A play in four acts; set in ancient Ayutthaya, royal capital of the Kingdom of Siam. The play follows the rise of King Narai - one of the empire’s greatest monarchs - as he seeks to expand the kingdom’s reach as a global power. Also known as King Rama Thibodi III, Narai reigned more than 3o years (r. 1656 to 1688) & oversaw a prosperous & free kingdom open to Persians & Indians, Japanese & Chinese, British & Dutch, Portuguese & French, Muslims & Catholics. His Ayutthaya was the world’s largest city & the premier crossroads of the eastern hemisphere. The king employed hundreds of foreigners in his royal court, incl. Ronin Japanese Samaurai bodyguards, Portuguese mercenaries, Jesuit astronomers, British carpenters & Muslim traders. Until one day, when a Greek adventurer & fortune-seeker from Cephalonia arrived with a unique set of skills ... & a very different vision for Ayutthaya. [239 p.; includes photos]