An octogenarian historian faces prosecution under Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws for allegedly criticising a royal elephant battle said to have taken place four centuries ago.

Sulak Sivarska, 84, a high profile social critic in his native Thailand, has been summoned before military prosecutors on Monday for reportedly questioning historical accounts of King Naresuan, who reigned from 1590-1605.

Thailand is subject to draconian laws that forbid defaming, insulting or threatening the royal family, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.

Mr Sulak told the Bangkok Post that his case was “not normal” after he was informed by police last week to report to them on Monday. “If the country was normal and there existed rule of law..then there won’t be problems,” he said.

His lawyer, Puangtip Boonsanong, said he did not understand how comments on a historical monarch could violate a law which explicitly covered the reigning monarch, queen, heir apparent and regent.

Mr Sulak’s case stems from comments he made at Bangkok’s Thammasat University in 2014, during a time when the character of King Naresuan was being promoted in nationalist epic period films that were promoted by the newly installed military junta who had just staged a coup.