Claudius Ptolemy.

The Greek philosopher indicated that if one was to travel to the Malay archipelagos, it needs to pass a island called Junk Ceylon. A location between the latitudes of 6 N and 8 N was indicated which is present day Phuket. It seems that the Junk Ceylon was popular by sea merchant since the naturally protected bays on the east side offered protection against the forces of nature. That means on the east side of Phuket island, as it was evident during the Tsunami, where practically all damages were done on the west coast of the island.

During British colonial times the spot in the Andaman Sea was also known as Thalang, Thalang still exists in the northern mid region of Phuket. The mons in southern Myanmar, from around the Gulf of Martaban ( at Mawlamyine ) were also also known as Thalangs, there are plenty of  connections between Thailand and Myanmar or Burma. 

In the 15th century Phuket became a leading tin mining ground.

Lots of Chinese people came in to work in the mines, got rich, built fabulous villas and houses in Sino-Portuguese style, some of the most beautiful created villas are still visible in Phuket Town. 

In 1785 troops from neighboring Burma (Myanma) tried to invade the island. Finally two women, the former governor’s widow, Chan, and her sister Muk organized the defence, the struggle with the Burmese lasted nearly a month.

When the supply of the Burmese troops were gone they had to withdraw. After the King of Thailand bestowed upon the two women the noble titles of Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon. The two sisters have their monument right in the middle of the round about at the Tha Ruea Intersection on the way to the airport.