Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi vs Taksin

Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi's father, Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi, founded the Senussi order in Mecca. After his father's death in 1859, al-Mahdi became the order's leader and expanded it significantly.

Al-Mahdi moved the Senussi headquarters to the Kufra oasis in southeastern Libya in 1895. This location became the spiritual and administrative center of the order, facilitating expansion into central Africa.

Al-Mahdi led Senussi resistance against French colonial forces advancing from Chad into the Sahara. The conflict resulted in Senussi military defeats and loss of territory, but solidified the order's anti-colonial stance.

Al-Mahdi died in 1902 at Kufra. His son, Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi, succeeded him as leader of the order, continuing the anti-colonial struggle and later supporting the Ottoman Empire in World War I.

Burmese forces sacked and destroyed the city of Ayutthaya, ending the 417-year-old Ayutthaya kingdom. General Taksin escaped the fall and began organizing resistance against the Burmese occupation.

Taksin led a naval and land force to defeat a Burmese garrison at Bang Kung. This victory allowed him to establish a base at Chanthaburi and begin the reconquest of Siam.

Taksin established Thonburi as the new capital of Siam, founding the Thonburi kingdom. He was crowned king and began the process of reunifying the country after the fall of Ayutthaya.

King Taksin defeated rival warlords and regional powers, reunifying Siam under his rule. He also repelled Burmese invasions and expanded Thai influence into Laos and Cambodia.

King Taksin was deposed in a coup led by General Chao Phraya Chakri (later Rama I). He was executed shortly after, ending the Thonburi kingdom. The Chakri dynasty then established the Rattanakosin kingdom with Bangkok as its capital.