ADAKAN SIARAN RADIO TV KHAS UNTUK MASYARAKAT SIAM DI MALAYSIA.

CITA-CITA NARONGCHAI ANUPONG.

2011-01-10T23:15:00.000-08:00

Walaupun saya rakyat malaysia yang berketurunan thai saya memang berbangga sekiranya saya dapat menjadi rakyat thai.Saya amat berbangga dan saya akan mati di sana berserta anak saya ke sekolah thailand dan mendapat pendidikan universiti king chulalongkorn.Dan saya juga boleh menyanyi lagu kebangsaan thai dan raja thailand.Saya juga akan memberi didikan sepenuh kepada anak saya nanti mendapat peluang menjadi seorang jeneral tentera di raja thailand.Itulah pencapaian cita-cita saya nanti.

THAI KING DIAMOND JUBILEE.

2011-01-09T04:35:00.000-08:00

Remember Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance Man? Well that wonderfully talented man had nothing on Thailand's beloved king of the past 60 years, HRH King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who just a few years back won the right to add the words "The Great" after his name!Aside from spending the overwhelming portion of his time with his Thai subjects performing important state and educational ceremonies and making presentations, Thailand's king also is:
a poet,
a painter,
an author,
a popular music composer,
a noted musician, fluent on several instruments, but especially the trombone,
a yacht racer,
a philosopher teacher,
a philantropist,
a scientist,
an agriculturalist,
a flood control expert, an expert in political science and law, and the one problem solver to whom all 60,000,000 people of Thailand will listen in time of trouble or need!
Indeed, it is difficult to tell the truth about Thailand's King without sounding like we are exaggerating. In fact, so great have been the accomplishments of this King, that even exaggeration would be difficult. For anyone who does not know about His Majesty, the following are a few biographical facts.
His Highness was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 5 December, 1927, where his father HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla was studying medicine at Harvard University. The family returned to Thailand in 1928, and his father died expectedly the following year, 1929. A coup d'etat in 1932 changed the Thai (then called Siamese) government from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, and Thailand gained its first constitution. A number of years later, His Highness' elder brother, HRH Prince Ananda Mahidol, became King. Upon his brother's sudden death in June, 1946, Prince Bhumibol returned from Switzerland where he had been studying and assumed the throne. The new King, being only 18 years old, again returned to Swizerland to complete his education, changing his major from science and engineering to political science and law.
In 1949, HRH King Bhumibol became engaged to his future Queen, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kittiyakara, who, as the story goes, had been his nurse following eye surgery in Switzerland. Officially crowned HRH King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 5 May, 1950, the King at that time named Mom Rajawongse Sirikit his Queen, and they returned together to Switzerland until December, 1551, at which time both took up full-time residence in Thailand. The King was at that time 24
World leaders have long memories of other leaders who are truly excellent and sincere caretakers of their own people. Thus, during the recent Diamond Jubilee in celebration of His Majesty's first 60 years of reign, foreign royal families, national leaders and dignitaries from nearly every other country on earth came to pay homage to the King, and hundreds of thousands of adoring Thai subjects turned up in huge masses to honor him, each sporting a yellow shirt in honor of the occasion. The king himself (urging compassion, mutual aid and honesty in all acts) said, in part, "...I urge everyone in this congregation and Thais from all walks of life to cherish and firmly uphold righteousness and moral integrity. This dedication to moral security should be undertaken without interruption, so the country can live on with happiness, now and in the future..." Such words are indeed heeded by the Thai people.
Shortly following this, the United States Senate passed a resolution honoring the Thai king also...And the United Nations itself, in its first such award ever, presented His Majesty The United Nations Development Programme Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given in person by His Excellency U.N. Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan on 26 May, 2006.As noted recently by the Bangkok Post, there are three general roles in which the king serves his subjects, as follows:
As Guardian of the Nation. Acting under the constitution within his rights "to be consulted; to encourage; and to warn", this hands-on King fully respects and follows the Thai constitution, and never meddles in government affairs. However, on those occasions when government leaders seem to reach a "dead end" in solving problems, and the people begin looking toward the King longingly to step in with his always-sage advice, he will as a last resort address the government leaders and the people – so wisely, so knowingly and with such touching care and concern that his words achieve an almost immediate positive effect. Thus on 25 April, 2006, with the country in seemingly insoluble turmoil from a constitutional crisis between the government and those who wished the government to resign, His Majesty provided a remarkable solution, as always. To quote the Bangkok Post, 'In his most direct political message, His Majesty separately told judges of the Supreme and Administrative courts to explore all legal solutions to bring the country out of what he described as a "poitical mess". His Majesty said the election which produced a one-party parliament was undemocratic, and rejected calls by opponents of then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that a royally-appointed premier be named to replace Thaksin, pointing out that such an appointment was undemocratic..' He said much more, of course, and at this time, thanks to His Majesty once again, the courts are in the process of resolving this crisis, hopefully once and for all.
As the Working Monarch. Donning clothes of the ordinary people, His Majesty brings his knowledge of science, agriculture, and farming in general to the common people on the villages, introducing, for example, multiple and alternative crop ideas and methods which he has learned, and, even more importantly, which he has devised himself – ideas which for many years have enriched and provided a better way of life for rural people across the country and continue to do so. Likewise, his cloud-seeding projects to bring rain in times of drought, and his flood prevention and control methods have saved countless lives and multiple billions of baht of property and crop losses, while enabling the everyday life of everyone to go on without loss of time and earnings owing to impassable flooded roads. In the King's own words, "Science and wisdom cannot be separated; you need to use both. Wisdom does not refer only to intellect or academic skill, but also moral intellect, or the ability to judge right from wrong, to be far-sighted, and to be almost enlightened to the point of seeing into the future by the light of your wisdom. Wisdom can light your way through the use of reason. Wisdom, when used properly, lets you see the future, because you have seen the past, and its conditions. Considering the people's skills and problems, you can see what the future will hold."Finally, of his own efforts to help, he modestly proclaims, "Some people say that a royal project cannot be touched. This is a mistaken view, or a view that is not quite right. If a royal project cannot be commented on, Thailand cannot develop. A royal project is a royal opinion..."
As the Beloved King. How dearly the people of Thailand love their King is again best expressed by the Bangkok Post, as follows:
"Be they rural or urban, literate or illiterate, young or old, the King's subjects all express their affection for their sovereign in one way or another. Some enshrine the King's portrait on an altar. Others show their support by wearing a 'Tong Daeng' T-shirt (Tong Daeng is His Majesty's favorite dog) or a 'We love Our King' wristband...'The public has strong faith in His Majesty because he is a giver', Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of the Chaipattana Foundation, explained. 'Throughout his hard-working life, His Majesty has done all he could do for the people without asking anything in return. If a problem arose in the country, His Majesty would not be reluctant to work for a solution whether it is human, social, political or scientific. He would do it all, as long as it relates to his country.'What impresses (the people) is not the grandeur or extravagance but the simplicity of the spaces he inhabits. Rather than adding to the glamor of Chitralada Palace, His Majesty added a fish pool, a rice mill and a dairy farm. Rather than ordering the construction of a fancy garden at Klaikangwol Palace in Hua Hin, His Masjesty permits students form Klaikangwol School to grow vegetables in the flowerbeds. Instead of raising a canine with a foreign pedigree, His Majesty adoped a street dog..."Clearly one can see what sets the Thai King apart from most of the rest of us. At the same time, one can also see in his own special life a hint of what makes the Thai people themselves so special – and such good hosts to us foreigners!

ADAKAN SIARAN TV RADIO KHAS UNTUK MASYARAKAT SIAM MALAYSIA.

2010-12-26T09:02:00.000-08:00

Saya sebagai rakyat malaysia berketurunan thai memberi cadangan kepada kerajaan malaysia supaya adakan siaran khas untuk masyarakat siam malaysia,siam pun adalah anak malaysia.Bagi pandangan saya perdana menteri najib mahu rakyat di dahulukan pencapaian di utamakan satu malaysia.

BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ.

2010-07-27T01:38:00.000-07:00

Bhumibol Adulyadej (Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet; Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช, pronounced [pʰūːmípʰōn àdūnjādèːt]( listen); see full title below; born 5 December 1927) is the current King of Thailand. Publicly acclaimed "the Great" (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja), he is also known as Rama IX. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.[1] He is seen as so important by the Thai people that his ill-health has affected the financial markets.[2]
Although Bhumibol is legally a constitutional monarch, he has made several decisive interventions in Thai politics. He was credited with facilitating Thailand's transition to democracy in the 1990s, although he has supported numerous military regimes, including Sarit Dhanarajata's during the 1960s and the Council for National Security in 2006-2008. During his long reign he has seen over 15 coups, 16 constitutions, and 27 changes of prime ministers.[3] He has also used his influence to stop military coups, including attempts in 1981 and 1985.
Bhumibol is revered by many Thais and is legally considered "inviolable".[4] He has no right to charge anyone who insults or defames him, but anyone can file charges for him; the penalty is three to fifteen years in jail. While Bhumibol has said in his 2005 birthday speech that he would not take lèse majesté seriously, and that the king can have flaws, the lèse majesté laws remain in place and have led to numerous jail sentences and censorship measures in recent years.
Forbes estimated Bhumibol's personal fortune, including property managed by the Crown Property Bureau, to be US$30 billion in 2010, and he has been consistently placed at number one of the magazine's list of "The World's Richest Royals".[5][6]
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Succession and marriage
3 Coronation and titles
4 Role in Thai politics
4.1 Plaek Pibulsonggram era
4.2 Sarit Dhanarajata era
4.3 Thanom Kittikachorn era
4.4 Prem Tinsulanond era
4.5 Crisis of 1992
4.6 Crisis of 2005–2006 and the September 2006 coup
4.6.1 Background to the coup
4.6.2 The coup
4.6.3 After the coup
4.6.4 2008 crisis
5 Royal powers
5.1 Constitutional powers
5.2 Network monarchy and extraconstitutional powers
6 Royal projects
6.1 History
6.2 Example projects
7 Awards
7.1 Royal and State Orders received
7.2 Others
8 60th Anniversary celebrations
9 Private life
9.1 Health
9.2 Music
9.3 Sailing
9.4 Patent
10 Wealth
11 Lèse majesté
11.1 Scope of the law
11.2 Political use of the lèse majesté law
11.3 Insults to Bhumibol's image
11.4 Internet blocking measures
12 Biographies
13 Succession to the throne
14 Titles and styles
15 Ancestors
16 See also
17 References
18 Literature
19 External links
//
[edit] Early life

Bhumibol (center) with his Mother and siblings Ananda Mahidol (left) and Galyani Vadhana (right).
Bhumibol was born at the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States on 5 December 1927 [7]. He was the younger son of HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Mom Sangwal (later HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother: Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani). His name, Bhumibol Adulyadej, means "Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power".[8]
Bhumibol came to Thailand in 1928, after Prince Mahidol obtained a certificate in the Public Health programme at Harvard University. He briefly attended Mater Dei school in Bangkok but in 1933 his mother took the family to Switzerland, where he continued his education at the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande in Lausanne. He received the baccalauréat des lettres (high-school diploma with major in French literature, Latin, and Greek) from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne, and by 1945 had begun studying science at the University of Lausanne, when World War II ended and the family returned to Thailand.[9]
[edit] Succession and marriage
Royal Family of Thailand

HM The KingHM The Queen
HRH The Crown Prince HRH Princess Srirasmi
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha
HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana
HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
HRH Princess Siribhachudhabhorn
HRH Princess Adityadhornkitikhun
Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya
Khun Ploypailin Jensen
Khun Sirikitiya Jensen
HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda
HRH Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara
HH Princess Inthuratna Paribatra
Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram
v • d • e

Bhumibol and Sirikit after their wedding.
Bhumibol ascended the throne following the death of his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, on 9 June 1946. Ananda Mahidol's death resulted from a gunshot wound to the head while in his bedroom in the Baromphiman Hall in the Grand Palace, under circumstances that to this day remain a mystery.[10] Bhumibol returned to Switzerland in order to complete his education, and his uncle, Rangsit, Prince of Chainat, was appointed Prince Regent. Bhumibol switched over his field of study to law and political science in order to prepare himself more effectively for his new position as ruler.
While finishing his degree in Switzerland, Bhumibol visited Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met a first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France.[11] He was 21 and she was 15. Bhumibol became a regular visitor to the ambassador's residence.
On 4 October 1948, while Bhumibol was driving a Fiat Topolino on the Geneva-Lausanne road, he collided with the rear of a braking truck 10 km outside of Lausanne. He hurt his back and incurred cuts on his face that cost him the sight of his right eye.[12][13][14] He subsequently wore an ocular prosthetic. While he was hospitalised in Lausanne, Sirikit visited him frequently. She met his mother, who asked her to continue her studies nearby so that Bhumibol could get to know her better. Bhumibol selected for her a boarding school in Lausanne, Riante Rive. A quiet engagement in Lausanne followed on 19 July 1949, and the couple were married on 28 April 1950, just a week before his coronation.
Bhumibol and his wife Queen Sirikit have four children:
(Formerly HRH) Princess Ubol Ratana, born 5 April 1951 in Lausanne, Switzerland;
HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born 28 July 1952;
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born 2 April 1955;
HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, born 4 July 1957.
One of Bhumibol's grandchildren, Bhumi Jensen, was killed in the Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. He was the son of Princess Ubol Ratana.[15]
[edit] Coronation and titles

Bhumibol at his coronation at the Grand Palace.
Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand on 5 May 1950 at the Royal Palace in Bangkok where he pledged that he would "reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people" ("เราจะครองแผ่นดินโดยธรรม เพื่อประโยชน์สุขแห่งมหาชนชาวสยาม").[16] Notable elements associated with the coronation included the Bahadrabith Throne beneath the Great White Umbrella of State; and he was presented with the royal regalia and utensils.[17]
In 1950 on Coronation Day, Bhumibol's consort was made Queen (Somdej Phra Boromarajini). The date of his coronation is celebrated each 5 May in Thailand as Coronation Day, a public holiday. On 9 June 2006, Bhumibol celebrated his 60th anniversary as the King of Thailand, becoming the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.[1]
Following the death of his grandmother Queen Savang Vadhana (สว่างวัฒนา, Sawang Watthana Phra Phanvasa Aiyeekajao), Bhumibol entered a 15-day monkhood (22 October 1956 – 5 November 1956) at Wat Bowonniwet, as is customary on the death of elder relatives.[18] During this time, Sirikit was appointed his regent. She was later appointed Queen Regent (Somdej Phra Boromarajininat) in recognition of this.
Although Bhumibol is sometimes referred to as King Rama IX in English, the name "Rama" is never used in Thai. The name is used to approximate Ratchakal ti Kao (รัชกาลที่ 9, literally "the Ninth Reign"). More commonly, Thais refer to him as Nai Luang or Phra Chao Yu Hua (ในหลวง or พระเจ้าอยู่หัว: both mean "the King" or "Lord Upon our Heads"). He is also called Chao Chiwit ("Lord of Life").[19] Formally, he would be referred to as Phrabat Somdej Phra Chao Yu Hua (พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว) or, in legal documents, Phrabat Somdej Phra Paraminthara Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช) , and in English as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He signs his name as ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ป.ร. (Bhumibol Adulyadej Por Ror; this is the Thai equivalent of Bhumibol Adulyadej R[ex]).
[edit] Role in Thai politics
[edit] Plaek Pibulsonggram era

Marshal and Mrs. Pibulsonggram with Eleanor Roosevelt
In the early years of his reign, during the government of military dictator Plaek Pibulsonggram, Bhumibol had no real power and was little more than a ceremonial figure under the military-dominated government. In August 1957, 6 months after parliamentary elections, General Sarit Dhanarajata accused the government of Field Marshal Pibulsonggram of lèse majesté due to its conduct of the 2,500th anniversary celebration of Buddhism.[20][21] On 16 September 1957, Pibulsonggram went to Bhumibol to seek support for his government.[22] Bhumibol told the Field Marshal to resign to avoid a coup; Pibulsonggram refused. That evening, Sarit Dhanarajata seized power, and two hours later Bhumibol imposed martial law throughout the Kingdom.[23] Bhumibol issued a Royal Command appointing Sarit as "Military Defender of the Capital" without anyone countersigning this Royal Command. The said Royal Command included the following statements:[23]
“
Whereas it is manifested that the country administration by the Government under the premiership of Field Marshal P. Phibunsonggram is untrustworthy, and the Government could not maintain the public order. The military under the leadership of Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata successfully took over the administration of the country and is acting as the Military Defender of the Capital. I, therefore, have appointed Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata as the Military Defender of the Capital. All the people are requested to remain calm while all public servants are to follow the Orders issued by Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajat. This Royal Command shall come into force immediately. Proclaimed on 16 September Buddhist Era 2500 (1957).
”
[edit] Sarit Dhanarajata era
During Sarit's dictatorship, the monarchy was revitalised. Bhumibol attended public ceremonies, toured the provinces and patronised development projects. Under Sarit, the practice of crawling in front of royalty during audiences, banned by King Chulalongkorn, was revived in certain situations and the royal-sponsored Thammayut Nikaya order was revitalised. For the first time since the absolute monarchy was overthrown, a king was conveyed up the Chao Phraya River in a Royal Barge Procession to offer robes at temples.[24][25]
Other disused ceremonies from the classical period of the Chakri dynasty, such as the royally-patronised ploughing ceremony (Thai: พิธีพืชมงคล), were also revived.[26] Upon Sarit's death in 8 December 1963, an unprecedented 21 days of mourning were declared in the palace. A royal five-tier umbrella shaded his body while it lay in state. Long-time royal adviser Phraya Srivisarn Vacha later noted that no Prime Minister ever had such an intimate relationship with Bhumibol as Sarit.[27]
Contemporary thinkers differ in their views about the relationship between Bhumibol and Sarit. Paul Handley, writer of The King Never Smiles views Sarit as Bhumibol's tool, whereas political scientist Thak Chaloemtiarana asserts that Sarit used Bhumibol in order to build his own credibility.[28][29]
[edit] Thanom Kittikachorn era

Thanom Kittikachorn
Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn was appointed premier a day after Sarit's death in 1963. He continued most of Sarit's policies for a decade. During the 1970s, Bhumibol was a key figure in the Village Scouts and Red Gaur paramilitary organisations. In October 1973 after massive protests and the deaths of a large number of pro-democracy demonstrators, Bhumibol opened the gates of the Chitralada Palace to fleeing protesters, and held an audience with student leaders. Bhumibol subsequently appointed the Thammasat University Rector Sanya Dharmasakti as the new Prime Minister, replacing Thanom. Thanom subsequently moved to the United States and Singapore. A succession of civilian governments followed, but the return of Field Marshal Thanom and his ordination as a novice monk at Wat Bowonniwet in 1976 led to renewed conflict, culminating in the 6 October 1976 Massacre at Thammasat University by royalist paramilitary forces.
[edit] Prem Tinsulanond era
The ensuing chaos was used as a pretext for a military coup. The junta submitted three names to the king to choose from to become the next Premier: Deputy President of the king's Privy Council Prakob Hutasingh, right-wing Bangkok Governor Thamnoon Thien-ngern, and conservative Supreme Court judge Thanin Kraivixien.[30] Bhumibol chose Thanin as the most suitable. However, Thanin proved to be very right-wing himself, causing student protesters to flee to join the communists in the jungle. Thanin was himself overthrown in a military coup in October 1977 led by General Kriangsak Chomanan. Kriangsak was succeeded in 1980 by the popular Army Commander-in-Chief, General Prem Tinsulanond, later the Privy Council President.
Bhumibol's refusal to endorse military coups in 1981 (the April Fool's Day coup) and 1985 (the Share Rebellion) ultimately led to the victory of forces loyal to the government, despite some violence - including in 1981, the seizure of Bangkok by rebel forces. The coups led many to believe that Bhumibol had misjudged Thai society and that his credibility as an impartial mediator between various political and military factions had been compromised.[31][32][33]
[edit] Crisis of 1992

Royal intervention on the night of 20 May. Left to right: Chamlong Srimuang, Suchinda Kraprayoon and the King (seated).
Main article: Black May (1992)
In 1992, Bhumibol played a key role in Thailand's transition to a democratic system. A coup on 23 February 1991 returned Thailand back under military dictatorship. After a general election in 1992, the majority parties invited General Suchinda Kraprayoon, a leader of the coup group, to be the Prime Minister. This caused much dissent, which escalated into demonstrations that led to a large number of deaths when the military was brought in to control the protesters. The situation became increasingly critical as police and military forces clashed with the protesters. Violence and riot spread out in many areas of the capital with rumour on the rift among armed forces.[34]
Amidst the fear of civil war, Bhumibol intervened. He summoned Suchinda and the leader of the pro-democracy movement, retired Major General Chamlong Srimuang, to a televised audience, urged them to find a peaceful resolution. At the height of the crisis, the sight of both men appearing together on their knees (in accordance with royal protocol) made a strong impression on the nation, and led to Suchinda's resignation soon afterwards.
It was one of the few occasions in which Bhumibol directly and publicly intervened in a political conflict. A general election was held shortly afterward, leading to a civilian government.[35]

With then President Vladimir Putin in Bangkok on 22 October 2003.
[edit] Crisis of 2005–2006 and the September 2006 coup
Main articles: Thailand political crisis 2005-2006, Finland Plot, and 2006 Thailand coup d'état
[edit] Background to the coup
See also: Thailand political crisis 2005-2006
Weeks before the April 2006 legislative election, the Democrat Party-led opposition and the People's Alliance for Democracy petitioned Bhumibol to appoint a replacement prime minister and cabinet. Demands for royal intervention met with much criticism from the public. Bhumibol, in a speech on 26 April 2006, responded, "Asking for a Royally-appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational".[36]
After publicly claiming victory in the boycotted April parliamentary elections, Thaksin Shinawatra had a private audience with the king. A few hours later, Thaksin appeared on national television to announce that he would be taking a break from politics.
In May 2006, the Sondhi Limthongkul-owned Manager Daily newspaper published a series of articles describing the "Finland Plot", alleging that Thaksin and former members of the Communist Party of Thailand planned to overthrow the king and seize control of the nation. No evidence was ever produced to verify the existence of such a plot, and Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party vehemently denied the accusations and sued the accusers.
In a rare, televised speech to senior judges, Bhumibol requested the judiciary to take action to resolve the political crisis.[36] On 8 May 2006, the Constitutional Court invalidated the results of the April elections and ordered new elections scheduled for 15 October 2006.[37] The Criminal Court later jailed the Election Commissioners.[38][39]
On 14 July 2006, Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda addressed graduating cadets of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, telling them that the Thai military must serve the King - not the Government.[40]
On 20 July, Bhumibol signed a royal decree endorsing new House elections for 15 October 2006. In an unprecedented act, the King wrote a note on the royal decree calling for a clean and fair election. That very day, Bhumibol underwent spinal surgery.[41]
[edit] The coup
See also: 2006 Thailand coup

Soldiers were welcomed with flowers
In the evening of 19 September, the Thai military overthrew the Thaksin government and seized control of Bangkok in a bloodless coup. The junta, led by the Sonthi Boonyaratglin, Commander of the Army, called itself the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy, accused the deposed prime minister and his regime of many crimes, including lèse majesté, and pledged its loyalty to Bhumibol. Martial law was declared, the Constitution repealed and the October elections cancelled.[42] Hundreds of Bangkokians came out to flock around the coup makers' stationed forces. Protests were banned and protesters were arrested. On 20 September, Bhumibol endorsed the coup, and ordered civil servants to take orders from Sonthi.
The King's role in the coup was the subject of much speculation among Thai analysts and the international media. The King had an audience with Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda at the same time as the First Special Forces were ordered mobilised.[43] Anti-coup protesters claimed that Prem was a key mastermind of the coup, although the military claimed otherwise and banned any discussion of the topic. In a BBC interview, Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University noted, "This coup was nothing short of Thaksin versus the King... He is widely seen as having implicitly endorsed the coup." In the same interview, social critic Sulak Sivaraksa claimed, "Without his involvement, the coup would have been impossible." Sulak added that the King is "very skillful. He never becomes obviously involved. If this coup goes wrong, Sonthi will get the blame, but whatever happens, the King will only get praise."[44] On Saturday 23 September 2006, the junta warned they would "urgently retaliate against foreign reporters whose coverage has been deemed insulting to the monarchy."[45] The President of Bhumibol's Privy Council, General Prem Tinsulanonda, supported the coup. The junta later appointed Privy Council member General Surayud Chulanont as Prime Minister.
On 20 April 2009, Thaksin claimed in an interview with the Financial Times that Bhumibol had been briefed by Privy Councillors Prem Tinsulanonda and Surayud Chulanont about their plans to stage the 2006 coup. He claimed that General Panlop Pinmanee, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, had told him of the briefing.[46][47] The Thai embassy in London denied Thaksin's claims.
[edit] After the coup
The junta appointed a Constitutional Tribunal to rule on the alleged poll fraud cases concerning the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat political parties. Guilty rulings would have dissolved both parties, Thailand's largest and oldest, respectively, and banned the parties' leadership from politics for five years. The weeks leading up to the verdicts saw rising political tensions. On 24 May 2007, about a week before the scheduled verdict, Bhumibol gave a rare speech to the Supreme Administrative Court (the President of which is also a member of the Constitutional Tribunal). "You have the responsibility to prevent the country from collapsing," he warned them in the speech, which was shown on all national television channels simultaneously during the evening. “The nation needs political parties.” The actual meaning of Bhumibol's advice was not clear, and interpretations varied. Some observers saw it as suggesting the judges should not make a compromise ruling. Others saw it as a warning against dissolving the two major parties. Bhumibol, who spoke standing but in a weak, rasping voice, was careful not to say where he stood on the merits of the case. "In my mind, I have a judgment but I cannot say," he said. "Either way the ruling goes, it will be bad for the country, there will be mistakes."[48][49][50] The Tribunal later acquitted the Democrat Party but dissolved the Thai Rak Thai party and banned over 100 of its executives from politics for five years.
The junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Assembly later tried to use the King in a propaganda campaign to increase public support for its widely criticised draft constitution. The CDA placed billboards saying, "Love the King. Care about the King. Vote in the referendum. throughout the Northeast of Thailand, where opposition to the junta was greatest.[51]
[edit] 2008 crisis
Main article: 2008 Thai political crisis
The new constitution passed the referendum, and elections were held in December 2007. The People's Power Party, consisting of many former Thai Rak Thai MPs and supporters, won the majority and formed a government. The People's Alliance for Democracy reformed and started protests, eventually laying siege to Government House, Don Muang Airport, and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Although the PAD claimed they were defending the monarchy, Bhumibol remained silent. However, after a PAD supporter died in a clash with police, Queen Sirikit presided over her cremation. Princess Sirindhorn, when asked at a US press conference whether the PAD was acting on behalf of the monarchy, replied, "I don't think so. They do things for themselves."[52] Questioning and criticism over Bhumibol's role in the crisis increased, particularly from the international press.[53][54][55][56][57][58][59] “It is more and more difficult for them to hold the illusion that the monarchy is universally adored,” says a Thai academic.[60]
[edit] Royal powers
[edit] Constitutional powers
For a historical perspective on how Bhumibol's constitutional powers have changed over time, see the Constitutions of Thailand article
Bhumibol retains enormous powers, partly because of his immense popularity and partly because his powers - although clearly defined in the Thai constitution - are often subject to conflicting interpretations. This was highlighted by the controversy surrounding the appointment of Jaruvan Maintaka as Auditor-General. Jaruvavn had been appointed by The State Audit Commission. However, the Constitutional Court ruled in July 2004 that her appointment was unconstitutional. Jaruvan refused to vacate her office without an explicit order from Bhumibol, on the grounds that she had previously been royally approved. When the Senate elected a replacement for Jaruvan, Bhumibol refused to approve him.[61] The Senate declined to vote to override Bhumibol's veto.[62] Finally in February 2006 the Audit Commission reinstated Jaruvan when it became clear from a memo from the Office of the King's Principal Private Secretary that King Bhumibol supported her appointment.
Bhumibol has vetoed legislation very rarely. In 1976, when the Parliament voted 149-19 to extend democratic elections down to district levels, Bhumibol refused to sign the law.[63] The Parliament refused to vote to overturn the King's veto. In 1954, Bhumibol vetoed parliamentary-approved land reform legislation twice before consenting to sign it.[64] The law limited the maximum land an individual could hold to 50 rai (20 acres), at a time when the Crown Property Bureau was the Kingdom's largest land-owner. The law was not enforced as General Sarit soon overthrew the elected government in a coup and repealed the law.
Bhumibol has the constitutional prerogative to pardon criminals, although there are several criteria for receiving a pardon, including age and remaining sentence. The 2006 pardoning of several convicted paedophiles, including an Australian rapist and child pornographer, caused controversy.[65][66][67]
[edit] Network monarchy and extraconstitutional powers

Monument to King Bhumibol in Phitsanulok, Thailand
Several academics outside of Thailand, including Duncan McCargo and Federico Ferrara have noted the active political involvement of Bhumibol through a "network monarchy," whose most significant proxy is Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanond. McCargo claimed that Bhumibol's deeply conservative network worked behind the scenes to establish political influence in the 1990s, but was deeply threatened by the landslide election victories of Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001 and 2005.[68] Ferrara claimed, shortly before the Thai Supreme Court delivered its verdict to seize Thaksin Shinawatra's assets, that the judiciary was a well-established part of Bhumibol's network and represented his main avenue to exercise extra-constitutional prerogatives despite having the appearance of being constitutional. He also noted how, in comparison to the Constitutional Court's 2001 acquittal of Thaksin, the judiciary was a much more important part of the "network" than it was in the past.[69]
The network's ability to exercise power is based partly on Bhumibol's popularity and strict control of Bhumibol's popular image. Bhumibol's popularity was demonstrated following the 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia, when hundreds of Thai protesters, enraged by rumors that Cambodian rioters had stomped on photographs of Bhumibol, gathered outside the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok. Photographs of the stomping were not published in Thailand, but were available on the internet. The situation was resolved peacefully only when Police General Sant Sarutanonda told the crowd that he had received a call from royal secretary Arsa Sarasin conveying Bhumibol's request for calm. The crowd dispersed.[70]
[edit] Royal projects
[edit] History

Bhumibol Dam
"...The development of the country must be fostered in stages. It must start with the construction of infrastructure, that is, the provision of food and basic necessities for the people by methods which are economic, cautious and conforming with principles. Once the foundation is firmly established, progress can be continually, carefully and economically promoted. This approach will prevent incurring mistakes and failures, and lead to the certain and complete achievement of the objectives..."
—H.M. the King Speech at Kasetsart University Commencement Ceremony on 19th July 1974.[71]
Bhumibol has been involved in many social and economic development projects. The nature of his involvement has varied by political regime.[72]
The military regime of Plaek Pibulsonggram (1951–1957) suppressed the monarchy. However, during that period Bhumibol managed to initiate a few projects using his own personal funds. These projects included the Royal Film and Radio Broadcasting Projects.
In the military governments of Sarit Dhanarajata and his successors (1958–1980), Bhumibol was reportrayed as the "Development King" and the source of the economic and political goals of the regime. Royally-initiated projects were implemented under the financial and political support of the government, including projects in rural areas and communities under the influence of the Communist Party of Thailand. Bhumibol's visits to these projects were heavily promoted by the Sarit government and broadcast on the state-controlled media.
During the civilian governments of General Prem Tinsulanond (1981–1987), the relationship between the Thai state and the monarch was at its closest. Prem, later to become President of Bhumibol's Privy Council, officially allocated government budgets and manpower to support royal projects. Most activities in this period involved the development of large scale irrigation projects in rural areas.
During the modern period (post-1988), the structured development of the Royal Projects reached its apex. Bhumibol's Chaipattana Foundation was established, promoting his "sufficiency economy" theory, an alternative to the export-oriented policies adopted by the period's elected governments. Following the 2006 coup, establishment of a "sufficiency economy" was enshrined in the constitution as being a primary goal of the government.
[edit] Example projects
Rama VIII Bridge. Suggested by Bhumibol, funded by the government
Huai Ongkod land reform project, Kanchanaburi province. Suggested by Bhumibol, using government-owned land.
Royal Medical Team. Bhumibol's private physicians accompanying him on village tours are encouraged to provide medical care for local residents. In addition, Bhumibol sponsors physicians who volunteer to serve in hospitals in provinces where royal palaces are situated.[73]

ANANDA MAHIDOL

2010-07-27T01:36:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Ananda Mahidol Phra Atthama Ramathibodindara (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาอานันทมหิดลฯ พระอัฐมรามาธิบดินทร; RTGS: —Ananthamahidon Phra Atthamaramathibodin), or Rama VIII (20 September 1925–9 June 1946) was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Circumstance of succession
3 Life as King
3.1 World War II
3.2 Post war
4 A mysterious death
4.1 Events of 9 June 1946
4.2 Aftermath
4.3 Alternative explanations of the death
4.3.1 Bhumibol Adulyadej
4.3.2 Seni Pramoj and the Democrat Party
4.3.3 Pridi Banomyong
4.3.4 Plaek Pibulsonggram
4.3.5 Keith Simpson
4.3.6 William Stevenson
4.3.7 Rayne Kruger
5 In memoriam
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
//
[edit] Early life
Prince Ananda Mahidol Mahidol (Mom Chao Ananda Mahidol Mahidol — หม่อมเจ้า อานันทมหิดล มหิดล) was born in Heidelberg, Germany. He was the first son of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkhla (son of King Chulalongkorn) and Mom Sangwal (last title Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani) who were studying there at the time. King Vajiravhud, his uncle, sent a telegram on 13 October 1925 auspiciously naming him "Ananda Mahidol" (อานันทมหิดล), meaning "the joy of Mahidol". ("Ananda Mahidol" is one word and is his first name. It is pronounced "Ananta Mahidon". When he held his birth rank of "Mom Chao" -- the lowest rank of Thai princes—he used the surname of "Mahidol" from his father; his name at this point was thus "Mom Chao Ananda Mahidol Mahidol").
He followed his parents to Paris, Lausanne, and then to Massachusetts when, in 1927, another uncle, King Prajadhipok issued a royal edict exalting him to the higher princely class of Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao. (This edict also benefited other "Mom Chao" who were the children of Chao Fa and their commoner wives, among them his elder sister Mom Chao Galyani Vadhana and his younger brother who, upon his birth later in the year, was born Phra Worawong Ther Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol Adulyadej).
The family returned to Thailand in 1928 after Prince Mahidol finished his medical studies at Harvard University. Prince Mahidol died at age 37 in 1929, when Ananda Mahidol was just 4 years old. His widowed mother was thus left to raise her family alone.
A coup d'état in 1932 ended the absolute monarchy and raised the possibility that King Prajadhipok might abdicate. Queen Savang Vadhana, his grandmother, was concerned about Prince Ananda Mahidol's safety, since he was one of the likely heirs to the throne. It was then suggested that the Mahidol family again move to Lausanne. The official reason given was for the health and further education of the princes. They left Thailand in 1933 and Prince Ananda Mahidol spent most of his youth in Switzerland.
However, when King Prajadhipok's abdication appeared imminent, the Prince's mother was approached by a member of government, asking for her opinion about Ananda Mahidol becoming the next Thai monarch.
[edit] Circumstance of succession

Photograph of the King, circa late 1930s.
See also King Prajadhipok's circumstance of succession
King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) abdicated in 1935 due to political quarrels with the new quasi-democratic government as well as health problems. The King decided to abstain from exercising his prerogative to name a successor to the throne. By that time, the crown had already passed from Prince Mahidol's line to that of his half-brothers when his eldest full brother, Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis, died as a teenager during King Chulalongkorn's reign. A half-brother, Prince Vajiravudh (as the next eldest) replaced Prince Vajirunhis as the Crown Prince he eventually succeeded to the throne in 1910 as King Rama VI. In 1924 the King instituted the Palace Law of Succession in order to govern subsequent successions. The law gave priority to the children of his mother Queen Regent Saovabha Bongsri over the children of King Chulalongkorn's two other royal wives. The law was enact on the death of King Vajiravudh in 1925 — the crown was passed to his youngest brother, Prince Prajadhipok of Sukhothai.
Offering the throne to Prince Prajadhipok was not without a debate. In doing so, another candidate was bypassed: Prince Chula Chakrabongse, son of the late Field Marshal Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanat of Phitsanulok, who before his death had been the heir-apparent to King Vajiravhud. It was questioned whether the Succession Law enacted by King Vajiravhud actually barred Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanat (and for that matter, Prince Chula Chakrabongse) from succession on the ground that he married a foreigner (Russian). However, his marriage took place before this law was enacted and had been endorsed by King Chulalongkorn himself. There was no clear resolution, but in the end the many candidates were passed over and Prince Prajadhipok was enthroned.
When King Prajadhipok later abdicated, since he was the last remaining son of Queen Saovabha, the crown went back to the sons of the Queen whose rank was next to hers: Queen Savang Vadhana, mother of the late Crown Prince Vajirunahis. Besides the late Crown Prince, she had two more sons who survived to adulthood: Prince Sommatiwongse Varodaya of Nakhon Si Thammarat, who had died without a son in 1899, and Prince Mahidol who, although deceased, had two living sons. It thus appeared that Prince Ananda Mahidol would be the first person in the royal line of succession.
Nevertheless, the same debate over the half-foreign Prince Chula Chakrabongse occurred again. It was argued that King Vajiravhud had virtually exempted the Prince's father from the ban in the Succession Law, and the crown might thus be passed to him.
However since the kingdom was now governed under a constitution, it was the Cabinet who would decide. Opinion was split on the right to succession of Prince Chula. A key figure was Pridi Phanomyong, who persuaded the Cabinet that the Law should be interpreted as excluding the Prince from succession, and that Prince Ananda Mahidol should be the next king. It also appeared more convenient for the government to have a monarch who was only 9 years old and was attending school in Lausanne, Switzerland. On 2 March 1935 Prince Ananda Mahidol was elected by the National Assembly of Siam and government to succeed his uncle, King Prajadhipok as the Eight King of the Chakri Dynasty.
[edit] Life as King
As the new King was still a child and was then studying in Switzerland, the parliament appointed Colonel Prince Anuwatjaturong, Lieutenant Commander Prince Artit Thip-apa, and Chao Phraya Yommaraj (Pun Sukhum) as his regents.
In 1938, at age 13, Ananda Mahidol visited the Kingdom of Siam for the first time as monarch. He was accompanied during his visit by his mother and his younger brother Bhumibol Adulyadej. Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram (sometimes simply called "Pibun") was the Prime Minister at this time and during most of Ananda Mahidol's reign. Pibulsonggram was a military dictator and, in 1939, he arranged to change the name of the country from Siam to Thailand. Late in 1940, Pibulsonggram involved Thailand in the indecisive "Franco–Thai War" against the Vichy forces in French Indochina.

The young King on a stamp.
[edit] World War II
On 8 December 1941, in concert with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Thailand. Ananda Mahidol was away from the country and Pridi Phanomyong served as regent in his absence. From 24 January 1942, occupied Thailand became a formal ally of the Empire of Japan and a member of the Axis. Under Plaek Pibulsonggram, Thailand declared war on the Allied powers. During the war, many members of the Thai Government, including the Ambassadorial staff in Japan acted as 'de-facto' spies on the side of the Allies, funneling secret information to the OAS.
By 1944, it was becoming apparent that the Japanese were going to lose the war to the Allies. Bangkok suffered heavily from the Allied bombing raids. This, plus economic hardship, made both the war and the regime of Plaek Pibulsonggram very unpopular. In July, Plaek Pibulsonggram was ousted by the Seri Thai-infiltrated government. The National Assembly reconvened and appointed the liberal lawyer Khuang Aphaiwong as Prime Minister. The Japanese surrendered on 15 August 1945. The Allied military responsibility for Thailand fell to the British.
[edit] Post war
Only after the end of World War II did Ananda Mahidol return to Thailand. He returned for a second visit in December 1945 with a degree in Law. Despite his youth and inexperience, he quickly won the hearts of the Thai people, who had continued to revere the monarchy through the upheavals of the 1930s and 1940s. He was a handsome young man and Thais were delighted to have their King amongst them once again. One of his well-remembered activities was a highly successful visit to Bangkok's Chinatown, which was calculated to defuse the post-war tensions that lingered between the ethnic Chinese and the Thais.
Foreign observers, however, believed that Ananda Mahidol did not really want to be King and felt his reign would not last long. Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the British commander in South-East Asia, visited Bangkok in January 1946 and described the King as "a frightened, short-sighted boy, his sloping shoulders and thin chest behung with gorgeous diamond-studded decorations, altogether a pathetic and lonely figure." At a public function, Mountbatten wrote, "his nervousness increased to such an alarming extent, that I came very close to support him in case he passed out."
[edit] A mysterious death
On 9 June 1946, the King was found shot dead in his bedroom in the Boromphiman Throne Hall, (a modern residential palace located within the Grand Palace), only four days before he was scheduled to return to Switzerland to finish his doctoral degree in Law at the University of Lausanne. His brother Bhumibol Adulyadej succeeded him. Ananda Mahidol was never crowned as king, but his brother posthumously gave him the full royal title of the ninefold umbrella.
[edit] Events of 9 June 1946

The Boromphiman Throne Hall, located within the Grand Palace. The King's bedroom is on the upper floor.
Keith Simpson, pathologist to the British Home Office and founding chairman of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Guy's Hospital in London, performed a forensic analysis of the King's death and recounted the following sequence of events on the morning of 9 June 1946:[1]
King Ananda was woken by his mother at 6am.
At 7.30am, his page But Pathamasarin came on duty and began preparing a breakfast table on a balcony adjoining the king's dressing room.
At 8.30, But saw the king standing in his dressing room. He brought the king his customary glass of orange juice a few minutes later. However, by then the king had gone back to bed and refused the juice.
At 8.45am, the king's other page Chit Singhaseni appeared, saying that he had been called to measure the King's medals and decorations on behalf of a jeweller who was making a case for them.
At 9am, Prince Bhumibol visited King Ananda. He said afterwards that he had found the king dozing in his bed.
At 9.20am, a single shot rang out from the king's bedroom. Chit ran in and then ran out along the corridor to the apartment of the king's mother, crying "The King has shot himself!"
The king's mother followed Chit into the king's bedroom and found the king lying face up in bed, bloodied from a wound to the head.
[edit] Aftermath
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
An initial radio announcement on 9 June surmised that the King was accidentally killed while toying with his pistol.[2]
Soon after the death, the Democrat Party spread rumors that Pridi Banomyong was behind the death.[3]
In October 1946, a Commission of Inquiry reported that the King's death could not have been accidental, but that neither suicide nor murder was satisfactorily proved.
In November 1947, Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram staged a coup against the elected government of Pridi, appointed Democrat Party leader Khuang Aphaiwong as Prime Minister, and ordered a trial. King Ananda's secretary, Senator Chaleo Patoomros, and the pages, But and Chit, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to kill the King.
The trial began in August 1948. Prior to the trial, Plaek admitted to US Ambassador Edwin Stanton that he was doubtful that the trial would resolve the mystery of Ananda Mahidol's death.[3] The prosecution's case was supported by 124 witnesses and such voluminous documentary evidence that the defense counsel asked for an adjournment to give them time to consider it. When this was refused the counsel resigned, and new counsel were found. Later, two of the defense counsel were arrested and charged with treason. Of the remaining two, one resigned, leaving only a single young lawyer for the defence, Fak Na Songkhla. Towards the end of the case, he was joined by Chaleo Patoomros's daughter, who had just graduated.
The trial ended in May 1951. The court found that King Ananda had been assassinated, but that Chaleo had not been proved guilty and that neither of the pages could have fired the fatal shot. However, they found Chit guilty of being a party to the crime. The charges against Chaleo and But were dismissed and the two released.
Chit appealed his conviction, and the prosecution appealed against the acquittal of Chaleo and But. After fifteen months of deliberation, the Appeal Court dismissed Chit's appeal, and undeterred by the legal doctrine of double jeopardy found But guilty also.
Chit and But appealed to the Supreme Court, which deliberated for ten more months before finally upholding both convictions, and this time convicting Chaleo as well.
In February 1955, Chaleo Patoomros and the two pages were executed by Pibulsonggram's government on charges of conspiracy to kill the King.
[edit] Alternative explanations of the death
The King's death is still seen as a mystery. The subject is never openly discussed in Thailand. With the exception of Bhumibol Adulyadej, all the principals related to the death already died.
[edit] Bhumibol Adulyadej
On 15 June 1946, American Charge d'Affaires Charles W. Yost met with Foreign Minister Direk Jayanama, who had just had a audience with the new King, Bhumibol Adulyadej. In his report to the US State Department, Yost noted
King Phumiphol... informed the Foreign Minister that he considered [the widely circulated] rumors [on the late King's death] absurd, that he knew his brother well and that he was certain that his death had been accidental... What the King said to Direk does not necessarily represent what he really believes, it is nevertheless interesting that he made so categorical a statement to the Foreign Minister.[3]
However, in an 1980 BBC documentary, Bhumibol claimed that the death was not an accident. He noted in English:
The investigation provided the fact that he died with a bullet wound in his forehead. It was proved that it was not an accident and not a suicide. One doesn’t know. . . . But what happened is very mysterious, because immediately much of the evidence was just shifted. And because it was political, so everyone was political, even the police were political, [it was] not very clear. I only know [that] when I arrived he was dead. Many people wanted to advance not theories but facts to clear up the affair. They were suppressed. And they were suppressed by influential people in this country and in international politics.[4]
[edit] Seni Pramoj and the Democrat Party
Seni Pramoj and the Democrat Party spread rumors that Pridi was behind the death. Yost noted in a US State Department communication
"...Within forty-eight hours after the death of the late King two relatives of Seni Pramoj, first his nephew and later his wife, came to the Legation and stated categorically their conviction that the King had been assassinated at the instigation of the Prime Minister [Pridi Banomyong]. It was of course clear that they had been sent by Seni. I felt it necessary to state to both of them in the strongest terms, in order to make it perfectly clear that this Legation could not be drawn into Siamese political intrigues, that I did not believe these stories and that I considered the circulation at this time of fantastic rumors un-supported by a shred of evidence to be wholly in-excusable. The British Minister informed me this morning that he had also been approached by several members of the Opposition to whom he had stated that he accepted the official account of the King's death and that he would not be drawn into any further discussion of the matter.[3]
[edit] Pridi Banomyong
On 14 June 1946, Yost met with Pridi Banomyong and made the following report to the US State Department:
"[Pridi spoke] very frankly about the whole situation and ascribed the King's death to an accident, but it was obvious that the possibility of suicide was at the back of his mind. [Pridi] was violently angry at the accusations of foul play leveled against himself and most bitter in the manner in which he alleged (without doubt justly) that the Royal Family and the Opposition, particularly Seni Pramoj and Phra Sudhiat, had prejudiced the King and especially the Princess Mother against him."[3]
[edit] Plaek Pibulsonggram
After overthrowing Pridi Banomyong in a coup, Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram told US Ambassador Edwin Stanton that he "personally doubted whether Nai Pridi was directly involved for two reasons: firstly, ... Pridi is a very clever politician and secondly, ... he has a "kind heart"." Pibul concluded to the Ambassador that that "he did not think [Pridi] would cause anybody to be murdered. Pibul's wife, present in the meeting, seconded her husband's observations. However, Pibul noted that it was possible that Pridi had covered up or destroyed some of the evidence to protect the successor, Bhumibol Adulyadej.[3]
[edit] Keith Simpson
Dr. Keith Simpson, a forensic pathologist who investigated the King's death found it highly unlikely that the death was due to suicide, noting that:
The pistol was found by the King's left hand, but he was right-handed.
The direction of bullet fired was not inward towards the centre of the head.
The wound, over the left eye, was not in one of the elective sites, nor a "contact" discharge.
The King was killed while lying flat on his back. Simpson noted that in twenty years' experience he never known of any suicide shooting himself whilst lying flat on his back.[1]
[edit] William Stevenson
An account of the death is given in William Stevenson's The Revolutionary King, written with the co-operation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. This account exculpates those executed and suggests that Ananda Mahidol was murdered by Tsuji Masanobu. Tsuji was a former Japanese intelligence officer who had been active in Thailand during the war and, at the time of Ananda Mahidol's death, was hiding out in Thailand over fear of being persecuted for his war crimes.
It is clear from Stevenson's account that Ananda Mahidol cannot have killed himself, either by suicide (as is sometimes suggested) or accidentally. He was found lying on his back in his bed, not wearing his glasses, without which he was almost blind. He had a small bullet wound in his forehead and a somewhat larger exit wound in the back of his head. His pistol, a Colt .45 given to him as a gift by a former US Army officer, was not nearby. The Colt .45 is known to be not prone to accidental discharge; it will fire only if considerable pressure is applied to the safety plate at the back of the butt at the same time as the trigger is depressed. The Colt is also a heavy pistol and difficult to use by a person without training. It is reasoned that it would have been virtually impossible for Ananda Mahidol, a frail 20-year-old, to lie on his back and shoot himself in the forehead with such a pistol. If he had done so, the impact, according to forensics experts, would have blown his skull apart, not caused the small wound seen by many witnesses. Stevenson writes that no cartridge case was found, and subsequent inquiries ordered by King Bhumibol, but suppressed by later governments, found that the Colt had not been fired.[5]
[edit] Rayne Kruger
Another account, which concluded that Ananda Mahidol's death was the result of suicide, was explored by journalist Rayne Kruger in his book, The Devil's Discus [6] The book is banned in Thailand. However, a website[7] by a Thai writer has provided a summary of Kruger's arguments, and it links to other material about the death.
[edit] In memoriam
Figure 1: 1959 statue of Ananda Mahidol, erected in Wat Suthat, Bangkok, by King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a tribute to his brother.
Figure 2: 2002 Rama VIII Bridge across the Chao Phraya River.
Figure 3: 2003 back of 20-baht banknote, Bridge in background behind portrait of King Ananda Mahidol; to the left, the king, shaded by a royal umbrella, is followed on his right and one step behind by his brother with his ever-present camera. Design date 12 February 2546 BE/AD 2003.
Figure 4: Detail of legend at lower right. Translation: If all Thai people know they are owners of the nation/and each one discharges their duties accordingly/and according to right principles,/then the difficulties of the nation will pass away./Thus spoke/King Ananda Mahidol/A.D. 1925 - 1946].

PRAJADHIPOK

2010-07-27T01:34:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Prajadhipok Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาประชาธิปกฯ พระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว), or Rama VII (8 November 1893-30 May 1941) was the seventh monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was the last absolute monarch and the first constitutional monarch of the country. His reign was a turbulent time for Siam due to huge political and social changes during the Revolution of 1932. Also he was the only Siamese monarch to abdicate.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
1.1 Reigning name
2 Last absolute monarch
3 The 1932 Coup
4 The first constitutional monarch
5 Abdication
6 Life after abdication
7 Legacy
8 See also
9 External links
10 References
//
[edit] Early life
Somdet Chaofa Prajadhipok Sakdidej was born 8 November 1893 in Bangkok to King Chulalongkorn and Queen Saovabha Bongsri. Prince Prajadhipok was the youngest of nine children born to the couple, but overall he was the King's second-youngest child (of a total of 77), and the 33rd and youngest of Chulalongkorn's sons.[1]
Unlikely to succeed to the throne, Prince Prajadhipok chose to follow a military career. Like many of the King's children, he was sent abroad to study, going to Eton College in 1906, then to the Woolwich Military Academy from which he graduated in 1913. He went on to receive a commission in the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army based in Aldershot. In 1910 Chulalongkorn died and was succeeded by Prajadhipok's older brother (also a son of Queen Saovabha), Crown Prince Vajiravudh, who became King Rama VI. Prince Prajadhipok was by then commissioned in both the British Army and the Royal Siamese Army. With the outbreak of the First World War and the declaration of Siamese neutrality, King Vajiravudh ordered his younger brother to resign his British commission and return to Siam immediately, a great embarrassment to the Prince who wanted to serve with his men on the front. Once home, Prajadhipok became a high-ranking military official in Siam. In 1917 was ordained temporarily as a monk, as was customary for all Siamese men.
In August 1918 Prince Prajadhipok married his childhood friend and cousin Mom Chao Rambhai Barni, a descendant of King Mongkut (Prajadhipok's grandfather) and Consort Piam. They were married at the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace under the blessing of the King.
After the war, he attended the École Superieure de Guerre in France, before returning to Siam and serving again in the Siamese military. During this time, he was granted the title Krom Luang Sukhothai (Prince of Sukhothai). He lived a generally quiet life with his wife at their residence, the Sukhothai Palace, next to the Chao Phraya river. The couple would produce no children. Prajadhipok found himself rising rapidly in succession to the throne, as his brothers died within a short time. Finally, in 1925, King Vajiravudh himself died, and Prajadhipok became absolute monarch at the age of thirty-two. He was crowned King of Siam on 25 February 1926.
[edit] Reigning name
As monarch, Prajadhipok was referred to by his reigning name of Phrabat Somdet Phra Pokklao Chao Yuhua (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) and in legal documents was a more formal Phrabat Somdet Phra Poraminthramaha Prajadhipok Phra Pokklao Chao Yuhua (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาประชาธิปก พระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว)
Thais today call him Ratchakan thi Chet (lit. 'The Seventh Reign') or more colloquially, Phra Pok Klao (พระปกเกล้า), and in English, King Rama VII. The system of referring to Chakri rulers as Rama (followed by a number) was instituted by King Vajiravudh to follow European practice.
[edit] Last absolute monarch
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
Relatively unprepared for his new responsibilities, Prajadhipok was nevertheless intelligent, diplomatic in his dealings with others, modest and eager to learn. However, he had inherited serious problems from his predecessor. The most urgent of these problems was the economy. The budget was heavily in deficit, and the royal financial accounts were a nightmare. The entire world was in the throes of the Great Depression.
Within half a year only three of Vajiravhud's twelve ministers were still serving the new King, the rest having been replaced by members of the royal family. While the family appointments brought back men of talent and experience, they also signalled a return to royal oligarchy. The King clearly wished to demonstrate a clear break with the discredited sixth reign, and his choice of men to fill the top positions appeared to be guided largely by a wish to restore a Chulalongkorn-type government.[2]

King Prajadhipok on a 10 satang postage stamp.
In an institutional innovation intended to restore confidence in the monarchy and government, Prajadhipok, in what was virtually his first act as King, announced the creation of the Supreme Council of the State of Siam. This privy council was made up of a number of experienced and extremely competent members of the royal family, including the former long-serving Minister of the Interior (and King Chulalongkorn's right hand man), Prince Damrong Rajanubhab. Gradually these princes arrogated power to themselves, monopolising all the main ministerial positions and appointing sons and brothers to both administrative and military posts. Many of them felt it was their duty to make amends for the mistakes of the previous reign, but their acts were not generally appreciated, for the government failed to communicate to the public the purpose of the policies they were pursuing to rectify Vajiravhud's financial extravagances.[3]
Unlike his predecessor, the king diligently read virtually all state papers that came his way, from ministerial submissions to petitions by citizens. The king was painstaking and conscientious; he would elicit comments and suggestions from a range of experts and study them assiduously, noting the good points in each submission, but when various options were available he would seldom be able to select one and abandon others. He would often rely upon the Supreme Council to persuade him in a particular direction.
In 1932, with the country deep in depression, the Supreme Council opted to introduce cuts in official spending, civil service pay rolls and the military budget. The King foresaw that these policies might create discontent, especially in the army, and he therefore convened a special meeting of officials to explain why the cuts were necessary. In his addressed he stated the following:
I myself know nothing at all about finances, and all I can do is listen to the opinions of others and choose the best... If I have made a mistake, I really deserve to be excused by the people of Siam.
No previous monarch had ever spoken so honestly. Unfortunately, many interpreted his words not as a frank appeal for understanding and cooperation, but as a sign of his weakness and proof that the system of rule of fallible autocrats should be abolished.[4]
King Prajadhipok turned his attention to the question of future politics in Siam. Inspired by the British example, the King wanted to allow the common people to have a say in the country's affairs by the creation of a parliament. A proposed constitution was ordered to be drafted, but the King's wishes were rejected by his advisers. Foremost among them were Prince Damrong and Francis B. Sayre, Siam's adviser in foreign affairs, who felt that the population was politically immature and not yet ready for democracy [5] - a conclusion also reached, ironically, by the promoters of the People's Party.[3]
However, spurred on by agitation for radical constitutional change, the King in 1926 began moves to develop the concept of prachaphiban, or 'municipality', which had emerged late in the fifth reign as a law regarding sanitation.[6] Information was obtained regarding local self-government in surrounding countries, and proposals to allow certain municipalities to raise local taxes and manage their own budgets were drawn up. The fact that the public was not sufficiently educated to make the scheme work militated against the success of this administrative venture. Nevertheless, the idea of teaching the Siamese concept of democracy through a measure of decentralisation of power in municipalities had become, in Prajadhipok's mind, fundamental to future policy making.[7] Before practical steps could be taken, however, the absolute monarchy was suddenly brought to an end.
[edit] The 1932 Coup
Main article: Siamese Revolution of 1932
A small group of soldiers and civil servants began secretly plotting to bring constitutional government to the kingdom. Their efforts culminated in the almost bloodless "revolution" on the morning of 24 June 1932 by the self-proclaimed People's Party (Khana Ratsadorn - คณะราษฎร). While Prajadhipok was away at Klaikangworn Palace in Hua Hin, the plotters took control of the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok and arrested key officials (mainly the princes). The People's Party demanded Prajadhipok become a constitutional monarch and grant the Thai people a constitution. He immediately accepted and the first "permanent" constitution was promulgated on 10 December.
Prajadhipok's return to Bangkok on 26 June dispelled any thoughts the plotters may have had of proclaiming a republic. One of his first acts was to receive the leading coup plotters in a royal audience. As they entered the room, Prajadhipok greeted them, saying "I rise in honour of the Khana Ratsadorn." [8][9] It was a very significant gesture. By Siamese tradition, monarchs remained seated while their subjects made obeisance. Prajadhipok was acknowledging the changed circumstances.[3]
[edit] The first constitutional monarch

King Prajadhipok signs The Constitution of the Siam Kingdom 1932 on 10 December 1932
The King's relations with the People's Party deteriorated quickly, particularly after the ousting of Phraya Manopakorn Nititada as Prime Minister by the Khana Ratsadon's leader Phraya Phahol Phonphayuhasena.
In October 1933 the maverick Prince Boworadej, a popular former Minister of Defence who had resigned from Prajadhipok's cabinet in protest over the budget cuts, led an armed revolt against the government. In the Boworadet Rebellion, he mobilised several provincial garrisons and marched on Bangkok, occupying the Don Muang aerodome. Prince Boworadej accused the government of being disrespectful to the monarch and of promoting communism, and demanded that government leaders resign. Boworadej had hoped that garrisons in the Bangkok would support him, but their commander ensured that they remained loyal to the government. The Royal Thai Navy declared itself neutral and left for its bases in the south. After heavy fighting near Don Muang, the ammunition-short Boworadej forces were defeated and the Prince himself fled to exile in French Indochina.
There is no evidence that Prajadhipok gave any support to the rebellion[7][10]. Nevertheless, the insurrection diminished the King's prestige. When the revolt began, Prajadhipok immediately informed the government that he regretted the strife and civil disturbances. The royal couple then took refuge at Songkhla, in the far south. The king's withdrawal from the scene was interpreted by the Khana Ratsadorn as a failure to do his duty. By not throwing his full support behind the government's forces, he had undermined their trust in him.[7]
In 1934 the Assembly voted to amend the civil and military penal codes. One of the proposed changes would allow death sentences to be carried out without the King's approval.[11] The King protested, and in two letters submitted to the Assembly said ending this time-honoured custom would make the people think that the government desired the right to sign death warrants to eliminate political opponents.

King Prajadhipok and Queen Ramphaiphanni with Konstantin von Neurath in Germany, 1934.
As a compromise he proposed holding a national referendum on the issue.[12]
Many in the Assembly were angered. They felt the King was implying that the Assembly did not actually represent the will of the people and voted to re-affirm the penal code changes.[13]
Prajadhipok, whose relations with the Khana Ratsadorn had been deteriorating for some time, went on a tour of Europe before visiting England for medical treatment. He continued to correspond with the government, centring on the conditions under which he would continue to serve. As well as retaining some traditional royal prerogatives, such as granting pardons, he was anxious to mitigate the increasingly undemocratic nature of the new regime.[10] Agreement was reached on the penal codes, but Prajadhipok indicated he was unwilling to return home before certain guarantees were made for his safety, and the constitution was amended to make the Assembly an entirely elected body. The government refused to comply, and on 14 October Prajadhipok announced his intention to abdicate unless his requests were met.
[edit] Abdication

Photograph of the King in full uniform.
The People's Party rejected the ultimatum, and on 2 March 1935, Prajadhipok abdicated to be replaced by Ananda Mahidol. Prajadhipok issued a brief statement criticising the regime that included the following phrases, since often quoted by critics of Thailand's slow political development:
I am willing to surrender the powers I formerly exercised to the people as a whole, but I am not willing to turn them over to any individual or any group to use in an autocratic manner without heeding the voice of the people.
As an idealistic democrat, the former king had good grounds for complaint.[2] The Executive Committee and Cabinet did not seem eager to develop an atmosphere of debate or to be guided by resolutions of the Assembly.
Reaction to the abdication was muted. Everybody was afraid of what might happen next. The government refrained from challenging any assertions in the King's abdication statement for fear of arousing further controversy. Opponents of the government kept quiet because they felt intimidated and forsaken by the King whom they regarded as the only person capable of standing up to the promoters. In other words, the absolutism of the monarchy had been replaced by that of the People's Party, with the military looming in the wings as the ultimate arbiter of power.[3]
[edit] Life after abdication

A Statue of the King in Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Nonthaburi
He spent the rest of his life with Queen Ramphaiphanni in England. At the time of abdication, the couple was living at Knowle House, in Surrey, just outside London. However, this house was not really suitable for his health, so they moved to Glen Pammant, still in Surrey, a smaller house but with more walking space. They remained there for two years. The couple had no children, but adopted the infant son of one of Prajadhipok's deceased brothers. (The stepson, Prince Jirasakdi, would later serve as a RAF fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain. He died on duty in 1942.)
They moved again to Vane Court, the oldest house in the village of Biddenden in Kent. He led a peaceful life there, gardening in the morning and writing his autobiography in the afternoon.
In 1938 the royal couple moved to Compton House, in the village of Wentworth in Virginia Water, Surrey.
Due to active bombing by the German Luftwaffe in 1940, the couple again moved, first to a small house in Devon, and then to Lake Vyrnwy Hotel in Powys, Wales, where the former king suffered a heart attack.
The couple returned to Compton House, as he expressed his preference to die there. King Prajadhipok died from heart failure on 30 May 1941.
His cremation was held at the Golders Green Crematorium in North London. It was a simple affair attended by just Queen Ramphai and a handful of close relatives. Queen Ramphaiphanni stayed at Compton House for a further eight years before she returned to Thailand in 1949, bringing the King's ashes back with her.
Written only up to the point when he was 25, the King's autobiography was left unfinished.
[edit]

VAJIRAVUDH

2010-07-27T01:33:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาวชิราวุธฯ พระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว), or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระรามาธิบดีศรีสินทรมหาวชิราวุธฯ พระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว), or Rama VI (1 January 1881 – 25 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death. Vajiravudh is known for his efforts to create and promote Siamese nationalism. His reign was characterized by Siam's movement further towards democracy and minimal participation in World War I.
Contents[hide]
1 Education
2 Ascension and Early Reforms
3 Incident of Bangkok Era 130
4 Administration, Economy, and Infrastructure
5 World War I and Nationalism
6 Financial crisis
7 Marriages
8 Succession Law
9 Further financial problems and Death
10 Vajiravudh as a writer
11 Legacy
12 References
13 External links
14 See also
//
[edit] Education
Prince Vajiravudh was born on 1 January 1880 to Chulalongkorn and one of his four queens, Saovabha. In 1888, upon coming of age, Vajiravudh received the title Krom Khun Thep Dvaravati. He was firstly educated in the Royal Palace in Siamese and English language. He continued his education in Britain, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1891 and became part of Durham Light Infantry Regiment upon graduation. In 1894, his half-brother Crown Prince Vajirunhis died. Vajiravudh was then appointed the new Crown Prince of Siam. He studied in law and history at Christ Church, Oxford in 1899. However, he suffered the appendicitis that barred him from personally receiving the graduation in 1901.
Crown Prince Vajiravudh returned to Siam in 1902 and became a monk in 1904 temporarily according to Siamese traditions. In 1906, his father Chulalongkorn traveled to Europe to seek treatment for his lung disease. Chulalongkorn made Vajiravudh the Regent of Siam. Crown Prince Vajiravudh's accomplishment during his regency was his supervision of the construction of Chulalongkorn Equesterian Statue.
Chulalongkorn died on 23 October 1910. Vajuravudh succeeded his father as the king of Siam.
[edit] Ascension and Early Reforms

Portrait of Vajiravudh wearing ceremonial robes on his coronation day
Even before coronation, Vajiravudh swiftly passed several reforms. He organized Siam’s Defence and established military academies. He created the rank of General for the first time in Siam, with his uncle Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse as the first Siamese general.
His first act following his ascension to the throne was to build the Royal Pages College which was subsequently renamed Vajiravudh College by King Rama VII to honour his brother. It was built as an all boy boarding school in the same tradition as English public schools such as Eton and Harrow. The school was built instead of a royal monastery - a custom of Thai kings, as King Vajiravudh deemed that there were already too many temples in Bangkok. In his own hand written letter, King Vajiravudh wrote that "In the Royal Pages College, what I want is not so much to turn out model boys, all of the same standard, all brilliant scholars with thousands of marks each, as to turn out efficient young men - young men who will be physically and morally clean, and who will be looking forward keenly to take up whatever burden the future may lay upon them". Later he also raised the Civil Servant School to Chulalongkorn Academy for Civil Officials – then Chulalongkorn University. Both Vajiravudh College and Chulalongkorn University still benefit from the personal funds that King Vajiravudh set aside for educational use at the two elite institution up till today.
In 1911, he established the Scout Order in Siam, part of which became Thai Military Reserve today. On 11 November 1911, Vajiravudh's coronation was held with royalties from Europe and Japan as guests – for the first time in Siam to host international parties. In December, the first airplane was flown in Siam.
Early years of Vajiravudh's administration was largely dominated by his two uncles - Prince Damrong and Prince Devawongse - both of them Chulalongkorn's right hand men. However, he disagreed with Prince Damrong, the Minister of Interior over Prince Damrong's negotiation of Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 that ceded four sultanates to the British Empire[1].
Vajiravudh also reformed his father's monthon system by imposing the paks (Thai: ภาค) or regions over the administrative monthons. Each pak was governed by an Uparaja directly in command of the king. The Uparaja presided over the intendants of monthons in the region - thus grabbing local administrative powers in his hands - much to the dismay of Prince Damrong.
[edit] Incident of Bangkok Era 130
Main article: Palace Revolt of 1912

Photograph of Palace Revolt of 1912 key plotters
The radicals sternly expected that constitution upon the coronation of Vajiravudh. However, no constitution came. In 1911, the Wuchang Uprising that led to the fall of Qing dynasty was a strong urge for Siamese radicals to act. So, for the first time, an attempt to overthrow the monarchy and establish the democracy happened in Siam.
The immediate cause, however, was laid even before Vajiravudh’s coronation. In 1909, Crown Prince Vajiravudh had ordered a Thai Royal Military Academy’s student who had had an argument with one of Vajiravudh’s pages to be canned. The alumni of the Academy, who had already been stationed throughout the kingdom, was provoked further by Vajiravudh’s establishment of the [Wild Tiger Corps], which was seen as Vajiravudh’s personal troops to replace the military.
The plotters were, however, relatively young army and navy officials, who was also the students in the 1909 event. The coup was planned to be staged on 1 April – Siamese traditional New Year Day. They also planned to choose one of Vajiravudh’s brothers as the first President of Siam. They also viewed that, if the absolute monarchy had been removed, Siam would achieve modernization like those of Japan. The coup leaders accused the King of devoting his time to writing plays and acting in them with his companions. They also accused him of living a luxurious life in western style; building Sanam Chan Palace and Lumphini Park, and owning expensive horses from Australia, while preaching to his subjects to be austere and nationalistic.
However, the coup plan was leaked. Captain Yut Kongyu, who was selected as the assassin by lottery, told Mom Chao Prawatpan – and then Prince Chakrabongse - about the upcoming coup. Prince Chakrabongse personally led the arrest of all conspirators and their punishments were severe – including executions to long-term imprisonment. However, Vajiravudh halted the punishment and released them all saying that what they did was for the sake of the kingdom.
[edit] Administration, Economy, and Infrastructure
Rama VI inherited his father's plan of building a modern nation although he was skeptical. Disagreements in new form of administration occurred constantly with 'old aristocrats', many of them were his relatives such as the celebrated Prince Damrong, his uncle, who took charge of the Ministry of Interior. As more and more corruptions in the newly created provinces were reported, Rama VI eventually suggested his own creation of viceroy system. Viceroys, who were appointed directly by the king, were sent to supervise the provincial governors and local officials.
In 1912, Vajiravudh announced the change of calendar usage from Rattanakosin Era designated by Chulalongkorn to the Buddhist Era which is still in use today. In 1913, Siam faced financial crisis as the Chinese-Siamese Bank went bankrupt.
In 1914, the construction of Don Mueang Airport, the first Siamese airport, began. In the same year the Siamese government decided to take a loan from the Federated Malay States to extend the railways to the south. In 1915, Vajiravudh himself visited the southern provinces to oversee the railway constructions. The Bangkok railway station at Hua Lamphong was then established as a center of Siamese railroads. Prince Damrong eventually left the Ministry of Interior in 1915. In 1916, Vajiravudh appointed his half-brother Prince of Kampangpetch as the Head of Railway Department.
In 1917, Vajiravudh established the Nakorn Sri Thammarat regiment as his handful forces. In the same year Vajiravudh officially founded the Chulalongkorn University - the first university in Siam named in honor of his father. In 1918, Vajiravudh founded the Dusit Thani near his Dusit Palace as an experimental place for democracy. The democratic institutions were imitated including elections, parliament, and the press. Vajiravudh himself acted as one of the citizens of Dusit Thani yet the city was perceived as another Vajiravudh's acting theatre.
[edit] World War I and Nationalism

The Siamese Expeditionary Force with the tricolour flag of Siam in Paris, 1919.
In July 1917, Vajiravudh sided himself with the Allied Powers and expelled the German and Austrian officials from the Railway Department and Siam Commercial Bank. He also put the properties of the Central Powers nations under government's protectorate. Vajiravudh then saw this as an opportunity to create and promote Siamese nationalism, against the so-called enemies - the Central Powers. He changed the Flag of Siam from the elephant-banner to a tricolor one. King Vajiravudh is considered as the father of Thai nationalism, which was later built upon by Field Marshall Phibunsongkhram and Sarit Dhanarajata. He introduced the practice of using the name Rama for the Chakri kings in deference to foreign practice.
The Siamese troops were the only Southeast Asians in the European theatre (except for 140,000[2] Vietnamese troops and workers drafted by the French). They did not see much action though, as the Siamese troops arrived in Europe towards the end of the War. In any case, the participation in the War allowed Siam to later negotiate with the Western Powers on 'unfair' treaties made before.[3]
[edit] Financial crisis

Photograph of Vajiravudh
In 1917, price of silver rose and exceeded the face value of the (silver) coin. The coins were then melted down and sold out of Siam by individuals. The government solved this by changing the pure silver coin to alloy. Vajiravudh eventually forbade exports of Siamese coins. In 1918, the usage of 1-baht coins was nullified and the 1-baht banknotes were introduced. The coins were recalled and kept as national reserve. In 1919, Vajuravudh imposed his military-exemptation tax (Thai: เงินรัชชูปการ) that effected his popularity among the people.
Though the Siamese forces that joined the march at Versailles returned triumphant in 1919, the economic problems caused by World War I was serious - the Great Depression. In the same year, drought hit Siam and rice shortage ensued. The government forbade the export of rice - the main Siamese revenue since the Bowring Treaty. Queen Mother Saovabha, Vajiravudh's mother, died in 1919. Siamese participation in World War I opened the way to reconciliation, firstly with the United States in 1920, the unequal treaties imposed by Western Powers in the 19th century.
In spite of the financial crisis, the railway constructions continued. The trains reached Narathiwat and was expanded to the north and the east. The construction of Rama VI Bridge began in 1922 and the same year the railway reached Chiangmai. However, the national account was in such deficit that a large loan from Britain was taken. Also in 1922, an insurgency occurred in Pattani over the new taxation policies, which was readily subjugated by the Nakorn Sri Thammarat regiment. In 1923, Vajiravudh announced his six principles in the governance of Pattani Province, emphasizing local freedom and cautive tax measures.
[edit] Marriages
Vajiravudh had been a king without queen for about ten years. In 1920, he met Mom Chao Wanwimon, at his theatre at Phayathai Palace. They got engaged and Mom Chao Wanwimon was elevated to Princess Wallapa. However, four months later in 1921, Vajiravudh nullified the engagement and went for Princess Wallapa's sister - Princess Laksamilawan - whom he engaged. However, the marriage was never held and the couple then separated.
In 1921, Vajiravudh married Prueng Sucharitkul, who was a daughter of Chao Phraya Sutham Montri and elevated her to Phra Sucharitsuda, as his concubine. He then married Sucharitsuda's sister Prapai Sucharitkul as his concubine with the title of Phra Inthrasaksachi. In 1922, Phra Inthrasaksachi was elevated to Queen Inthrasaksachi. However, the Queen suffered two miscarriages. In 1924, Vajiravudh married Krueakaew Abhaywongse, a daughter of Phraya Abhay Bhubet, as Concubine Suvadhana. Queen Inthrasaksachi was then demoted to Princess Consort Inthrasaksachi in 1925.
[edit] Succession Law
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
Main article: 1924 Palace Law of Succession
In 1924, Vajiravudh promulgated his Law of Succession - which has since become the code for successions of Chakri dynasty till today. According to the law, the throne would be passed to the king's sons and grandsons. However, in the case of Vajiravudh who had no sons, the throne would passed to his eldest true brother, that is brother who shared the same mother as his - Queen Saovabha. The law gave priority to the descendants of the princes born to Queen Saovabha, then to Queen Savang Vadhana, and then to Queen Sukumalmarsri. The law also forbade princes whose mother was foreign from the throne. This referred to his companion Prince Chakrabongse who had married a Russian woman and his son Prince Chula Chakrabongse was therefore barred from the throne.
[edit] Further financial problems and Death
In 1924, King Vajiravudh, accompanied by Concubine Suvadhana, visited Federated Malay States. The reconciliation with European powers on unequal treaties progressed gradually, while financial crisis was taking a great toll on Siam as another loan was taken from Britain and the fire of a large number of government officials occurred. In 1925 Vajiravudh had to dissolve his Nakorn Sri Thammarat regiment and merged the administrative provinces into larger ones to lower the maintanance cost.
In November 1925, it was announced that Vajiravudh fell ill due to his gustatory disease[4] as Princess Consort Suvadhana was then pregnant. Vajiravudh then announced his succession will; that if Princess Suvadhana were to give birth to a son, the throne would go to him. If not, the throne would pass to his surviving brother Prince Prajadhipok of Sukhothai. He also barred Princess Inthrasaksachi from being interred with him in the future and instead granted that right to Princess Suvadhana. And Vajiravudh also barred his uncle Prince Damrong from the government.
On 24 November, midnight, Princess Suvadhana eventually gave birth to a princess, only 2 hours before Vajiravudh's death. It was said that Vajiravudh had a glimpse of his sole daughter before his demise. The throne passed to his brother Prajadhipok, who named Vajiravudh's daughter as Princess Bejaratana (Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana).
[edit] Vajiravudh as a writer

King Vajiravudh on a stamp
King Vajiravudh was one of Thailand's highly renowned artists, writing modern novels, short stories, plays and even journals. Among his works were translations of three Shakespeare plays - The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet and many other writing pieces to promote the ideology of Thai nationalism. In several writings, he criticised the ethnic Chinese in Thailand as being "Jews of the East", particularly the immigrant traders, due in part to their economic affluence in Thailand.[5] The King was one among those writers who introduced mysteries and detective stories to Thai literature circles. He translated Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot fictions into Thai language, and created the character "Nai Thong-In" as Siam's first consulting detective, using Sir Athur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes as a model. He also translated Sax Rohmer's "the Golden Scorpion" (which described the archvillain as Chinese).
[edit] Legacy
Throughout most of his reign there was a good deal of criticism of the king. Some argued that the real power in the state lay with the king's favourites, the young men of his inner entourage for whom he had written plays and with whom he played games and organised clubs and societies. Some, like King Chulalongkorn before his death and Queen Saowapha, his mother, frowned on the king's personal life and his almost total lack of interest in the opposite sex.[6] It was commonly known, but never spoken of, that the King was in fact an "erratic homosexual".[7] He would in fact usually have been passed over had his father not introduced succession-by-legal-primogeniture.
[edit]

CHULALONGKORN

2010-07-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาจุฬาลงกรณ์ฯ พระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว), or Rama V (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang (พระพุทธเจ้าหลวง - The Royal Buddha). He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam. His reign was characterized by the modernization of Siam, immense government and social reforms, and territorial cessions to the British Empire and French Indochina. As Siam was threatened by Western expansionism, Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, managed to save Siam from being colonized. All his reforms were dedicated to Siam’s insurance of survival in the midst of Western colonialism, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat (พระปิยมหาราช - The Great Beloved King).
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 The Young King
2.1 Front Palace crisis
2.2 Heo insurgency
2.3 Military and Political Reforms
2.4 Call for democracy
3 Conflict with French Indochina
4 Local Reforms and Constructions
4.1 British Empire
5 Abolition of Corvée and Slavery
6 Death and legacy
7 Titles and styles
8 See also
9 References
//
[edit] Early life

King Mongkut with Prince Chulalongkorn, both in Naval uniforms.
Chulalongkorn was born on September 20, 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra. He was given his name Prince Chulalongkorn. In 1861, he was entitled Krommameun Pikanesuarn Surasangkat. His father gave him a broad education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens. In 1866, he became a sangha (monk) in Wat Bawonniwet according to the royal tradition. Upon his return to his secularity in 1867, he was rewarded his title as Krommakhun Pinit Prachanat.
In 1867, King Mongkut became ill after his visit to Wakor for the solar eclipse observation. On his deathbed, King Mongkut wrote “My brother, my son, my grandson, whoever you all the senior officials think will be able to save our country will succeed my throne, choose at your own will.” So the diet was held to select a prince to be crowned, and Prince Chulalongkorn was chosen. As the prince was only 15 years old, Chao Phraya Si Suriyawongse was appointed the regent. The coronation was held on November 11, 1868.
Si Suriyawongse then arranged the title of Front Palace of King Pinklao (who was his uncle) to be succeeded by King Pinklao’s son, Prince Yingyot (who was then Chulalongkorn’s cousin).
The young Chulalongkorn was an enthusiastic king craving for reforms. He visited Singapore and Java in 1870 and British India during 1870-1872 to see the administration of British colonies. He toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and back to Calcutta in early 1872. This journey was later the source of his ideas and methodology of the modernization of Siam.
As a regent, Si Suriyawongse wielded a great influence. Si Suriyawongse continued the works of King Mongkut. He supervised the digging of several important khlongs, such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and the paving of roads such as Chareon Krung and Silom. He was also the patron of Thai literature and performing arts.
[edit] The Young King
In 1873, the king became a monk again and returned. The second coronation was held in the same year to celebrate the king’s majority.
At the end of his regency, Si Suriyawonse was raised to Somdet Chao Phraya, the highest title the nobility could attain. Si Suriyawongse himself was the most powerful noble of the 19th century. His family, Bunnag, was a powerful one of a Persian descent dominating the Siamese politics since the reign of Rama I. Chulalongkorn then married four of his half-sisters. They were all the daughters of Mongkut - Savang Vadhana, Saovabha, and Sunandha with Concubine Piam and Sukumalmarsri with Concubine Samli.

Photograph of the young King.
In the same year, Chulalongkorn’s first reform was to establish the Auditory Office (Th: หอรัษฎากรพิพัฒน์) – to replace the corrupted tax collectors as the only institution that collects taxes. As the tax collectors were under the patronage of various nobles and also provided the financial support to the patron, this caused a great disruption among the nobility, especially the Front Palace. Since the time of King Mongkut, the title of Front Palace had been as powerful as the “second king”, with one-third of national revenue devoted to it. Moreover, Prince Yingyot of the Front Palace was known to be acquainted with many British men, in a time when the British Empire was considered the enemy of Siam.
In 1874, Chulalongkorn chartered the Council of State - as a legislative body - and Privy Council - as his personal counsel based on the British privy council. The members of the councils were, of course, appointed by the monarch.
[edit] Front Palace crisis
Main article: Front Palace Crisis
In 1874, the Grand Palace was bombed and a fire raged through it. The Front Palace gave no help in extinguishing the fire. This raised suspicions. Prince Yingyot hid himself in the British consulate so that Chulalongkorn could do him no harm. However, the king was waiting, ready to strike, and the tensions continued, until the retired Si Suriyawongse returned from Ratchaburi to calm the conflicts.
The "Front Palace Crisis" incident indicated how much power was wielded by the aristocrats and royal relatives, leaving the king little power. This would become one of his main motives to reform the feudal Siam politics, reducing the power held by the nobility.
When Prince Yingyot died in 1885, Chulalongkorn took that opportunity to abolish the titular Front Palace and created the title of "Crown Prince of Siam" in accordance with the Western style. Chulalongkorn's son, Prince Vajirunhis, was appointed the first Crown Prince of Siam, though he never reigned. In 1895, the Prince died of typhoid at age 17, he was succeeded by his half-brother Vajiravudh, who was then at boarding school in England.
After that, Sri Suriyawongse withdrew from politics, as did the Bunnak family.
[edit] Heo insurgency
Main article: Haw wars
In the northern Laotian lands bordering China, the insurgents of the Taiping rebellion had taken refuge since the reign of King Mongkut. These Chinese were called The Heos and became bandits pillaging the villages. In 1875, Chulalongkorn sent troops from Bangkok to crush the Heos as they ravaged as far as Vientiane. However, they met strong Chinese resistance and retreated to Isan in 1885. New, modernized forces were sent again and were divided into two groups approaching the Heos from Chiang Kam and Pichai. The Heos scattered and some fled to Vietnam. The Siamese armies proceeded to eliminate the remaining Heos. The city of Nong Khai maintains memorials for the Siamese dead.
[edit] Military and Political Reforms
Freed from the Front Palace and Chinese rebellions, Chulalongkorn initiated his reforms. He established the Royal Military Academy in 1887 to train the troops in Western fashion. The modernized forces provided the king a much more power to centralize the country.
The government of Siam had remained rather unchanged since the fifteenth century. The central government was headed by the Samuha Nayak (i.e. Prime Minister), who controlled the northern parts of Siam, and the Samuha Kalahom (i.e. Grand Commander), who controlled the southern Siam in both civil and military affairs. The Samuha Nayak presided over the Chatu Sadombh (i.e. Four Pillars). The responsibilities of each pillar were rather overlapping and uncertain. In 1888, Chulalongkorn tried the new ministerial government. The ministers were, in the beginning, the members of royal family. The official establishment of ministries was promulgated in 1892, with all ministries in equal status.
As the Council of State proved unable to veto the legal drafts or to give Chulalongkorn advices because the members still respected Chulalongkorn as an absolutist monarch. Chulalongkorn then dissolved the Council altogether and transferred the duty to give advices to the cabinet in 1894.
Chulalongkorn also abolished the traditional Nakorn Bala methods of tortures in judiciary process, which was seen as inhumane and barbaric by Western and Modern views, and introduced the Western code. His Belgian advisor, Rolin-Jaequemyns, played a great role in the development of modern Siamese law and judicial system.
[edit] Call for democracy
Main article: Incident of 103
Chulalongkorn was the first Siamese king to send the royal princes to Europe to be educated. In nineteenth century Europe, nationalism flourished and there was a call for liberty. The princes, of course, had been influenced by the liberal ideas of democracy and elections. They encountered republics like France and constitutional monarchies like the United Kingdom.
In 1884 (103 of Rattakosin Era), Siamese officials in London and Paris arranged a request to Chulalongkorn, citing the threats from European colonialism were coming and Siam should be reformed like Meiji Japan and Siam should became a constitutional monarchy. However, Chulalongkorn stated that it was not yet time and he himself was urging reforms.
Throughout Chulalongkorn's reign, writers with radical ideas had their works published for the first time. The most notable ones included Tianwan, who had been imprisoned for 17 years and from prison he produced many works criticizing the old Siamese society.

Photograph of the King with his sons in England 1907. The King during his lifetime had 92 consorts who, among them, would produce 77 children.

The King had many buildings constructed during his long reign including the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall in 1908...

..and the Vimanmek Palace in 1900.
[edit] Conflict with French Indochina
Main article: Siamese territorial cessions

Chulalongkorn (Above left) with contemporary monarchs
In 1863, King Norodom of Cambodia was forced to put his own country under the French Protectorate. The cession of Cambodia was officially formulated in 1867. However, Inner Cambodia (as called in Siam) consisting of Battambang, Siemreap, and Srisopon, remained a Siamese possession. This is the first territorial cession, which would be followed by many.
In 1887, French Indochina was formed composed of Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1888, French troops invaded Northern Laos to subjugate the Heo insurgents. However, they then never left. Yet the French demanded more Laotian lands. In 1893 Auguste Pavie, the French vice-consul of Luang Prabang, requested the cession of all Laotian lands east of Mekong. Siam, of course, resented the demand, leading to the Franco-Siamese War of 1893.
The French gunboat Le Lutin entered the Chao Phraya and anchored near the French consulate ready to attack. Fighting was observed in Laos. Inconstant and Comete was attacked in Chao Phraya, and the French sent an ultimatum, an indemnity of three million francs; the cession and withdrawal from Laos. Siam did not accept the ultimatum. French troops then blockaded the Gulf of Siam and occupied Chantaburi and Trat. Chulalongkorn sent Rolin-Jacquemyns to negotiate. The issue was eventually settled with the cession of Laos in 1893, but the French troops in Chantaburi and Trat refused to leave.
The cession of Laotian vast lands had a major impact on Chulalongkorn’s spirit. Prince Vajirunhis died in 1894. Prince Vajiravudh was created crown prince to replace him. Chulalongkorn then realised the importance of maintaining the navy. He established the Royal Thai Naval Academy in 1898.
In spite of Siamese concessions, French armies continued the occupation of Chantaburi and Trat for another 10 years. An agreement was reached in 1903 that French troops would leave Chantaburi but hold the coastland from Trat to Koh Kong. In 1906, the final agreement was reached. Trat was returned to Siam but the French kept Koh Kong and received Inner Cambodia.
Upon seeing the seriousness of foreign affairs, Chulalongkorn made his visit to Europe in 1897; he was the first Siamese monarch to do this and to gain European recognition of Siam as a fully independent and honorary power. He appointed his queen, Saovabha, as regent in Siam during his travel to Europe.
[edit] Local Reforms and Constructions

King Chulalongkorn with Tsar Nicholas II in Saint Petersburg, during the King's first Grand Tour in 1897.
Siam had composed of the network of cities according to the Mandala system with local rulers owing tribute to Bangkok. Each city retained quite a substantial degree of autonomy, as Siam wasn’t a “state” but a “network” of city-states. With the rise of European colonialism, the Western concept of state and territorial division was introduced. It had to define explicitly which lands were “Siamese” and which lands were “foreign”. The conflict with the French in 1893 was an example.
With his experiences during the travel to British colonies and the suggestion of Prince Damrong, Chulalongkorn instigated the hierarchical system of Monthons in 1897, composing of Province, City, Amphoe, Tambon, and Mhu Ban (village) in the descending order. (Though a whole monthon - the Eastern Province - e.g. Inner Cambodia - was given off to the French in 1906) Each monthon was overseen by an intendant of the Ministry of Interior. This had a major impact, ending the power of all local dynasties. The central authority now spread all over the country through the administration of intendants. For example, the Lanna states in the north (including the Kingdom of Chiangmai, Principalities of Lampang, Lampoon, Nan, and Prae) owing tributaries to Bangkok, were made into two monthons, neglecting the existence of the Lanna kings.
The construction of railways in Siam was on the political basis. It was necessary to connect all the country to have an eye on every parts of Siam. In 1901, the first railway was opened from Bangkok to Korat. In the same year, the first power plant of Siam gave off its energy. Electric lights were turned on along the roads.
The local rulers did not give up, as three rebellions sprang up in 1901 - the Ngeaw rebellion in Prae, the Phi Buns in Isan, and the Rebellion of Seven Sultans in the south. All these insurgents were crashed in 1902 with the city rulers were stripped off their power and imprisoned.
[edit] British Empire
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
Main article: Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909
Siamese authorities had exercised a substantial control over Malay sultanates since Ayutthaya times. The sultans sought British support to counterweight Siamese influence. In 1909, the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was formulated. Four sultanates (namely Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Perlis) were brought under British influence in exchange for Siamese legal rights and a loan to construct railways in southern Siam.
[edit] Abolition of Corvée and Slavery

Photograph of the King.
Main articles: Abolition of Corvée system in Siam and Abolition of Slavery in Siam
Ayutthaya King Ramathibodi II established a system of corvée in 1581, after which lives of Siamese commoners and slaves were closely regulated by the government. All Siamese common men (phrai ไพร่) were subject to the Siamese corvée system. Each man at the time of his majority had to register with a government bureau, department or leading member of the royalty called krom (กรม) as a Phrai Luang (ไพร่หลวง) or under a nobleman's master (Moon Nai or Chao Khun Moon Nai มูลนาย หรือเจ้าขุนมูลนาย) as a Phrai Som (ไพร่สม). Phrai owed service to sovereign or master for three months of the year. Phrai Suay (ไพร่ส่วย) were those who could make payment in kine (cattle) in lieu of service. Those conscripted into military service were called Phrai Tahan (ไพร่ทหาร).
The corvée system declined after the Bowring Treaty, which gave rise to a new class of employed labourers not regulated by the government, while many noblemen continued to hold sway over large numbers of Phrai Som. Chulalongkorn needed more effective control of manpower to undo the power of nobility. After the establishment of a provincial system, Chulalongkorn began the census to get the statistics of all men available to the government. The Employment Act of 1900 required that all workers be paid, not forced to work. The Conscription Act of 1905 established military conscription in Siam, thus ending the traditional corvée system.
Chulalongkorn was best known for his abolition of Siamese slavery (ทาส.) He associated the abolition of slavery in the United States with the bloodshed of the American Civil War. Chulalongkorn, to prevent such a bloodbath in Siam, provided several steps towards the abolition of slavery, not an extreme turning point from servitude to total freedom. Those who found themselves unable to live on their own sold themselves into slavery by rich noblemen. Likewise, when a debt was defaulted, the borrower would became a slave of the lender. If the debt was redeemed, the slave regained freedom.
However, those whose parents were household slaves (ทาสในเรือนเบี้ย), were bound to be slaves forever because their redemption price was extremely high.
Because of economic conditions, people sold themselves into slavery in great numbers and in turn they produced a large number of household slaves. In 1867 they accounted for one-third of Siamese population. In 1874, Chulalongkorn enacted a law that lowered the redemption price of household slaves born in 1867 (his ascension year) and freed all of them when they had reached 21.
The newly freed slaves would have time to settle themselves as farmers or merchants so they would not become unemployed. In 1905, the Slave Abolition Act ended Siamese slavery in all forms. The reverse of 100-baht notes in circulation since the 2005 centennial depict Chulalongkorn in navy uniform abolishing the slave tradition.
[edit] Death and legacy

Statue of the King in The Royal Plaza, Dusit, Bangkok.
The Royal Equestrian Statue of Chulalongkorn was finished in 1908 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the king’s reign. It was cast in bronze by a Parisian metallurgist, and then placed on the marble base.
Chulalongkorn had visited Europe two times in 1897 and 1907; the latter time was to cure his kidney disease. His last accomplishment was the establishment of a plumbing system in 1908. He died on 23 October 1910 of his kidney disease in Dusit Palace, and succeeded by his son Vajiravudh.
Chulalongkorn University, founded in 1917 as the first university in Thailand, was named in his honour.
In 1997 a memorial pavilion was raised in honor of King Chulalongkorn in Ragunda, Sweden. This was done to commemorate King Chulalongkorn's visit to Sweden in 1897 where he visited the World Fair. During the time when Swedish-Norwegian king Oscar II travelled to Norway for a council, Chulalongkorn went up north to study forestry. Beginning in Härnösand and travelling via Sollefteå and Ragunda he mounted a boat in the small village of Utanede in order to take him back through Sundsvall to Stockholm. His passage through Utanede left a mark on the village as one street was named after the king. The pavilion is erected right next to that road.
In 2003, the Thai baht 100-baht note was revised to depict King Chulalongkorn in navy uniform and, in the background, abolishing the slave tradition.
[edit] Titles and styles

Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Siam, introduced by King Chulalongkorn, the arms was the Emblem of Siam from 1878 to 1910.
1853-1866: Krom Meun Pikanesuarn Surasangkat
1866-1868: Krom Khun Pinit Prachanat
1868-1910: Prabat Somdet Phra Chula Chomklao Chao Yu Hua, Chulalongkorn (to Westerners) and Phra Buddha Chao Luang (to subjects)
[edit]

MONGKUT

2010-07-27T01:30:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหามงกุฎฯ พระจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว), or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut (18 October 1804 – 1 October 1868), was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868. He was one of the most revered monarchs of the country.
Outside of Thailand he is best-known as the King in the 1951 play and 1956 film The King and I, based on the 1946 film Anna and the King of Siam - in turn based on the 1944 book of Anna Leonowens about her years at his court (1862-1867). [1][2] [3] [4][5]
In his reign, the pressure of Western expansionism was felt for the first time in Siam. Mongkut embraced Western innovations and initiated the modernization of Siam, both in technology and culture—earning him the epithet "The Father of Science and Technology" in Siam.
Mongkut was also known for his appointment of his brother, Prince Chutamani, as vice-king. Prince Chutamani was crowned in 1851 as King Pinklao. Mongkut himself assured that Pinklao should be respected with equal honor to himself. Mongkut's reign was also the time when the power of the House of Bunnak reached the zenith and became the most powerful noble family of Siam.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Monastic Life and Thammayut sect
3 Reign as King
4 Shan campaigns
5 Cultural Reforms
6 The Bowring Treaty
7 Anna Leonowens
8 Death and legacy
9 Titles and styles
10 Notes
11 References
12 External links
//
[edit] Early life
Mongkut was born to Prince Isarasundhorn, son of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the first Chakri king of Siam, and Princess Bunreod in 1804 as their second child at the Old (Thonburi) Palace. He was later joined by his brother Prince Chutamani, who was born in 1808. In 1809, his father Prince Isarasundhorn was crowned as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai. The prince himself was nine at the time and they all moved to the Grand Palace.
[edit] Monastic Life and Thammayut sect
In 1824, at age 20, Mongkut became a Buddhist monk, according to Siamese tradition (that men aged 20 should become monks), with the ordination name of Vajirañāṇo. However, the same year, his father Buddha Loetla Nabhalai died. According to succession traditions, Mongkut was to be crowned the next king. However, the nobility instead put the influential Prince Jessadabodindra, his half-brother, on the throne. Perceiving that the throne was irredeemable, Mongkut chose to stay in his monastic status to avoid political intrigues.
Mongkut became one of the members of royal family who devoted his life to the religion. He travelled all around the country as a monk and saw the relaxation of the rules of Pali Canon among the Siamese monks he met - which he considered inappropriate. In 1829, at Phetchaburi, he met a monk named Buddhawangso who strictly followed the canon. Vajirayan admired Buddhawangso for his obedience to the canon, and this inspired him to pursue his religious reforms.
The monk Vajirayan then established the Thammayut Nikaya or Thammayut sect in 1833. The new sect reinforced the canon law. The Thammayut sect gained royal recognition in 1902 by Mongkut's son Chulalongkorn (through Ecclesiastical Polity Act) and became one of the two major Buddhist denominations in modern Thailand. (see Buddhism in Thailand) In 1836, he became the first abbot of Wat Bowonniwet, which is sponsored by the royal family to this day. During his time as a monk, Bhikkhu Vajirañāṇo discovered Western knowledge, studying Latin, English, and astronomy with missionaries and sailors.
King Mongkut would later be noted for his excellent command of English, although it is said that his younger brother, Vice-King Pinklao, could speak it even better.
[edit] Reign as King

Reliefs of King Mongkut's Privy seal and signature
Accounts vary about the intentions of Jessadabodindra regarding the succession. It is recorded that Jessadabodindra verbally dismissed the royal princes from succession for various reasons; Prince Mongkut was dismissed for encouraging monks to dress in the Mon style.
Some said that, however, Jessadabodindra wished his throne to be passed to his son, Prince Annop, and that he gave his bracelet which had been passed down from Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke to the prince. However, Dis Bunnak switched the bracelet for a forged one, thus preventing the throne from being inherited by the prince Annop.
Prince Mongkut was indeed supported by a pro-British, Dis Bunnak, the Samuha Kalahom, or Armed Force Department's president, the most powerful noble of the late reign of Rama III. Bunnak sent his men to perform the leaving-from-monk-status ceremony for Prince Mongkut even before Jessadabodindra's death. With the support of powerful nobility, Mongkut's ascension to the throne was ensured.
After his twenty-seven years of pilgrimage, King Mongkut ascended the throne in 1851, aged 47. He took the name Phra Chom Klao, although foreigners continued to call him King Mongkut. The king was well-known among the foreigners particularly some British officers, as a pro-British. Sir James Brooke, a British delegation, even praised him 'our own king', and showed his support of him as a new king of Siam.[6]
His awareness of the threat from the British and French imperial powers, led him to many innovative activities. He ordered the nobility to wear shirts while attending his court; this was to show that Siam was no longer barbaric from the Western point of view.[7]
However, Mongkut's own astrological calculations pointed out that his brother, Prince Isaret, was as well favored as himself to be the monarch. So, Mongkut then crowned his brother as King Pinklao, the second king. As a prince, Pinklao was known for his abilities in foreign languages and relations. Mongkut also raised his supporter Dis Bunnak to Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Prayurawongse - Somdet Chao Phraya was the highest rank of nobility equaled to the royalty - and made him his regent kingdom-wide. Mongkut also appointed Dis Bunnak's brother, Tat, as Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Pichaiyat, as his regent in Bangkok. As the result, the administrative power of Siam laid greatly in the hands of the two Bunnaks, Dis and Tat.
Upon coronation, Mongkut married his first wife, Queen Somanat. However, Queen Somanat then died in the same year. He then married his half-grandniece, Mom Chao Rampoei Siriwongse, later Queen Debsirindra.
[edit] Shan campaigns
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
In 1849, there were upheavals in the Shan state of Kengtung and Chiang Hung kingdom in response to weakened Burmese influence. However, the two states then fought each other and Chiang Hung sought Siamese support. Jessadabodindra saw this as an opportunity to gain control over Shan states but he died in 1851. In 1852 Chiang Hung submitted the request again. Mongkut sent Siamese troops northwards but the armies found difficulties climbing mountainous highlands. In 1855 the Siamese marched again and reached Kengtung - though with even greater difficulty. They laid siege on Kengtung for 21 days.[8] However, the resources of the Siamese army ran out and the army had to retreat.
[edit] Cultural Reforms

Photograph of King Mongkut
1852 saw the large influx of English and American missionaries into Siam as Mongkut hired them to teach the English language to the princes. He also hired Western mercenaries to train Siamese troops in Western style. In Bangkok, American Dan Beach Bradley had already reformed the printing and then resumed the publishing of Siam's first newspaper, the Bangkok Recorder. However, the missionaries were not as successful when it came to making religious conversions. Reportedly, King Mongkut once remarked to a Christian missionary friend: "What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish".[9]
However, Mongkut didn't abandon the traditional culture of Siam. In 1852, he ordered the nobles of the court to wear upper garments. Previously, Siamese nobles were forbidden to wear any shirts to prevent them from hiding any weapons in it and met the king bare-chested. The practice was criticized by Westerners and so Mongkut ended it.
For Buddhism, Mongkut pioneered the rehabilitation of various temples. He also began the Magha Puja (มาฆบูชา) festival in the full moon of the third lunar month, to celebrate Buddha's announcement of his main principles. And he instigated the Recompilation of Tripitaka in Siam according to Theravada traditions. He also formally established the Thammayut sect as a rightful branch of Theravada.
Mongkut also improved women's rights in Siam. He released a large number of royal concubines to find their own husbands. This is a marked contrast to how his story has been dramatized. He banned forced marriages of all kinds and the selling of one's wife to pay off a debt.
In contrast to the previous king, Jessadabodindra, Mongkut didn't see the importance of sending envoys to the Qing dynasty court. The last mission was sent in 1853 and Mongkut eventually ceased it because the mission symbolised Siam's subjection to the Qing emperors and because the Qing dynasty was then not so powerful as it had once been, as it was itself threatened by Western powers.
[edit] The Bowring Treaty

John Bowring, British Governor of Hong Kong, was known in Siam for his Bowring Treaty
Main article: Bowring Treaty
In 1854, John Bowring the Governor of Hong Kong, in the name of Victoria of United Kingdom, came to Siam for a treaty. For the first time Siam had to deal seriously with international laws. Prayurawongse negotiated on the behalf of the Siamese. The result was the Bowring Treaty, which was regarded as an unequal treaty imposed by British Empire. The main principle of the treaty was to abolish the Royal Storage (พระคลังสินค้า), which since Ayutthaya times owned the monopoly of foreign trade. The Royal Storage had been the source of Ayutthaya's prosperity as it collected immense taxation on foreign traders - including the taxation according to the width of the galleon and the tithe. Western products had to go through series of tax barriers to reach Siamese people.
The Europeans, of course, had been attempting to undo this monopoly for a long time but no serious measures had been taken. For Siamese people, trading some kinds of goods with foreigners subjected them to severe punishment. The taxation was partially reduced in the Burney Treaty. However, in the world of liberalism of the nineteenth century, such unequal and government-interfered trade would barely exist.
The abolition of such trade barriers replaced the Siamese commerce with the free trade. Import taxation was reduced to 3% and could only be collected once. This, of course, was a blow on the national revenue. However, this led to the dramatic growth of commercial sectors as common people then gained access to foreign trade. Never before in Siam was agriculture for sale and exports rather than subsistence farming (Before Bowring, those who traded rice with foreigners would be executed for treason). People rushed to acquire vast, previously empty fields to grow rice and the competition eventually resulted in the lands ending up in the hands of nobility.
The Bowring Treaty also had a legal impact. Due to the horror of the Nakorn Bala methods of torture in judicial proceedings, the British chose not to be tried under the Siamese system, securing a grant of extraterritoriality; the British in Siam were therefore subject only to British law, while the Siamese in Britain enjoyed no reciprocal privilege.
More treaties were then made with other powers, further undermining national revenue and legal rights. The Bowring treaty was, of course, the economic and social revolution of Siam. Mongkut's reign saw immense commercial activities in Siam for the first time, which led to the introduction of coinage in 1860. The first industries in Siam were rice milling and sugar production. The infrastructure was improved e.g. paving of roads and canal digging - for transport and water reservoirs for plantations.
[edit] Anna Leonowens

The King with his heir: Prince Chulalongkorn, both in Naval uniforms.
In 1862, on recommendation by Tan Kim Ching in Singapore, an English woman named Anna Leonowens, whose influence was later the subject of great Thai controversy, was hired. It is still debated how much this affected the worldview of one of his sons, Prince Chulalongkorn, who succeeded to the throne. Her story would become the inspiration for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, as well as the Hollywood movies of the same title, which, because of their incorrect historical references and supposedly disrespectful treatment of King Mongkut's character, were for some time banned in Thailand as the Thai government and people considered them to be lèse majesté (an illegal insult to the king or monarchy). To correct the record, well-known Thai intellectuals Seni and Kukrit Pramoj in 1948 wrote The King of Siam Speaks (ISBN 974-8298-12-4). The Pramoj brothers sent their manuscript to the American politician and diplomat Abbot Low Moffat (1901–1996), who drew on it for his 1961 biography, Mongkut the King of Siam ISBN 0-8014-9069-3. Moffat donated the Pramoj manuscript to the United States Library of Congress in 1961. (Southeast Asian Collection, Asian Division, Library of Congress)
Anna claimed that her conversations with Prince Chulalongkorn about human freedom, and her relating to him the story of Uncle Tom's Cabin, became the inspiration for his abolition of slavery almost 40 years later. It should be noted, however, that the slavery system in Siam was very different from that in the United States. Slavery in Thailand was often voluntary and due to economic condition. One could be punished for torturing slaves in Siam and some slaves could buy their freedom. Western scholars and observers have commented that Siamese slaves were treated better than European servants.[10]
[edit] Death and legacy
Astronomy was always Mongkut's interest. In 1868, when he invited Sir Harry Ord, the British Governor of Straits Settlements from Singapore, as well as a party of French astronomers and scientists, to watch the total solar eclipse of 18 August[11], which King Mongkut himself had calculated two years earlier, at (in his own words) "East Greenwich longitude 99 degrees 42' and latitude North 11 degrees 39'." The spot was at Wakor village in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, south of Bangkok. King Mongkut's calculations proved accurate, but during the expedition King Mongkut and Prince Chulalongkorn were infected with malaria. The king died six weeks later in the capital, and was succeeded by his son, who survived the malaria.
In 1868, the foreigners again came to Siam. However, they came with the new colonialism. Mongkut had initiated the reforms and modernization of traditional Siam, as Siam gained acceptance and became a rightful nation in world diplomacy. The Western threats would be immense in the reign of his son Chulalongkorn.
Contrary to popular and false belief, King Mongkut did not offer a herd of war elephants to President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War for use against the Confederacy. He did, however, offer to send some domesticated elephants to President James Buchanan, to use as beasts of burden and means of transportation. The royal letter of February 14, 1861, which was written even before the Civil War started, took some time to arrive in Washington DC, and by the time it reached its destination President Buchanan was not in office any longer. (Text of the royal letter here [2]. Although the Smithsonian Institution describes it as the "translation" in fact it was written by the King himself in his "self-educated" English.) Lincoln, who succeeded Buchanan as the US President, is said to have been asked what the elephants could be used for, and in reply he said that he did not know, unless "they were used to stamp out the rebellion."[3] However, in his replying letter dated February 3, 1862 [4] Lincoln did not mention anything about the Civil War. The President merely politely declined to accept King Mongkut's proposal, explaining to the King that the American climate might not be suitable for elephants and that American steam engines could also be used as beasts of burden and means of transportation. [5][6]
A century later, during his state visit to the US, King Bhumibol of Thailand, who is Mongkut's great-grandson, referred to this event in his address before the US Congress on June 29, 1960. He said, "my great-grandfather offered to send the President and Congress elephants to be turned loose in the uncultivated land of America for breeding purposes. That offer was made with no other objective than to provide a friend with what he lacks, in the same spirit in which the American aid program is likewise offered." [7]
[edit] Titles and styles
1804-1824: Somdet Phra Lukya Ther Chaofa Mongkut Sommuthiwongse Pong Isuarn Kasastriya Katiya Rajakumarn
1824 -1851: Vajirañāṇo (as a monk)
1851 -1868: Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua
Further information: Rama (Kings of Thailand)
[edit]

JESSADABODINDRA

2010-07-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Jessadabodindra Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาเจษฏาบดินทร์ฯ พระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว; RTGS: —Chetsadabodin Phra Nang Klao Chao Yu Hua), or Rama III ( 31 March 1787 – 2 April 1851), was the third monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 21 July 1824-2 April 1851. He succeeded his father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, as the King of Siam. His succession was unusual according to the traditions because Jessadabodindra was a son of a concubine rather than a queen. He surpassed Prince Mongkut, who was a legitimate son of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai born to Queen Srisuriyendra.
During Jessadabodindra's reign, military hegemony of Siam could be observed through a series of massive wars in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Jessadabodindra was known for his affection of Chinese culture. As a young prince, he was also known as a great businessman who conducted profitable trades with China and enriched the royal treasury.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Succession
3 The British
4 Insurgency of Anouvong
5 Naming of the reigns
6 Revolt of Kedah
7 Vietnam and Cambodia
8 The Faithful King
9 Death and legacy
10 Titles and styles
11 References
12 External links
//
[edit] Early life
Prince Tub was born in 1787 to Prince Isarasundhorn and one of his concubines Chao Chom Manda Riam, who came from a Muslim noble family from the South. Following his father's coronation in 1809, Prince Kshatriyanuchit, the surviving son of Taksin, revolted to reclaim his legitimacy. Prince Tub was assigned the task of suppressing the rebellion. He successfully accomplished his task and was praised by his father Buddha Loetla Nabhalai. Prince Tub was raised to Krom Muen Jessadabodindra and gained a great trust from the king to handle state affairs.
Jessadabodindra served his father in Krom Tha, or the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affairs, where he developed his proficiency in foreign trades and grew his personal affection of Chinese culture. Temples later constructed by Jessabodindra was characterized by the Chinese influences in them.
[edit] Succession
As Jessadabodindra was administrating the trade affairs, his half-brother Prince Mongkut pursued the way of religion. Prince Mongkut became a monk in 1824. In that year, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai died suddenly without naming a successor. According to the traditions of royal succession, Prince Mongkut as a son of the queen was expected to succeed the throne. However, the nobility considered Prince Jessadabodindra a more competent choice as he had served the king in Krom Tha for years. The supports came strongly from the high-ranking nobility including Chao Phraya Abhay Pudhorn the Samuha Nayoke and Dis Bunnag the Minister of Krom Tha along with the Bunnag family.
Jessadabodindra finally accepted the throne and the coronation was held in 1824. His mother, Riam, was raised to Princess Mother Srisuralai. Mongkut, upon perceiving the situation, decided to remain in his ecclesiastic status to avoid the intrigues of royal politics.
[edit] The British
The First Anglo-Burmese War broke out in 1823. The British requested Siamese support in 1824. Jessadabodindra provided fleets and elephants to rush through Burmese forests. He also sent Siamese armies to participate in the invasion of Burma since the British promised Siam the conquered lands.
Phraya Chumporn ordered a massive migration out of Mergui (a common practice in Southeast Asia regarding the newly-conquered lands), which had been conquered by the British. The British were frustrated at Phraya Chumporn's actions and hostilities were heightened.[1] Prince Jessadabodindra ordered the Siamese armies to leave to avoid conflicts.
In 1825, Henry Burney arrived to negotiate peace agreements. The Burney Treaty was signed as the first treaty with the West in the Rattanakosin period. Free trade was established in Siam and the taxation on foreign trading ships was greatly reduced.
[edit] Insurgency of Anouvong
Main article: Rebellion of Anouvong
The three Laotian kingdoms (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak) became Siamese tributaries after Chao Phraya Maha Kshatriyaseuk (or King Rama I, Prince Jessadabodin's grandfather) had conquered them in 1778. Anouvong, the son of the king of Vientiene, was taken to Bangkok as a captive. He spent his time in Siam for nearly thirty years and joined the Siamese forces in wars with Burma. In 1805, Anouvong returned to Vientiane to be crowned as the king.
In 1824, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai died and, in the next year, Siam was dragged into conflicts with the British Empire. Anouvong saw this as an opportunity to expose his power. In 1825, returning from the funeral of Buddha Loetla Nabhalai in Bangkok, Anouvong rallied a huge troops. After defeating major Bangkok's vassal principalities along the route, Anouvong captured Korat, the main defensive stronghold of Bangkok in the northeast. He forced the city to be evacuated while heading down to Saraburi, approaching the capital Bangkok. However, the Korat captives rebelled - said under the supervision of Mo, wife of a ruling noble of Korat - although this claim is countered by many historians who indicate Lady Mo had no heroic role in the events at Tung Samrit, while the contemporary account did mention her action. As Bangkok began to move its counterstriking troops, Anouvong then decided to return to Vientiane after subsequently being defeated by Thai forces. When he was later captured at Lao-Vietnam border, Rama III had him tortured and publicly humiliated until he died.
Prince Jessadabodindra sent his brother Maha Sakdi Polsep the Front Palace and Phraya Rajsupawadi to defeat the armies of Anouvong in Isan. Anouvong was defeated and fled to Vietnam. The Siamese captured Vientiane and ordered the evacuation of the city.
In 1827, Prince Jessadabodindra ordered the total destruction of Vientiane. Anouvong returned to Laos with Vietnamese forces. Rajsupawadi led the Siamese to fight and the engagements occurred at Nongkai. Anouvong was defeated again and, after an attempt to flee, was captured. Vientiane was razed to the ground, extinguishing her 200-year prosperity, and ceded to be a kingdom. Anouvong was imprisoned in an iron cage in front of the Suthaisawan Hall and died in 1828.
[edit] Naming of the reigns
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
Since the establishment of Bangkok as a kingdom, none of the monarchs of Siam had been named properly according to the royal tradition. The Siamese called Prince Jessadabodin's grandfather the "First Reign", his father the "Middle Reign", and Jessadabodindra himself the "Late Reign". The term "Late Reign" was considered inauspicious, therefore a new method of naming was created.
Jessadabodindra had sculpted two Buddha statues for his father and grandfather. He then named them after their respective Buddha statues. His grandfather was given the name "Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke" after his Buddha statue, and his father "Buddha Loetla Nabhalai". Yet Jessadabodindra left his own reign unnamed until his brother Mongkut named him as "Nangklao" and created a more systematic royal nomenclature.
[edit] Revolt of Kedah
In 1837, Krom Somdet Phra Sri Suralai, mother of Jessadabodinra, died. All officials throughout the kingdom went to Bangkok to attend the funeral. At Syburi (Kedah of Malaysia now), without the presence of Siamese governors, a newphew of the Sultan of Kedah then staged a revolt. Jessadabodindra then sent Tat Bunnag down south to subjugate the rebellion quickly in 1838. Tat Bunnag then suggested the autonomy government of Kedah Sultanate. In 1839, Kedah was divided into four autonomous parts.
[edit] Vietnam and Cambodia
Main articles: Siamese-Vietnamese War (1831-1834) and Siamese-Vietnamese War (1841-1845)
In 1810, the internal conflicts between the Cambodian princes forced Ang Im and Ang Duong to flee to Bangkok. Otteyraja of Cambodia turned to Gia Long of Vietnam for support against the opposing princes. However, this was perceived by Siam as treacherous as the two countries had fought for centuries over the domination of Cambodia.
In 1833, the Lê Văn Khôi revolt against Minh Mạng broke out in Vietnam. Lê Văn Khôi, the rebel leader, sought Siamese helping hands. The possible war between the two countries had been commenced since Vietnamese influences in Cambodia increased. Jessadabodindra intended to take this opportunity to install a pro-Siamese monarch on the Cambodian throne.
Rajasupawadi, who had been promoted to Chao Phraya Bodindecha, was assigned the mission of the capture of Saigon, with Dis Bunnag the Minister of Krom Tha commanded the fleet - to be joined at Saigon. The two Cambodian princes, Ang Im and Ang Duong, also joined the expedition. Bodindecha took Udongk and the fleet took Bantey Mas. The fleet proceeded to Saigon but was repelled.
Bodindecha then took Phnom Penh and again invaded Vietnam by land in 1842. In 1845, the Vietnamese recapture Phnom Penh but Bodindecha was able to defend Udongk. In 1847, due to Emperor Thiệu Trị's policies on Christian missionaries, French forces invaded Vietnam. So the war front with Siam was negotiated. Ang Duong was installed as the Cambodian monarch with equal influences from both Siam and Vietnam, thus ending the war.
[edit] The Faithful King

Rama III statue in Bangkok
King Nangklao was famous for his Buddhist faith. He fed the poor each day after becoming prince, and released animals every monastery day. More than 50 temples were built and repaired in his reign, including the first Chinese style temple at Rajaorasa, the highest stupa at Wat Arun, the Golden Mountain at Wat Sraket, the metal temple at Wat Ratchanadda, and Chetupol Temple or Wat Pho. Wat Pho is the site of the first university in Thailand.
[edit] Death and legacy
Jessadabondin's reign saw the renewal of Western contacts. The first American mission of Andrew Jackson arrived in 1832. Dan Beach Bradley, an American physician, was the most prominent Western personality in his reign. He reformed the printing in Siam and introduced vaccination.
Jessadabodindra died on 2 April 1851. Without having named a successor, the throne passed to his half-brother Prince Mongkut. Jessadabodindra had many children including sons, but raised none of his consorts to queen.
Jessadabodindra stated on his deathbed that "Our wars with Burma and Vietnam were over, only the threats of the Westerners was left to us. We should study their innovations for our own benefits but not to the degree of obsession or worship." This vision coincided with intense Western intervention in Siam in the reign of Mongkut. He was able to predict but not see neighboring kingdoms of; Burma and Vietnam, fell to European colonial rule. His deathbed statement shows that he had foreseen the Western threats and also expresses his sympathy towards the Europeans contrasted to most Asian rulers of his time.
During his reign, trade between Siam and China became prosperous. The King kept his profits in red purses beside his bed, subsequently this money was known as "Red Purse Money". Jessadabodindra stipulated that that the Red Purse Money which he had earned through his personal business acumen should be set aside as the State's emergency fund for the future "so that Siam would be able to buy the land back" if it might enter into a squabble with a foreign power. In the reign of his nephew Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn, Siam indeed had to pay reparation to France for the 1893 Franco-Siamese War (the Paknam Incident)Franco-Siamese War, and part of the money did come from Jessadabodin's Red Purse Money.
The picture of Jessadabodindra is depicted on the back of Thailand's 500-Baht banknote, with partial quotation of his deathbed statement File:500bahtbk.jpg.
[edit]

BUDDHA LOETLA NABHALAI

2010-07-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาอิศรสุนทรฯ พระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย; RTGS: —Itsarasunthon Phra Phuttha Loet La Naphalai), or Rama II (24 February 1767 – 21 July 1824), was the second monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1809-1824. In 1809, Isarasundhorn succeeded his father Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai the King of Siam. His reign was largely peaceful, devoid of major conflicts. His reign was known as the "Golden Age of Rattanakosin Literature" as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai was patron to a number of poets in his court and the King himself was a renowned poet and artist. The most notable poet in his employ was the illustrious Sunthorn Phu, the author of Phra Aphai Mani.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Ascension
3 Culture and Literature
4 Foreign Relations
5 Death and Succession
6 Titles and styles
7 References
//
[edit] Early life

Privy seal of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, "a garuda hold the nāgas" (Wat Arun, Bangkok)
Chim was born in 1767 during the (Ayutthaya period) in Amphoe Amphawa, Samut Songkram. Chim was a son of Luang Yokbat of Ratchaburi and Nak of Samut Sakorn, as his father and mother was then known. They would later become King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke and Queen Amarindra, respectively. In 1767, Ayutthaya fell to Burmese invaders. His father, Phraya Ratchaburi, joined Phraya Wachira Prakarn's (or Taksin's) forces to recapture the city. Under King Taksin, Chim's father rose rapidly to high rank as a military leader and was assigned with the campaigns to subjugate Laos and Cambodia. In 1782, his father crowned himself King of Siam (later named Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke) and Chim himself was raised to the title of Prince Isarasundhorn of Siam.
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, with his concubine Chao Chom Manda Riam, fathered Prince Tub (later King Jetsadabodin or Rama III) in 1787. Prince Isarasundhorn then had a secret affair with his own cousin, Princess Bunrod. In 1801, Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke then found out that Princess Bunrod had been pregnant for four months and banished her out of the palace to live with her brother. Isarasundhorn, however begged his father to forgive him and the princess was reinstated and became his consort through the negotiation by Concubine Waen. Unfortunately, the baby died just after its birth.
With Princess Bunrod, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai also fathered Prince Mongkut (1804) and Prince Chutamani (1808). Prince Isarasundhorn was appointed to the Front Palace as Vice King or Uparaja in 1807 to succeed his uncle Maha Sura Singhanat who had died in 1803, though he continued to stay at the Thonburi Palace.
[edit] Ascension
As the eldest surviving legitimate son of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, Prince Isarasundhorn succeeded to throne when Buddha Yotfa Chulaloke died in 1809. No royal naming system was established at the time Rama II was crowned. He was later named by his son Jetsadabodin as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai and, by convention, he was usually called Rama II. His consort, Princess Bunrod, was raised to Queen Sri Suriyendra.
As soon as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai ascended the throne, Prince Kshatranichit, the surviving son of Taksin, began the rebellion to reclaim his legitimacy. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai had his son Prince Tub crushed the rebellion, in which Prince Tub managed to do so effectively. Prince Tub gained the King's favor as he was proved to be competent and was trusted to handle some of the state affairs. He served as a superintendent in the Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade.[1]
King Bodawpaya of Burma, seeing that Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke was dead, marched an army into Chumporn and conquered Thalang (Phuket) in the same year. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai sent his brother Maha Senanurak the Front Palace to recapture Thalang, which had been razed to the ground. This "Thalang campaign" was the last invasion by the Burmese into Siamese territory.
[edit] Culture and Literature
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
It was said that during Rama II's reign, if one could write a refined piece of poetry, then one would be able to become a royal favorite, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai himself was a poet. The reign was a cultural renaissance after the massive wars that plague the First Reign; particularly in the fields of arts and literature. Poets employed by Rama II included Sunthorn Phu the drunken writer (Phra Aphai Mani) and Narin Dhibet (Nirat Narin). His sons, Prince Jessadabodindra and Prince Poramanuchit, were encouraged to excel in poetry. Prince Poramanuchit later became a Sangharaj (Buddhist hierophant) and was well-known for his religious works.
Rama II's reign saw the reconstruction of Siamese culture and royal traditions. In 1811, the Grand Royal Funeral was held for King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke. In the same year, a cholera epidemic broke out in Bangkok. Buddha Loetla Nabhalai ordered the "Apat Pinat" or sickness-repelling ceremonies to be performed. He also established the education and the examination system of Buddhism, by dividing it into nine levels. In 1817, the Vesak festival was restored.
[edit] Foreign Relations
In 1810, the first Rattakosin-to-China mission was sent to the Jiaqing Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Since the Revolution of 1688, Western presence in Siam had been reduced to a small scale as the Siamese Kings ceased to encourage foreign influence, this coupled with the Napoleonic Wars meant there was little contact between Siam and foreigners.
However, the wars caused many subsequent changes, which were observed in Southeast Asia. The British interest in Malaya increased as their trade with China increased. The Sultan of Kedah, a Siamese vassal, gave Penang off to the British without consulting Siam in 1786, followed by the British acquisition of Province Wellesley. Soon the British replaced the Dutch as the dominating naval power south of Siam.
The mission of the Portuguese governor of Macau in 1818 was the first formal Western contact in Siam since the Ayutthaya times. The British founded Singapore in 1819 and Jaslis, the missionary from Rangoon, introduced the printing press to Siam in the same year. The Portuguese established the first western consulate in Siam in 1820. The first renewed formal British visit was made by Sir John Crawfurd in 1822.
[edit] Death and Succession
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai's reign was uneventful and he died in 1824. According to the succession rule, the throne would go to Prince Mongkut. However, the nobility gave the throne to the Prince Jessadabodindra who had served Rama II in Krom Tha (Ministry of Trade and Foreign Relations), who eventually became King Rama III.
[edit] Titles and styles
1767-1782: Nai Chim
1782-1808: Somdet Phra Lukya Ther Chaofa Krom Luang Isarasundhorn
1808-1809: Krom Phrarajawang Bovorn Maha Isarasundhorn (Krom Phrarajawang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol)
1809-1824: Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua
Posthumously as:Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Posthumously as: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai or the Second Reign and then later Rama II
Further information: Rama (Kings of Thailand)
[edit]

BUDDHA YODFA CHULALOKE

2010-07-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาจักรีบรมนาถฯ พระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลก; RTGS: —Phra Phuttha Yot Fa Chula Lok), posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I (20 March 1736 – 7 September 1809), was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam (now Thailand). He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King Taksin of Thonburi. He was also celebrated as the founder of Rattanakosin (now Bangkok) as the new capital of the reunited kingdom. Rama I was born in the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, and had served King Taksin in wars against the Burmese Konbaung dynasty and helped him in the reunification of Siam. During this time he emerged as Siam's most powerful military leader. In 1782, he took control of Siam and crowned himself as the monarch.
The most famous event in his reign was the Burmese-Siamese War of 1785, which was the last major Burmese assault on Siam. Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke was also the first Somdet Chao Phraya, the highest rank the nobility could attain, equaled to that of royalty.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
1.1 An Ayutthayan aristocrat
1.2 Service under Taksin
1.3 Military leader
2 Ascension as King
3 Foreign Policy and War
3.1 Vietnam and Cambodia
3.2 Wars with Burma
4 Economics, Culture and Religion
5 Death and legacy
6 Titles and styles
7 In Memoriam
8 References
//
[edit] Early life
[edit] An Ayutthayan aristocrat
Thong Duang was born in 1736 in the reign of King Boromakot of Ayutthaya. His father was Thong Dee (later raised as Somdet Phra Prathom Borom Maha Rajchanok – the grand primordial father) who was "Phra Aksara Sundhornsat" (Royal Secretary of northern Siam, Keeper of the Royal Seal). Aksara Sundhornsat was also a descendant of Kosa Pan, the leader of King Narai's embassy to the French court, and was of Mon descent,[1][2] His mother, Daoreung (original name Yok), was part-Chinese.[3][4][5] Thong Duang had six other siblings.
Thong Duang at a young age entered the Royal Palace as one of the royal pages of King Uthumporn, where he met his childhood friend Taksin. In 1757, aged 21, he became a monk temporarily, in accordance with Siamese custom. In 1760, he married Nak, daughter of a town patron in Samut Sakorn. He was later appointed the Luang Yokkrabat (Governor of) Ratchaburi by King Ekatat in 1758.
[edit] Service under Taksin
On the eve of the fall of Ayutthaya, Phraya Wachira Prakarn (later King Taksin) had foreseen that the fall of the city was certain. Wachira Prakarn decided to break the siege of the city of Ayutthaya by the Burmese army and establish a new base outside. Phraya Ratchaburi also joined this venture. In 1767, Ayutthaya under King Ekatat fell to Burmese invaders, the city was completely destroyed; burned and looted. Local warlords rose up to establish their supremacy in the absence of a central authority.
Despite the fall of Ayutthaya, Taksin and his men in the same year managed to capture Chantaburi and Trat. During this time Phraya Ratchaburi became one of Taksin's six ministers[6] and together with Phraya Pichai they were regarded by Taksin as his two most valuable generals.
[edit] Military leader
Swiftly Taksin made a strategic plan and under it recaptured Ayutthaya in one year. In 1768 Taksin crowned himself and founded the Kingdom of Thonburi on the west bank of the mouth of the Chao Phraya river, using Thonburi as a new capital. Under the new Thonburi regime, Thong Duang was appointed Phra Raja Warindra (Royal Police). After subjugating the warlord of Pimai with his brother Maha Montri (later Maha Sura Singhanat), he was raised to Phraya Abhaya Ronarit.
After the campaign to subdue the lord of Fang in 1769, Abhaya Ronarit was raised to Phraya Yommaraj and in the next year became Chao Phraya Maha Chakri – the Samuha Nayok (Prime Minister). Maha Chakri joined the Burmese wars and went on to subjugate Cambodia. His brother, Phraya Anuchit Raja (previously Maha Montri), accompanied him in various campaigns. Chakri and his brother Phraya Surasi was sent to the north to Lanna in 1774 to free the kingdom from Burmese rule with the help of Kawila, a prince from Lampang. In 1776, he conquered Khmer Pa Dong (around modern Surin). He was assigned the task of conquering Laotian kingdoms in 1778 and all the three kingdoms (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak) fell to the Siamese in the same year. He was eventually raised to Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kshatriyaseuk, the first Somdet Chao Phraya.
[edit] Ascension as King

Mural of the epic Ramakien, written by the King, the Thai version of the Ramayana, on the walls of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Grand Palace, Bangkok.
In 1781, Chao Phraya went on the campaigns against Cambodia, only to return prematurely due to the instability of Thonburi. The rebellion of Phraya San had broken out and the rebels deposed King Taksin. Some sources report that Taksin was consigned to a monastery. After arriving in Thonburi in 1782, Chao Phraya defeated the Phraya San with his forces. Later sources widely reported that the general eventually executed the ousted Taksin, contradicting to some earlier sources. He then seized power and made himself King, establishing the Chakri Dynasty, which continues to rule Thailand to this day.
General Maha Kshatriyaseuk crowned himself on 6 April 1782. Without naming himself (he was only referred to as King or His Majesty), he was later given his name as Phrabat Somdet Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or Rama I or the First Reign much later by his descendants . Rama I decided to move the capital of Siam to the east bank of the Chao Phraya river for several reasons, including its better strategic location and a desire to promote his legitimacy by starting from a clean slate. He decided to name his new capital "Rattanakosin" ("Keeping place of the Emerald Buddha"). Rama I also raised various members of his family to royalty. He appointed his brother Surasi (Anuchit Raja) or Maha Sura Singhanat as the "Front Palace" (conventional title of the heir) and his nephew Thong-In or Anurak Devesh as the "Rear Palace".
The King had 42 children. Ten of these were born to Queen Amarinda, the others by various concubines. The Queen's children included Prince Isarasundhorn, later King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II) (whom the King appointed as Front Palace after the death of Maha Sura Singhanat in 1803), Prince Maha Senanurak and Prince Maha Sakdi Polsep.
[edit] Foreign Policy and War
[edit] Vietnam and Cambodia
Further information: Tây Sơn-Siam War
In 1784-1785, the first of the Nguyễn Lords, Nguyễn Ánh, convinced Rama I to give him forces to attack Vietnam, which was then under the control of the Tây Sơn brothers. However, the joint Nguyễn-Siam fleet was destroyed in the Battle of Rach Gam–Xoai Mut in the Mekong Delta region. Nguyễn's appeal for Siamese assistance enabled the Siamese to exert considerable political influence over Nguyễn's court. Mac Tu Sinh, the son of Mạc Thiên Tứ and his Siamese wife, was raised among the Siamese, and held office as the governor of Hà Tiên until his death in 1787. Ngo Ma, a general of Siamese descent, was appointed as its acting governor in Mac's place.[7] Nguyễn Ánh also took refuge in Siam at the King's court waiting for the opportunities to defeat Tây Sơn. These episodes demonstrated Rama I's willingness to extend Siamese power beyond his Kingdom.
In Cambodia, King Reamraja of Cambodia was deposed in 1779 and the throne was given to his son, the young Ang Eng. However, the pro-Vietnamese policies of certain Cambodian aristocrats under Ang Eng alarmed Rama I. As a result, Rama I had Ang Eng captured and deported to Bangkok, where he became Rama's adopted son to implant pro-Siamese sentiments on him. Rama I also imposed Chao Phraya Abhaya Bhubet as the Regent of Cambodia.
Nguyễn Ánh secretly left for Vietnam in 1787, leaving Rama I a note. Nguyen managed to recapture Saigon by 1788 and later ascended as Emperor Gia Long in 1802.[8] (Thai; Phrachao Vietnam Ya Long)

Statue of Rama I at the Phra Buddha Yodfa Memorial Bridge, Bangkok (1932)
In 1794, upon Ang Eng's majority, Rama I reinstalled him as the Narairaja III of Cambodia. The area around Siemreap and Battambang was annexed by Siam, and were governed by Abhaya Bhubet. However, Rama I allowed these territories to be ruled in accordance with Cambodian traditions.
[edit] Wars with Burma
Main article: Nine Armies War
Soon King Bodawpaya of Burma started to pursue his ambitious campaigns to expand his dominions over Siam. The Burmo-Siamese War (1785–1786), also known in Siam as the "Nine Armies War" because the Burmese came in nine armies, broke out. The Burmese soldiers poured into Lanna and Northern Siam. Siamese forces, commanded by Kawila, Prince of Lampang, put up a brave fight and delayed the Burmese advance, all the while waiting for reinforcements from Bangkok. When Phitsanulok was captured, Anurak Devesh the Rear Palace, and Rama I himself led Siamese forces to the north. The Siamese relieved Lampang from the Burmese siege.
In the south, Bodawpaya was waiting at Chedi Sam Ong ready to attack. The Front Palace was ordered to lead his troops to the south and counter-attack the Burmese coming to Ranong through Nakhon Si Thammarat. He brought the Burmese to battle near Kanchanaburi. The Burmese also attacked Thalang (Phuket), where the governor had just died. Chan, his wife, and her sister Mook gathered the local people and successfully defended Thalang against the Burmese. Today, Chan and Mook are revered as heroines because of their opposition to the Burmese invasions. In their own lifetimes, Rama I bestowed on them the titles Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon.
The Burmese proceeded to capture Songkhla. Upon hearing the news, the governors of Phatthalung fled. However, a monk named Phra Maha encouraged the citizens of the area to take up arms against the Burmese, his campaign was also successful. Phra Maha was later raised to the nobility by Rama I.
As his armies were destroyed, Bodawpaya retreated. The next year, he attacked again, this time constituting his troops as a single army. With this force Bodawpaya passed through the Chedi Sam Ong pass and settled in Ta Din Dang. The Front Palace marched the Siamese forces to face Bodawpaya. The fighting was very short and Bodawpaya was quickly defeated. This short war was called the "Ta Din Dang campaign".
[edit] Economics, Culture and Religion
Chakri Monarchs

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Jessadabodindra
Mongkut
Chulalongkorn
Vajiravudh
Prajadhipok
Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej
v • d • e
Chinese immigration increased during Rama I's reign, who maintained Taksin's policy of allowing Chinese immigration to sustain the country's economy. The Chinese were found mainly in the trading and mercantile sector, and by the time his son and grandson came to the throne, European explorers noted that Bangkok was filled with Chinese junks of all sizes.[9]

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of the King' many construction projects.
Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi, which was founded by his predecessor Taksin, and built the new capital Bangkok. During the first few years prior to the founding of the current capital, he saw the construction of the palaces and the Chapel Royal. The Chapel Royal or Wat Phra Kaew of which the Emerald Buddha is enshrined is located within his Royal Palace or the Grand Palace. With the completion of the new capital, Rama I held an official ceremony naming the new capital.[10]
In 1804, Rama I began the compilation of the Three Seals Law, consisting of old Ayutthayan laws collected and organized. He also initiated a reform of government and the style of Kingship.
Rama I was also noted for instituting major reforms in Buddhism as well as restoring moral discipline among the monks in the country, which had gradually eroded with the fall of Ayutthaya. Monks had already dabbled in superstitions when he first came to power, and Rama I implemented a law which required a monk who wished to travel to another principality for further education to present a certificate bearing his personal particulars, which would prove a monk own's legitimacy that he had been properly ordained. The King also repeatedly emphasised in state ceremonies to place devotion to the Buddha, and not over guardian spirits and past rulers, of which vestiges of ancient Animist worship had a persisted among the Thais prior to his rule.[11]
The King also appointed the first Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism, whose responsibilities included the duty of ensuring that Rama I's laws are maintained which was to ensure law and order within the Buddhist Sangha.[12] Rama I's passion for literature, which was also connected with his concern for Buddhist order within the country. He was noted for advocating Thai translation of important Pali works.[13] and Buddhist texts lost in the chaos after the sacking of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767, some were salvaged under the direction of Rama I. He also wrote a Thai version of the Ramayana epos called Ramakian.
[edit] Death and legacy
King Rama I died on 7 September 1809 after a short but acute illness,[14] he was succeeded by his son Prince Isarasundhorn as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai or Rama II.
Siam during the reign of Rama I reached a new height of power not seen since the sixteenth century. Militarily Siam was able to successfully repel Burmese invasions and exerted influences over Laos and Cambodia and even Vietnam. Culturally Rama I also encouraged cultural works to rehabilitate people after the successive series of wars and built many temples and monuments during his reign. His policies laid the foundation for Siam to expand within the next decades.
[edit] Titles and styles
1736-1758: Nai Thong Duang
1758-1768: Luang Yorkbat Ratchaburi or Phraya Ratchaburi
1768: Phraya Warindra
1768-1769: Phraya Abhaya Ronarit
1769-1770: Phraya Yommaraj
1770-1778: Chao Phraya Maha Chakri
1778-1782: Somdet Chao Praya Maha Ksatriyaseuk
1782-1809: Phrabat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua
Posthumously as:Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Posthumously as: Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or the First Reign

RAKYAT THAI HARUS MENGHORMATI ADAT DAN BUDAYA NEGARA THAILAND.

2010-07-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Saya sebagai rakyat thai yang berketurunan thai malaysia berharap supaya baju merah tidak membuat kacau dan huru hara di dalaman thailand.

THAI CALENDAR.

2010-02-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Buddhist calendar is used on mainland Southeast Asia in the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma (officially known as Myanmar) and Sri Lanka in several related forms. It is a lunisolar calendar having months that are alternately 29 and 30 days, with an intercalated day and a 30-day month added at regular intervals. All of its forms are based on the original 3rd-century Surya Siddhanta, not its modern form (both forms are used by the various Hindu calendars).[1][2]
Contents[hide]
1 Intercalation system
2 Names of the months
2.1 Burmese names of the months
3 Year numbering
3.1 Chronology of the Buddhist Era
4 References
5 See also
6 External links
//
[edit] Intercalation system
Its lunisolar intercalation system generally adds seven extra months (adhikamasa) every 19 years and 11 extra days (adhikavara) every 57 years, but this is only a rough guide to the results of the actual calculations. The average year is 365.25875 days reckoned from the mahayuga of 4,320,000 years, simplified to 292,207 days every 800 years by removing a common factor of 5400 from the total days and years. This year is slightly longer than the modern sidereal year and is substantially longer than the modern tropical year. The Hindu version adds extra months and days (or removes months and days) as soon as the astronomical formulae require, whereas the southeast Asian versions delay their addition. The Thai/Lao/Cambodian version does not permit an extra day to occur within years having an extra month, whereas the Burmese/Sri Lankan version permits an extra day only in years having an extra month. Thus there are four types of lunisolar years, of 354, 355, 384, or 385 days. Even though the intercalation cycles imply a tropical year, the sidereal year that is actually used causes the 'cycles' to gradually shift throughout history.
[edit] Names of the months
The month names in Pāḷi are:
Citta, Visakha, Jeṭṭha, Āsāḷha, Sāvaṇa, Poṭṭhapāda,
Assayuja, Katthika, Māgasira, Phussa, Māgha, Phagguṇa.
The month names are Sanskrit (except in old Burmese):
Caitra, Vaisakha, Jyestha, Ashadha, Sravan, Bhadrapada,
Asvina, Karttika, Margasirsha, Pausha, Magha, Phalguna.
The month names in Sinhala are:
Bak, Vesak, Poson, Æsala, Nikini, Binara,
Wap, Il, Undhuvap, Dhuruthu, Navam, Mædhin.
The old Burmese month names were:
Tagu, Kason, Nayon, Waso, Wagaung, Tawthalin,
Thadingyut, Tarzaungmon, Natdaw, Pyatho, Tabodwe, Tabaung.
Common years have months that alternate 29 and 30 days with an extra day being added to Jyestha/Nayon making it 30 days, and an extra month is obtained by counting Ashadha/Waso twice. Each month has a waxing half of 15 days and a waning half of 14 or 15 days.
[edit] Burmese names of the months
Burmese calendar
Regular year
Leap year
Tagu
29 days
29 days
Kason
30 days
30 days
Nayon
29 days
30 days
Waso
30 days
First Waso
30 days
Second Waso
30 days
Wagaung
29 days
29 days
Tawthalin
30 days
30 days
Thadingyut
29 days
29 days
Tazaungmon
30 days
30 days
Natdaw
29 days
29 days
Pyatho
30 days
30 days
Tabodwe
29 days
29 days
Tabaung
30 days
30 days
12 months
354 days
13 months
385 days
Kason, Nayon, First Waso, and Second Waso have 30 days each and are called the "four even continuous months" in a year with an extra month.
[edit] Year numbering
The numbered year coincides with the sidereal year containing twelve zodiacal signs (rasi) so it can begin on any date from 6 Caitra/Tagu to 5 Vaisakha/Kason, meaning the rest of the month will be in an adjacent year. Thus any particular numbered year may be missing some days of the month while an adjacent year has the same set of dates at both its beginning and end.
Four eras were/are used:
Anchansakarat, from 10 March 691 BC (rarely used),
Buddhasakarat, Buddhist Era or BE, from 11 March 545 BC, believed to be the date of the death of the Buddha. (BE–AD of 544 used to be common, but BE–AD is now 543 in Thailand, beginning after April before 1940, then began and still begins 1 January),
Mahasakarat from 17 March 78 (same as the Saka Era in India, used in Thailand until the mid-13th century, standard in Cambodia),
Chulasakarat from 22 March 638 (adopted in Thailand mid-13th century, standard in Burma).
All years are elapsed/expired/complete years, thus their epochal year is year 0, not year 1, because a complete year had not yet elapsed during it. The epochal dates only apply to year 0 — modern dates for the entry of the Sun into the first rasi (the beginning of the sidereal year) occur later in the Gregorian calendar due to precession of the equinoxes. The calculations do not begin with zero at epoch — instead an offset of a certain number of whole and fractional days, which can amount to more than one year, must be added to all calculations, explaining the apparent Buddhasakarat inconsistency. Here 544 has an offset of 4 days at epoch whereas 543 has an offset of 369 days.
[edit] Chronology of the Buddhist Era
It should be borne in mind that there is controversy about the base date of the Buddhist Era, with 544 BC and 483 BC being advanced as the date of the parinibbana of the Buddha. As Wilhelm Geiger pointed out, the Dipavamsa and Mahawamsa are the primary sources for ancient South Asian chronology; they date the consecration (abhisheka) of Asoka to 218 years after the parinibbana. Chandragupta Maurya ascended the throne 56 years prior to this, or 162 years after the parinibbana. The approximate date of Chandragupta's ascension is known to be within two years of 321 BC (from Megasthenes). Hence the approximate date of the parinibbana is between 485 and 481 BC - which accords well with the Mahayana dating of 483 BC.[3]
According to Geiger, the difference between the two reckonings seems to have occurred at sometime between the reigns of Udaya III (946-954 or 1007-1015) and Pârakkama Pandya (c. 1046-1048), when there was considerable unrest in the country.[3]
However, mention is made of an embassy sent to China by Cha-cha Mo-ho-nan in 428. The name may correspond to 'Raja (King) Mahanama', who (by the traditional chronology) reigned about this time. [4]
Furthermore, the traveller-monk Xuanzang, who attempted to visit Sri Lanka about 642, was told by Sri Lankan monks (possibly at Kanchipuram) that there was trouble in the kingdom, so he desisted;[5] this accords with the period of struggle for the throne between Aggabodhi III Sirisanghabo, Jettha Tissa III and Dathopa Tissa I Hatthadpath in 632-643.
Recent indological studies have indicated that the Parinibbana of the Buddha may be even later than previously supposed. A majority of the scholars at a symposium held in 1988 in Göttingen regarding the problem were inclined towards a date of 440-360 BCE. However, their calculations were based on the chronology of Tibetan Buddhism, preferred over that of the Dipavamsa/Mahavamasa; the modified chronology, in order to work, needs to identify the Indian ruler Kalasoka, son of Susunaga, with the Emperor Asoka, son of Bindusara.[6][7] It should also be noted that the Sri Lankan chronicles are based on even earlier works and that the Buddhist canon was first put into writing in Sri Lanka.
[edit] References
^ J.C. (John Christopher) Eade. The calendrical systems of mainland south-east Asia. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1995.
^ J.C. (John Christopher) Eade. Southeast Asian ephemeris. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Southeast Asian Program, 1989.
^ a b Geiger (Tr), Wilhelm (1912). The Mahawamsa or Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Oxford: Oxford University Press (for the Pali Text Society). p. 300. http://lakdiva.org/culavamsa/vol_0.html.
^ S G M Weerasinghe, A history of the cultural relations between Sri Lanka and China: an aspect of the Silk Route, Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, 1995, ISBN 955-613-055-1, p.40)
^ Stephen Spencer Gosch, Peter N. Stearns, Premodern Travel in World History, Routledge, 2008; ISBN 0415229405, p.93
^ L. S. Cousins, 'The Dating of the Historical Buddha: A Review Article', Indology: Resources for Indological Scholarship
^ Charles S. Prebish, 'Cooking the Buddhist Books: The Implications of the New Dating of the Buddha for the History of Early Indian Buddhism', Journal of Buddhist Ethics
[edit]

THAI CALENDAR BUDDHA.

2010-02-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

The Thai lunar calendar (Thai: ปฏิทินจันทรคติ Patitin Chantarakati) (literally, Against-the-Sun Moon-Ways) is Thailand's version of the lunisolar Buddhist calendar used in the southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos and Burma. Based on the third-century Surya Siddhanta Hindu calendar, these combine lunar and solar calendars for a nominal year of 12 months. An extra day or an extra 30-day month is intercalated at regular intervals; Thai, Lao, and Cambodian versions do not add an extra day to years with an extra month.
Contents[hide]
1 Legal v. religious calendar
2 Years
2.1 New year
2.2 Twelve-year animal cycle names
3 Months
3.1 Numbered months
3.2 Month divisions
4 Weeks
5 Days
6 Named lunar days
7 Holidays regulated by the moon
8 Thai year vocabulary
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
//
[edit] Legal v. religious calendar
The Thai solar calendar, Patitin Suriyakati (Thai: ปฏิทินสุริยคติ), Thailand's version of the Gregorian calendar, replaced the Patitin Chantarakati in AD 1888 / 2431 BE for legal and commercial purposes. In both calendars, the four principal lunar phases determine Buddhist Sabbaths (uposatha), which are obligatory holy days for observant Buddhists. Significant days also include feast days. Thai Chinese likewise observe their Sabbaths and traditional Chinese holidays according to lunar phases. These move with respect to the solar calendar, so common Thai calendars incorporate Thai and Chinese calendar lunar dates for religious purposes.
Mundane astrology also figures prominently in Thai culture, resulting in modern Thai birth certificates that include lunar calendar dates and the appropriate Chinese calendar animal for Hora (astrology) (Thai: โหราศาสตร์ โหราสาต ho-ra-sat) and Chinese astrology.
[edit] Years
(For detailed discussion, see Lunar phase.)
To keep years in sync with the seasons, Thai lunar years may add a day to the 7th month, or may repeat the 8th month, so may have one of three lengths—354, 355 or 384 days—yet retain a nominal length of twelve months.
354 day-long years consist of 12 normal months, and such a year is called a normal-month year (Thai: ปกติมาส (ปีปะกะติมาด Pee-pa-ga-ti-mat)).
355 day-long years add an extra day to the normally 29-day-long 7th month; such a year is called an extra-day year (Thai: ปีอธิกวาร (ปีอะทิกะวาน Pee-a-ti-ga-wan)).

AD 2004/2547BE Extra month ended August 15
384 day-long years repeat the 30-day-long 8th month, thus keeping the month count at 12. Nevertheless, a year of 384 days is called an extra-month year (Thai: ปีอธิกมาส (ปีอะทิกะมาด Pee-a-ti-ga-mat)).
[edit] New year
The Thai lunar calendar does not mark the beginning of a new year when it starts a new 1-to-12 count, which occurs most frequently in December (See Month 1, below).

Wan Khao Phansah
The Thai solar calendar determines a person's legal age, and secular holidays, including the civil new year as well as the three days of the traditional Thai New Year's feast. Should holidays fall on a weekend, it also accommodates these as well as some of the Principal lunar festivals with a compensatory day off Thai: วันชดเชย.
Wan Khao Phansah วันเข้าพรรษา counts as a new year for monks; note that 2 August 2004 was the compensatory day off วันชดเชย for a Wan Khao Phansah that fell on a Sunday.
The Chinese calendar determines the day that a year assumes the name of the next animal in the twelve-year animal cycle.
[edit] Twelve-year animal cycle names
Main article: Chinese_astrology#Table of the sixty year calendar
Gregorian year
New Year's Day
Thai
Sign
1998
January 28
ปีขาล
虎 Tiger
1999
February 16
ปีเถาะ
兔 Rabbit
2000
February 5
ปีมะโรง
龍 Dragon (Big snake)
2001
January 24
ปีมะเส็ง
蛇 Snake (Little snake)
2002
February 12
ปีมะเมีย
馬 Horse
2003
February 1
ปีมะแม
羊 Goat
2004
January 22
ปีวอก
猴 Monkey
2005
February 9
ปีระกา
雞 Rooster
2006
January 29
ปีจอ
狗 Dog
2007
February 18
ปีกุน
豬 Pig
2008
February 7
ปีชวด
鼠 Rat
2009
January 26
ปีฉลู
牛 Ox
2010
February 14
ปีขาล
虎 Tiger
2011
February 3
ปีเถาะ
兔 Rabbit
[edit] Months
For more details on this topic, see month.
Note: this information applies only to the modern Thai lunar calendar, and is insufficient for deciphering lunar dates calculated in other modes.
Months (Deuan, Thai: เดือน, meaning "month" or "Lunation") in the Thai calendar are defined by lunar cycles. Successive months (or lunations) are numbered from 1 to 12 within the Thai year. As in other Buddhist calendars, these months have names that derive from Sanskrit, but for the most part would only be known by Thai astrologers (Prasert Na Nagara 1998:524, cited in Diller).[1]
Two successive lunations take slightly more than 59 days. The Thai lunar calendar approximates this interval with normal-month (Thai: ปรกติมาสฅ ปกกะติมาด Pok-ga-ti-mat) pairs of 29 and 30 day months: 29 if an odd-numbered month (Thai: เดือนคี่ deuan kêe); 30 if an even-numbered month (Thai: เดือนคู่ deuan kôo). A 29-day lunation is called a hollow month (Thai: เดือนขาด deuan kàat); a 30-day lunation is called a full month (Thai: เดือนถ้วน deuan tûan). To keep the beginning of the month in sync with the new moon, from time to time either a normally hollow Month 7 takes an extra day, or an extra full Month 8 follows normal full Month 8. Note also that Months 1 and 2 are named in archaic alternate numbers, with the remainder being named in modern numbers.[1]
[edit] Numbered months
The first month, Deuan Aai (Thai: เดือนอ้าย) begins the cycle of counting the months anew, most frequently in December, but does not signify the beginning of a new year.[1] Aai, an archaic word in Thai but not in other dialects, means first-born (or eldest).[2] An odd-numbered hollow month, it is 29 days long.
The second month, Deuan Yi, (Thai: เดือนยี่ from archaic ญี่ meaning 2)[2] is an even-numbered full month that is 30 days long.
Months three though six, Deuan 3–6, use the modern way to read numbers as do all remaining months. Months 3–6, as they alternate odd and even are alternately 29-day hollow months or 30-day full months.
Month seven, Deuan 7, a hollow month, is normally 29 days long in years of 354 days, but adds an extra day (Thai: อธิกวาร (อะทิกะวาน A-ti-ga-wan)) when required for 355-day-long extra-day years (Thai: ปีอธิกวาร (ปีอะทิกะวาน Pee-a-ti-ga-wan)).
The eighth month, Deuan 8, is a 30-day full month.

When an extra month (Thai: อธิกมาส (อะทิกะมาด a-ti-ga-mat)) is needed for a 384-day-long extra-month year (Thai: ปีอธิกมาส (ปีอะทิกะมาด Pee-a-ti-ga-mat)), Month 8 repeats as เดือน ๘/๘ Month 8/8, variously read as —
Deuan Bad dap Bad —Month 8 slash 8,
Deuan Bad Song Khang —Month 8 Side Two, or
Deuan Bad Song Hon —Month 8 Time Two in the Isan language.
The last four months, Deuan 9–12, complete the lunar cycle.
[edit] Month divisions
Months divide into two periods designated by whether they are waxing or waning:
Khang Kuen ข้างขึ้น
Waxing, the period from new moon to full moon, which is
15 days, always
Khang Raem ข้างแรม
Waning, the period from full moon to new moon, which is
14 days in odd-numbered hollow months, except when Month 7 adds the extra day (Thai: อธิกวาร (อะทิกะวาน A-ti-ga-wan)); otherwise
15 days.
Note: when not compounded with other words or syllables:
khang
ข้าง [at, on, or to the] side
kuen
ขึ้น to rise or mount
raem
แรม to tire or retire.
[edit] Weeks
A week is Thai: สัปดาห์ or สัปดาหะ, pronounced สับ-ดา sàb-da, สับ-ปะ-ดา sàb-phà-daa, or สับ-ดา-หะ sàb-da-hà. From a Sanskrit word for "seven", it is now defined by the On-line Royal Institute Dictionary (ORID) as a 7 day period beginning on Sunday and ending Saturday. When referring to lunations, however, it is the 7-, 8- or (rarely) 9-day interval between quartile lunar phases; that is, from one วันพระ wan prà to the next.
[edit] Days
While solar-calendar weekdays have names, lunar-calendar days number sequentially from 1 to 14 or 15 in two segments depending on whether the moon is waxing or waning. Examples:
Kuen 1 Kham Deuan 1 ขึ้น ๑ ค่ำ เดือน ๑
Waxing 1 Evening [of] Month 1, on to
Raem 15 Kham Deuan 12 แรม ๑๕ ค่ำ เดือน ๑๒
Waning 15 Evening [of] Month 12.
Note: Kham ค่ำ Evening, nowadays is generally taken as the evening of the common day that begins and ends at midnight, rather than of a day that begins and ends at dusk. Past practice may have been different. See Wan Wy Phra Chan, below.
[edit] Named lunar days
Wan Phra วันพระ Day(s) Holy [to Buddhists] ; also called
Wan Thamma Sawana วันธรรมสวนะ (วันทำมะสะวะนะ) religious holy day(s) ; Buddhist Sabbath(s) ; regularly fall on:
Kuen 8 ขึ้น ๘ first-quarter moon
Kuen 15 ขึ้น ๑๕ full moon; also called
Wan Phen วันเพ็ญ day [of] full [moon].
Wan Duan Phen (Thai: วันเดือนเพ็ญ), the actual day of the full moon and Khuen 15 Kham do not always fall on the same day.
Raem 8 แรม ๘ third-quarter moon; and
Raem 14 (15) แรม ๑๔ (๑๕) last day of the lunar month; also called
Wan Dab วันดับ day [moon is] quenched, [or goes] out.
Wan Wy Phra Chan วันไหว้พระจันทร์
Day [of] Respect [for] the Holy Moon
actual day the Harvest moon becomes full
Kuen 14 (15) Kham Deuan 10 ขึ้น ๑๔ (๑๕) ค่ำ เดือน ๑๐
Waxing 14(15) Evening, Month 10.
[edit] Holidays regulated by the moon
Main article: Public holidays in Thailand
Buddhist Sabbaths, colloquial Thai: วันพระ Wan Phra, are the New, First-quarter, Full, and Third-quarter Moon-days. These are not normally days off Thai: วันยุด wan-yoot, except for butcher, barber and beautician shops that observe the Eight Precepts.
Annual holidays and seasonal festivals collectively are called Thai: วันนักขัตฤกษ์ วันนักขัดตะเริก Wan nak-khad-ta-roek.
Festivals or fairs are Thai: เทศกาล (เทสะกาน) thet-sa-garn; these may be further styled as Thai: ประเพณี pra-pen-nee traditional; and as Thai: พืธิ pit-ti, rite or ceremony. The table shows the principal ones governed by the moon in yellow.
Work holidays prescribed by the government as days off from work or school are Thai: วันหยุดราชการ วันหยุดราชากาน Wan-yoot-ra-cha-gan; those regulated by the moon are red.
Weekends are normally days off; if a holiday normally observed by a day off falls on a weekend, the following Monday is a compensatory day off Thai: วันชดเชย Wan chod-choey.
Work holidays
and
festivals
regulated by the moon: x = waxing moon; n = waning
Mo.
Day
Event
ไทย
Comment
3†
1x
Chinese New Year
ตรุษจีน
Most shops owned by Chinese-Thai close
3
15x
Magha Puja
วันมาฆบูชา
Makha Bucha
6
15x
Vesak
วิสาขบูชา
Visakha Bucha
8‡
15x
Asalha Puja
อาสาฬหบูชา
Asarnha Bucha
8‡
1n
Wan Kao Pansa
วันเข้าพรรษา
Begin Rains Retreat, or Buddhist Lent
10
15n
Thetsagarn Sart
เทศกาลสารท
Vegetarian Festival [3](Thai: เทศกาลกินเจ Thet-sa-gan Kin-je)
11
15x
Wan Awk Pansa
วันออกพรรษา
End Rains Retreat, or Buddhist Lent''
11
1n
Thod Kathin
ทอดกฐิน
Presentation of Monk's Robes after Rains Retreat
12
15x
Loy Krathong
ลอยกระทง
In Northern Thailand, this is Duean Yi and the Yee Peng Lantern Festival
Notes:
† Chinese New Year uses different methods of determining intercalary months, so this festival sometimes occurs a month earlier or later.
‡ Month 8/8 in years with the extra month.
[edit] Thai year vocabulary
Thai orthography spells most native words phonetically, though there is no definitive system for transcription into Roman letters. Here, native Thai words are immediately followed by a vocabulary entry in this pattern:
Phonetic Thai (Thai phonetic respelling, if different) [Comment] definition; variant definitions.
Example:
Tai ไทย (ไท) [Archaic] free, frank; Thai race, language, alphabet ; citizen of Thailand.
Sanskrit loan words follow different rules [the way English grammatical rules vary for words of Greek and Latin origin ('ph-' in 'phonetic' being pronounced /f/, for example.)] Entered below in order of first appearance, these vocabulary entries are in this pattern:
Sanskrit สันสกฤต (สันสะกริด /san-sa-krit/)
Literally means "self-made" or "self-done", or "cultured" in a modern usage (which implies the language of cultured persons); Sanskrit alphabet, language, writing; [presumed] compound of
san สัน (-/son/) derived from the word, "saṃ" meaning "self, together, with"
skrit สกฤต (สะกริต /sa-krit/) derived from the word "(s)kar" meaning "do or make".
Chantarakati จันทรคติ (จันทะระคะติ)
Lunar Calendar; compound of
Chantara- จันทร- (จันทะระ /chontara/) : Chon จันทร์ (จัน) moon, lunar +
Kati คติ (คะติ) : ways, principles; moral [of a tale].
Patitin ปฏิทิน (ปะติทิน)
Calendar; compound of
Pati- ปฏิ- (ปะติ-) : anti-, re- +
-tin (-ทิน) : [from tinnagorn ทินกร (ทินะกอน) - poetical for] the sun, Sol
[possibly in the sense of 'tint' + - gorn -กร – -er, -or: paint-er].
Patitin Chantarakati ปฏิทินจันทรคติ (ปะติทินจันทะระคะติ)
"Resolarized Moon-Ways", Lunisolar Calendar
Suriyakati สุริยคติ (สุริยะคะติ)
Solar Ways, Solar Calendar; compound of
Suriya สุริย or สุริยะ : Athit อาทิตย์, the sun, Sol +
Kati คติ (คะติ) : ways, principles; moral [of a tale].
Prokatimas ปรกติมาส (ปฺรกกะติมาด /pro-ko-ti-maht/)
normal month; compound of
Prokati ปรกติ (ปฺรกกะติ) : pokiti ปกติ (ปะกะติ) ordinary, usual, normal +
Mas มาส (มาด /maht/) : du-an (เดือน) month.
Athikamas อธิกมาส (อะทิกะมาด /a-ti-ka-maht/)
month added in leap-month lunar years
Athikawara อธิกวาร (อะทิกะวาน /a-ti-ka-wahn/)
day added in leap-day lunar years; compound of
Athika (Sanskrit: adhika) : additional +
-wara วาร (วาน /wahn/) : wan วัน day.
[Athikasuratin อธิกสุรทิน (อะทิกะสุระทิน)]
[day added to February in a solar leap year.]
[edit] See also
Public holidays in Thailand
The Royal Institute of Thailand
Thai solar calendar
Thai 6-hour clock
Time in Thailand
[edit] References
Diller, Anthony; Preecha Juntanamalaga (December 1995). "Thai Time". International Conference on Tai Languages and Cultures, Thammasat University. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 2002-12-10. http://dspace.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/41890/3/thai_time.html. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
Eade, J.C. The calendrical systems of mainland south-east Asia. ISBN 90-04-10437-2 (Cited by Diller & Preecha)
Sethaputra, So. New Model English - Thai Dictionary, ISBN 974-08-3253-9
^ a b c Diller, Anthony; Preecha Juntanamalaga (2000). "Thai Time". Faculty of Asian Studies Australian National University. p. 25. Archived from the original on 2002-01-10. http://dspace.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/41890/3/thai_time.html. Retrieved 2008-05-08. "(5.1) ...names would be known only by Thai astrologers (Prasert Na Nagara 1998:524)."
^ a b On-line Royal Institute Dictionary (ORID - 1999).
^ The Vegetarian Festival (Thai: เทศกาลวันสารท Tesagarn Wan Sat) (see สารท ๑), now appears on calendars as Tesagarn Kin Jae 9 Wan (Thai: เทศกาลกินเจ ๕ วัน), (begin) Nine-day Vegetarian Festival. Kin Jae กินเจ means (to vow) in the manner of Vietnamese or Chinese Buddhists to eat a strict vegetarian diet. (Thai: กินเจ, กินแจ ก. ถือศีลอย่างญวนหรือจีน โดยกินอาหารจำพวกผักล้วน ไม่มีเนื้อสัตว์.)