Kamehameha IV vs Songtham

Alexander Liholiho became King Kamehameha IV at age 20 after the death of his uncle Kamehameha III. He inherited a kingdom facing increasing pressure from American and European interests.

Kamehameha IV resisted efforts to sign a reciprocity treaty with the United States that would have reduced tariffs on Hawaiian sugar. He feared it would lead to American political influence and eventual annexation.

Kamehameha IV and his wife Queen Emma founded Queen's Hospital (now The Queen's Medical Center) in Honolulu to provide healthcare for Native Hawaiians. The hospital was funded by public subscriptions and royal donations.

Kamehameha IV, with Queen Emma, invited the Church of England to establish a mission in Hawaii. He helped found the Anglican Church of Hawaii, which became the Hawaiian Reformed Catholic Church, as a counterbalance to American Protestant influence.

Kamehameha IV died at age 29 from chronic asthma, a condition that had plagued him for years. His death left the throne to his younger brother, who became Kamehameha V.

Songtham pursued a policy of peaceful coexistence with the Burmese Toungoo Empire, avoiding military conflicts and maintaining the borders established by Naresuan. This peace allowed Ayutthaya to focus on internal development and trade, contributing to the kingdom's prosperity during his reign.

Songtham was known for his commitment to justice, earning the epithet 'the Just King.' He reviewed and revised legal codes to ensure fair treatment of subjects, reduced corruption among officials, and established mechanisms for commoners to appeal royal decisions, strengthening the rule of law in Ayutthaya.

During Songtham's reign, a footprint believed to be that of the Buddha was discovered on a hill in Saraburi province. Songtham declared it a sacred relic and ordered the construction of Wat Phra Phutthabat (Temple of the Buddha's Footprint) to enshrine it, making it a major pilgrimage site.

Songtham commissioned the construction of Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi to house the discovered Buddha footprint. The temple complex included a mondop (square building) covering the footprint and became one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Thailand, attracting devotees from across the kingdom.