Phaya Tani

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Phraya Tani (Thai พญาตานี) or Sri Patani (Malay) is a historical siege cannon from Pattani in southern Thailand. It is the largest cannon ever cast in what is now Thailand, measuring 9 feet and made of brass. It is now on display in front of the Ministry of Defence, opposite the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The cannon is still the symbol of the Pattani Province.

The cannon was cast in the early 17th century by a craftsman of Chinese descent named Tok Kayan. The ruler of Pattani at that time, Raja Biru, ordered the construction of firearms in response to rumors of a forthcoming attack from Siam. Three cannons were cast, two large ones named Sri Patani and Sri Negara, and a smaller named Mahalela.

After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Pattani tried to liberate itself from the tributary status to Siam. However, in 1785 the army of Siam under leadership of the vice-king Boworn Maha Surasinghanat defeated Pattani. The two large cannon were taken as booty, however Sri Negara fell into the sea while being loaded to the ship.

In 1787 King Rama I ordered the casting of a similar-sized cannon named Narai Sanghan, to be a pair with the captured Phraya Tani.