King Naresuan of Siam, kills the Crown Prince of Burma Mingyi Swa, in a legendary elephant-back duel at the Battle of Nong Sarai, marking a turning point in Burmese-Siamese conflicts and leading to Siamese independence. January 18th, is celebrated as Royal Thai Armed Forces Day.
Thailand was formerly known as Siam and officially changed its name in 1939. It briefly reverted to Siam in 1945 before Thailand in 1949. The name Thailand" means "Land of the Free, a proud reference to never being colonized.
