Monarchy of Thailand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids King of Thailand
Royal Standard
Incumbent
Vajiralongkorn since 13 October 2016
Details
Style	His Majesty
Heir presumptive	Dipangkorn Rasmijoti
First monarch	Si Inthrathit
Formation	1238; 787 years ago (1238)
Residence	Grand Palace (ceremonial) Dusit Palace (residential)

The monarchy of Thailand is the system of government where a king or queen is the head of state for Thailand. Thailand used to be called Siam. The king of Thailand (Thai: พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย) is the leader of the country and the head of the Chakri dynasty, which is the current royal family.

The Chakri dynasty started in 1782. However, the idea of having a king in Thailand goes way back to the Sukhothai Kingdom in 1238. There was a short time without a king between the death of Ekkathat and the start of Taksin's rule in the 1700s. In 1932, the monarchy changed from having absolute power to being a constitutional monarchy. This happened after a peaceful event called the Siamese Revolution of 1932. The king's official home for ceremonies is the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The Dusit Palace is where the king lives privately. The king of Thailand is the head of the country, the top commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, and a supporter of Buddhism and other religions.

History of Thailand's Kings

Early Kingship Ideas

The way Thai kingship works has changed over 800 years. The first king of a united Thailand was King Si Inthrathit, who started the Sukhothai Kingdom in 1238. Early ideas about kingship came from two main beliefs: Hinduism and Theravada Buddhist teachings.

One idea was based on the ancient Indian Kshatriya (Thai: กษัตริย์), which means a warrior-ruler. This meant the king got his power from his military strength. The second idea came from the Buddhist concept of Dhammaraja (Thai: ธรรมราชา). Buddhism arrived in Thailand around the 6th century AD. The Dhammaraja idea meant the king should rule his people fairly, following the teachings of Buddha.

These ideas changed briefly in 1279 when King Ram Khamhaeng became king. He introduced a new idea called "paternal rule" (Thai: พ่อปกครองลูก). This meant the king would rule his people like a father takes care of his children. His title, Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng (Thai: พ่อขุนรามคำแหง), means 'Father Ruler Ram Khamhaeng'. This style of rule didn't last long. By the end of the Sukhothai Kingdom, the older ideas returned, and the kings' titles changed from "Pho" to "Phaya" or Lord.

Ayutthaya Kings and Divine Rule

King Naresuan of Ayutthaya fought many wars to keep Siam independent.

The Sukhothai Kingdom was followed by the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which King Ramathibodhi I founded in 1351. During this time, the idea of kingship changed again. Influenced by ancient Khmer traditions, the Hindu idea of a "divine king" became very important. Priests called Brahmins were in charge of the royal coronation. The king was seen as a reincarnation of Hindu gods like Indra, Shiva, Vishnu, or Rama. Rama was a very popular name, as seen in "Ramathibodhi."

Buddhist influence was still there, and many kings also used the unofficial name "Dhammaraja," meaning a king who rules by Buddhist law. A new concept, "Devaraja" (Thai: เทวราชา), or "divine king," became central. This idea came from the Khmer Empire and the Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms of Java. It meant the king was like a god, an incarnation of Vishnu, and also a Bodhisattva (an enlightened being). So, his power came from his religious status, his good morals, and his pure royal blood.

The government presented the king as a semi-divine figure, someone to be worshipped and respected by his people. The monarchy became very separate from ordinary people, and the kings ruled with absolute power. They lived in grand palaces designed to look like Mount Meru (the home of the gods in Hinduism). The kings saw themselves as "Chakravartin," meaning they were absolute rulers of their land. They wanted everyone to see the world revolving around them and showed their power through grand ceremonies. For four centuries, these kings ruled Ayutthaya, a time of great cultural, economic, and military growth for Thailand.

Social System and Royal Language

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the most sacred temple in Ayutthaya, located next to the king's palace.

Family Tree of the Kings of Thailand

The Kings of Ayutthaya created systems to help them rule. King Trailokanat in the 15th century set up sakdina. This was a social ranking system that gave people different amounts of land based on their rank and position in society.

Rachasap is a special vocabulary used only when talking to or about the king and other royal family members. It's a very formal way of speaking, required by court rules.

King's Power

The king was the main administrator, law-maker, and judge. All laws, orders, and punishments were thought to come from him. His power was shown in titles like "Lord of the Land" (พระเจ้าแผ่นดิน Phra Chao Phaen Din) and "Lord of Life" (เจ้าชีวิต Chao Chiwit). Foreign visitors often thought the king was an absolute ruler like in Europe. However, in Thai tradition, the king's duties came from ancient Indian ideas of royal power. These ideas were similar to Enlightened Absolutism, where the ruler is wise and just, but in Thailand, the focus was on following Dhamma. This system was interrupted in 1767 when a Burmese army invaded and burned the city of Ayutthaya.

Restoring the Kingdom

After Ayutthaya fell, there was a short civil war. Taksin then brought the country back together, starting what is called the Thonburi Kingdom. During his rule, Taksin changed the idea of kingship. He didn't hide behind a mystical image like many Ayutthayan kings. Instead, he often showed himself to ordinary people by joining public events and festivals. He also focused on building moats and defensive walls in his new capital, Thonburi.

The Chakri Kings

Thongduang, who became King Rama I of Siam, started the Chakri dynasty in 1782.

In 1782, Phutthayotfa Chulalok (later known as Rama I) became king. He moved the capital from Thonburi to the Bangkok side of the Chao Phraya River. There, he started the House of Chakri, which is the royal family ruling Thailand today. He also created the position of Supreme Patriarch, who is the head of the Buddhist monk community.

During the Rattanakosin period, the Chakri kings tried to bring back some of the Ayutthayan ideas of kingship, focusing on the connection between the king and his people. However, they still kept all the power for the throne. Kings Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II) and Nangklao (Rama III) began to set up a more modern government. They created a supreme council and appointed chief officers to help run the country.

Mongkut (Rama IV) brought a big change. Before becoming king, he spent 27 years as a Buddhist monk and learned English very well. As king, he continued to appoint officers to his supreme council. The most famous were Somdet Chao Phraya Prayurawongse and Si Suriyawongse. These two acted as Chief Ministers for King Mongkut. Si Suriyawongse also served as a regent (someone who rules for a young king) after Mongkut's death in 1868 until 1873.

Chulalongkorn (Rama V) became king in 1868 when he was only 15. He took on full duties on November 16, 1873. As a prince, he was taught by a governess named Anna Leonowens, who introduced him to Western ways. He wanted to change the monarchy to be more like Western "enlightened rulers." He stopped the practice of people having to bow down in front of the king and changed many laws about how the king and his people interacted. However, he kept many old traditions and rituals. In 1874, he created a privy council, similar to European councils, to help him rule. During his reign, Siam had to give up control of Laos and northern Malaya to Western powers, but Siam itself managed to avoid being colonized. In 1905, King Chulalongkorn ended slavery in Thailand. In 1867, about one-third of the Siamese population were slaves.

His son, Vajiravudh (Rama VI), became king in 1910. He continued his father's efforts to modernize the monarchy. Some people felt the changes were too slow, leading to the Palace Revolt of 1912. In 1914, Vajiravudh updated the martial law to be more modern and suitable for protecting the country.

Prajadhipok (Rama VII) became king after his brother in 1925. He had studied in England at Eton and Sandhurst. He created a council, like a cabinet, where important government officials could meet to make decisions. This council, called the Supreme Council of State of Siam, existed from 1925 until 1932.

Thailand Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

King Prajadhipok signing the Constitution of Siam, December 10, 1932.

In June 1932, a group of students and military officers, called "the promoters," carried out a peaceful revolution. They took power and asked King Prajadhipok to give the people of Siam a constitution. The king agreed, and in December 1932, Thailand received a constitution. This ended 150 years of absolute rule by the Chakri kings. From then on, the king's role became more symbolic, as the head of state. His powers were now carried out by a prime minister and the national assembly.

In 1935, Prajadhipok (Rama VII) gave up his throne because of disagreements with the government. He lived in the United Kingdom until he passed away in 1941. His young nephew, Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), became the new king. He was 10 years old and living in Switzerland. A group of regents was appointed to rule for him. During this time, the king's powers were largely taken over by the government of Plaek Phibunsongkhram. He changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand and sided with the Axis powers during World War II. After the war, Phibunsongkhram was removed, and the young king returned. The Free Thai movement had resisted foreign occupation during the war and helped Thailand recover afterward.

After King Rama VIII's sudden death in 1946, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), who was 19, became the new monarch. He was the world's longest-reigning monarch when he passed away on October 13, 2016, at the age of 88.

The Monarchy Today

The king's image can be seen in many places across Thailand.

The king is helped in his duties by the Private Secretary to the King of Thailand and the Privy Council of Thailand. They also work with the Prime Minister. According to Thailand's constitution, the king no longer creates all the laws. That power belongs to the National Assembly of Thailand. However, all new laws passed by the assembly still need the king's approval to become official.

The royal household and finances are managed by the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Crown Property Bureau. These groups are not part of the Thai government, and the king appoints all their staff.

Royal Symbols and Items

Thailand's royal regalia includes five main items.

The current royal items of Thailand, called Khrueang Raja Kakudhabhand (Thai: เครื่องราชกกุธภัณฑ์), were mostly created during the reigns of King Rama I and Rama IV. The older set was lost when the Burmese attacked Ayutthaya in 1767. These special items are mainly used during the king's coronation ceremony at the start of each new reign. You can see them on display in the Museum of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Here are the most important items:

• Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella (Phra Maha Swetachatra; พระมหาเศวตฉัตร) - This is the most important royal item. There are seven of these umbrellas, located in different palaces.
• Great Crown of Victory (Phra Maha Phijay Mongkut; พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฎ) - This is the king's official crown.
• Sword of Victory (Phra Saengkharga Jay Sri; พระแสงขรรค์ชัยศรี) - This sword was found in Tonlé Sap in 1784 and represents the king's military power.
• Royal Staff (Dharn Phra Korn; ธารพระกร) - This staff is a symbol of justice.
• Royal Fan and Flywhisk (Walawijani; วาลวีชนี) - The royal fan is made of gold, and the royal flywhisk is made from the tail of a white elephant.
• Royal Slippers (Chalong Phra Bada; ฉลองพระบาท) - These are the king's official golden shoes.

The Thai royal utensils (Phra Khattiya Rajuprapoke; พระขัตติยราชูปโภค) are also for the king's personal use. They include:

• The Betel nut set
• The water urn
• The libation vessel
• The receptacle

These special objects are always placed next to the king's throne or seat during royal ceremonies.

Other Royal Symbols

• Royal White Elephant - Usually, one white elephant represents each king's reign. The current one lives at Dusit Zoo. The king also has 10 other white elephants.
• Royal Garuda - This is the official symbol of the king and of Thailand.
• Royal Standard of Thailand - This is the king's official flag.
• Royal Flags - These are personal flags for the king and other members of the royal family.
• Sansoen Phra Barami - This is the royal anthem.
• Traditional Band of the Royal Family of Thailand - This is a Marching band that uses traditional Thai musical instruments. They usually accompany the royal family and perform at ceremonies.

Royal Ceremonies

The Royal Barge Procession in 2003.

The king and other members of the royal family take part in many royal ceremonies each year. Some of these traditions date back to the 13th century.

Some important ceremonies include:

• Royal coronation ceremony
• Royal Barge Procession
• The Changing of the Robes of the Emerald Buddha
• Trooping the Colours and Armed Forces Pledge of Loyalty
• Military Colours Consecration and Pledge Taking Ceremony
• Oath of Allegiance Ceremony
• Speech from the Throne to the National Assembly of Thailand
• Royal Funeral Ceremony

Royal Orders and Awards

The king is the head of several Royal Orders and Decorations. He has the power to give these awards to people or take them away. Sometimes, the Cabinet of Thailand and the Prime Minister suggest who should receive them. There are twelve Royal Orders, and some of them have different levels.

Here are some of the Royal Orders:

• The Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn: Started in 1962 by King Rama IX to be given to foreign heads of state.
• The Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri: Started in 1882 by King Rama V to celebrate 100 years of Bangkok.
• The Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems: Started in 1851 by King Rama IV. It is given to members of the Thai royal family and important officials who have served the kingdom and are Buddhist.
• The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao: Started in 1873 by King Rama V to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Chakri dynasty.
• The Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit: Started in 1911 by King Rama VI to reward people for their personal service to the king.
• The Honourable Order of Rama: Started in 1918 by King Rama VI, given to those who have provided special military service during peace or war.
• The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant: Started in 1861 by King Rama IV. It is often given to government officials for every five years of service.
• The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand: Started in 1869 by King Rama V for Thais, the royal family, government workers, and foreign guests who have done great service for Thailand.
• The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn: Started by King Rama IX in 1991, given to those who have given devoted service to Thailand.
• The Vallabhabhorn Order: Started in 1919 by King Rama VI.
• The Order of Ramkeerati: Started in 1987 by King Rama IX, given to those who have supported Boy Scout activities for at least five years.
• The Vajira Mala Order: Started in 1911 by King Rama VI.

Timeline of Monarchs

See also

• List of honours of Thailand awarded to heads of state and royalty
• List of honours of the Thai royal family by country
• Network monarchy
• Sacred king
• King's Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship