Ayutthayan prince Naresuan, born in Phitsanulok, had been taken captive by the Burmese to ensure the fidelity of his father Maha Tammaraja, who became king of the Ayutthaya kingdom after it was occupied by the Burmese in 1569.

After spending nine years of his youth at Pegu under the protection of the Burmese king Bayinnaung ) Naresuan (also called Phra Naret, the Black Prince) had been exchanged with his sister Princess Suparntevi when he was sixteen years old, and became governor of Phitsanulok.

Highly trained by the Burmese king in martial arts, literature, military strategies, he is one of the princes in the Burmese Palace.

Although Naresuen had performed vassal military service to Nanda Bayin against the rebel king of Ava in late 1583, he recognizes that the time is ripe to pursue Tai independence.

Ayutthaya cancels its tributary relation with Burma in 1584, three years after Bayinnaung's death.

Burma responds with an invasion; Naresuan successfully repels the attack.