Thailand Discovery Pages - Thai Royal House of Chakri

Asia Products LLC Thailand Travel Pages Header

The Thai Royal House of Chakri:

The current ruling Royal House of the Kingdom of Thailand is the House of Chakri.

Traditionally, the name of a Siamese king was (and continues to be) considered sacred and therefore it is never spoken. Following the deposition of King Taksin in 1782, when the ex-military leader, Chao Phraya Chakri took the throne, he did not give himself a royal name, only being referred to as ‘Phan Din Ton' meaning ‘The First Kingdom'. And although the name Rama (taken from the Hindu god Rama) had been previously linked to the Siamese monarchy, it wasn't until the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI, 1910 - 1925) that the practice of using the name Rama for the Chakri Kings was first introduced.

To date, nine Kings have ruled the dynasty. Together, their leadership has combined to shape the Thai Kingdom, taking it from a rural community into a modern democracy.
It was through the endeavor of these monarchs that Thailand has continued to remain a truly independent nation.

King Rama I (1782-1809)
King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke - The founder and first King of the Chakri Dynasty, King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
established the capital city ‘Rattanakosin' (now called Bangkok). During his reign, His Majesty worked to reunite Siam, which had been divided following the Burmese invasion of Ayutthaya in 1767.

King Rama II (1809-1824)
King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai - A great patron of the arts, King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai was himself an accomplished artist, writer, poet and composer. His Majesty's reign was one of relative peace for the Kingdom.

King Rama III (1824-1851)
King Jessadabodindra - King Jessadabodindra's past experience in foreign affairs helped him to establish regular trade with the West, whilst continuing to withstand the demands of the British, thus preventing the loss of any of Siam's independence.

King Rama IV (1851-1868)
King Mongkut - One of the most revered kings of Siam. King Mongkut was a clever scientist and mathematician, noted for embracing Western innovation and initiating the modernization of Siam, both in technology and culture - earning him the epithet "The Father of Science and Technology".

King Rama V (1868-1910)
King Chulalongkorn - Considered one of the greatest Kings of Siam, King Chulalongkorn was responsible for a number of governmental and social reforms that helped to transform Thailand from a rural community into a modern nation.

King Rama VI (1910-1925)
King Vajiravudh - Keen to foster national pride, King Vajiravudh founded the Boy Scout movement in Siam. A prolific writer and poet, His Majesty translated several of Shakespeare's major works into Thai. In 1917, during World War I, His Majesty declared war on Germany and sent Siamese troops to fight with the allies.

King Rama VII (1925-1935)
King Prajadhipok - King Prajadhipok's reign coincided with the global economic depression of 1929. Following a coup on December 10 1932, King Prajadhipok granted the Thai people a constitutional monarchy. The King abdicated on March 2 1935.

King Rama VIII (1935-1946)
King Ananda Mahidol - Only nine years old when he succeeded the throne, King Ananda Mahidol spent his early years being educated in Switzerland. Tragically, on June 9 1946, His Majesty was found dead from a gun shot wound - the circumstances around his unfortunate death remain a mystery.

King Rama IX (1927- present)
King Bhumibol Adulyadej - Universally loved and respected, King Bhumibol Adulyadej is noted for promoting the social and economic development of the Thai nation. The longest reigning leader in Thai history and the longest living reigning monarch in the world, His Majesty is currently the only holder of the United Nations' Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award.

Article written by Christine Oatley.

Asia Products LLC Thailand Discovery Pages provides articles a variety of topics including current events, politics, and travel ideas for learning about Thailand. Asia Products LLC also offers an e-commerce store selling Thailand products on http://www.asiaproductsllc.com. He is documenting some of his more interesting travels in his Thailand Travel Pages website : http://www.apllc-connect.com.