Relations between the Dutch and the Ayutthaya kingdom, or Siam (modern Thailand), had worsened under the reign of the brutal usurper Prasat Thong, following whose demise Narai, a younger son, had in 1656 deposed his elder brother Chai to assume the throne.

The Dutch, shortly after Narai’s ascension, had exacerbated matters by the capture of a ship carrying goods belonging to the Thai King’s royal monopoly.

Domestic policies in King Narai's reign are to be greatly affected by the interference of foreign powers, most notably the Chinese to the north, the Dutch to the south, and the English who are making their first forays into India to the west.

Thai policies revolve around either directly countering the influence, or creating a delicate balance of power between the different parties.