Chulalongkorn
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| King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) |
|---|
| Born |
| September 20, 1853 Bangkok, Thailand (Siam) |
King Chulalongkorn the Great or Rama V (royal name: Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua; Thai script: พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) (September 20, 1853 - October 23, 1910) was the fifth king of the Chakri dynasty of Thailand. He is regarded as one of the greatest kings of Siam.
Chulalongkorn was born September 20, 1853 in Bangkok as the oldest son of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and Queen Debsirinda. His father gave him a broad education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens.
Chulalongkorn succeeded his father on October 1, 1868, but the chief minister Chao Praya Si Suriyawongse served as regent for four years, as Chulalongkorn was still too young to rule. During this time he traveled to other countries including Singapore, Java and India, to study western lifestyle and colonialism, which made him the first Thai king to leave the country. Later during his reign he also visited Europe twice, in 1897 and 1907.
On November 16, 1873, he was crowned for the second time. During his travels he had learned about many reforms needed to modernize his country. He managed to keep his country independent even though both France and Britain were colonizing most of Southeast Asia and the former constantly aggressive towards and antagonistic in its relations to Siam. He did, however, have to cede some territory to these two powers, notably claims on parts of what are now Laos, Cambodia and some northern parts of Malaysia.
King Chulalongkorn modernized the government by introducing a cabinet system, and the semi-feudal provincial administration was changed into a modern administration with provinces (changwat) and districts (amphoe) as it still is today. He declared amnesty for all political prisoners, and also gradually abolished slavery. This liberation is often misunderstood but was intended to weaken the power of the Bunnag, a noble family that strictly controlled the Chakri dynasty in those days. Also, this liberation was intended to weaken regional governors and centralize his country. Thailand's first railroad was opened in his reign in 1896 from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. It was during his reign that the western calendar replaced the traditional lunar calendar, and he introduced the modern system of banknotes. He also declared religious freedom, allowing Christianity and Islam to be practiced in the Buddhist country.
A 1909 decree during his reign had forced the large local Chinese population to effectively assimilate into mainstream Thai society, which reduced racial tensions and violent crime, by requiring all permanent residents to adopt Thai surnames, see Thai Chinese.
The date of his death, October 23, 1910, is commemorated as a national holiday. His second son, Vajiravudh, succeeded him.
Chulalongkorn University, founded in 1917 as the first university in Thailand, was named in his honor.
In 1997 a memorial pavilion was raised in honor of King Chulalongkorn in Ragunda, Sweden.
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