Nakhonnayok
Nakhonnayok is one of the central provinces. It was evidently recognized that the area of Nakhonnayok was a residence of
prehistoric man. Prehistoric tools such as stone axes, stone beads and glass beads, anvil, green stone, earthenware, bronze axes were found there.
It is assumed that Nakhonnayok was an old-age ancient city. The evidence of living in the Dvaravati period was found at “Ban Dong Lakon” archaeological
site, located 8 kilometers in the south of Nakhonnayok. It was a hill, similar to island, covering approximately 6 square kilometers and surrounded by
moats. Outside the moats was surrounded by ditches with 4 entrances. This city might be civilized at the same time of Si Mahosot City in Prachinburi and
Praroj City in Chonburi.The ancient artifacts excavated from this area are from different ages including
Dvaravati stone bells, Lopburi Buddha images, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya earthenware, etc.
In 1893, Ramathibodi I(Uthong King), the first King of Ayutthaya,designated Nakhonnayokas a frontier city in the east
(Lopburi was a frontier city in the north, Nakhon Kuenkhan was a frontier city in the south and Supanburi was a frontier city
in the west. It took 2 days from the frontier to Ayutthaya.).
In PhraMahaChakkarapat period, the eastern part of Lopburi and the western part of Nakhonnayok were merged to establish new city called Saraburi. In 1902,
King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) reformed administrative system, namely county administration. Prachinburicouty was established consisting of Prachinburi City,
Chachoengsao City, Nakhonnayok City, PanomSarakham City, PhanatNikhom City, Chonburi City and Bang Lamung City. In 1943, the government of PorPibulsongkram merged Ban Na
District in Nakhonnayokinto Saraburi and merged Nakhonnayok District, Ongkharak District and Pak Phil into Prachinburi.
On May 2, 1946, there was the establishment of SamutPrakarn, Nonthaburi, SamutSakhon and Nakhonnayok according to the Act B.E. 2489, Section 6, separating Nakhonnayok, Ongkharak
District and Pak Phli District from the administration of Prachinburi. Ban Na District was also separated from the administration of Saraburi and established as a province called
Nakhonnayok.
There are 2 assumptions for the name “Nakhonnayok”as follows. In the past, the land of Nakhonnayok was covered by wilderness forests so people migrated
to other places. This area was almost an abandoned city.Later on, a king, not recognized his era (it should before Ramathibodi I or Uthong King of Ayutthaya because the name Nakhonnayok existed
in Uthong’s region), wanted to invite people to reside in this area so he exempted agricultural tax. This city was called “Muang Na-Yok”
(agricultural tax exemption). It later became Nakhonnayok. Secondly, in Ayutthaya Period,Four Pillars Administrative System was applied for central administration while chancellors governed inner cities,
outer cities. The northern cities were governed by chancellors, in charge of both civilian and military administration. The southern cities were governed by chancellors, in charge of both civilian and military administration. Originally, Nakhonnayok was under the monarch.It was transferred to the chancellor. As a result, this area was called Nakhonnayok since then.
