 Prior to the creation of the ministry, much of the country's foreign relations were handled by the absolute monarchs of the day.During the Kingdom of Ayutthaya foreign relations were handled by the "Krom Phra Khlang" ( (or the Treasury Department).The head of the department was known as "Phra Khlang" ( and occasionally referred to as "Berguelang" or "Barcelon" by foreign authors.