Chakri Dynasty - Kingdom of Thailand
CHAKRI
DYNASTY
The Chakri dynasty had ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin era in 1782 following the end of Taksin of Thonburi's reign when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The Chakri, which provides both name and emblem to the house of Chakri, is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trisula), the celestial weapon of the God Narayana (an avatar of Vishnu) of whom the Siamese King seen as a personification. The coined name Chakri thus denotes the transcending force of divine strength and stability upon the physical realm.
PHRA BUDDHA YODFA CHULALOKE MAHARAJ
KING RAMA I (1782 - 1809)
The Founder of the Chakri Dynasty
King Rama I, formerly known as Duang or Thong Duang, was born in Ayutthaya on March 20, 1737, during the reign of King Barommakote. Following the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, he entered the King's service as an officer of the royal household. Later, at 25, he was promoted to governor of Ratchaburi Province and played an essential part in helping King Taksin restore the country's sovereignty many times. He created Luang Yorkrabat, Phra Rajvarin, Chao Phraya Chakri, and eventually Somdetch Chao Phraya Maha Kashatriya Suk by King Taksin, and following the deposition of King Taksin in 1782, was chosen as King, becoming the founder and first ruler of the House of Chakri. He was crowned King at 46 in 1782ed, reigning for 27 years, and passed away at 73.
PHRA BUDDHA LERTLA NAPALAI
KING RAMA II (1809 - 1824)
King Phra Buddha Lertla Napalai, the 2nd King of the Chakri Dynasty, was the son of King Rama I. He was born in Rajaburi on February 26, 1768. He was 16 when his father ascended the throne and was immediately created a prince of the rank of Somdetch Chao Fa and given the name Isarasundorn. He accompanied his father on military campaigns when he was young. Being appointed Maha Uparaja or Deputy King by his father in 1806, he was the only Maha Uparaja to eventually succeed to the throne during the period of the Chakri Dynasty. He became King Rama II at 42 after his father's death.
PHRA NANGKLAO CHAOYUHUA
KING RAMA III (1824 - 1851)
Phra Bhat Sombat Phra Poraminthara Maha Chedsadabodin. Phra Nang Klao Chao Yu Hu. King Rama III of Ratanakosin, reign of the Chakri Dynasty, gave his royal order to his Royal Highness, Prince Khrom Mun Puminthron Pakdee. Prince Ladawan, ancestor of the royal surname "Ladawan Na Ayudhaya," was King Rama III and Chao Chom Marnda Aim Noi's son. As the chief supervisor for the construction of Wat Thepthidaramvorawihan from 1836 to commemorate. Her Royal Highness Prince Wilad Hhrom Mun Apsornsudathep, on 22nd December 1839 as King Rama III, named the temple 'Wat Thepthidaram,' which means 'Apsornsudathep.'
PHRA CHOMKLAO CHAOYUHUA
KING RAMA IV (1851 - 1868)
Siam was fortunate enough to have a King who was keenly interested in what was happening worldwide. His Majesty King Phra Chomklao Chaoyuhua (Rama IV), or King Mongkut, was born in Bangkok on October 18, 1804, and ascended to the throne when European powers tried to colonize many countries. He was the first Thai King to learn the English language and entered into correspondence with foreign rulers, particularly Queen Victoria, the Pope, and the Mexican president. He had diligently studied the English language when he was a Buddhist monk and could read, write, speak, and understand it thoroughly.
PHRA CHULA CHOMKLAO CHAOYUHUA
KING RAMA V (1868 - 1910)
King Rama V, or King Chulalongkorn (1853 - 1910), was the monarch who steered Thailand clear of colonization and initiated the Chakri Reformation to put Thailand on the road to modernization. King Chulalongkorn was appointed King at the age of fifteen after the death of his father, King Mongkut, in 1868. Chao Phraya Suriyawong acted as regent until the young King was twenty and old enough to ascend the throne in 1973.
PHRA MONGKUT KLAO CHAOYUHUA
KING RAMA VI (1910 - 1925)
King Rama VI, also known as Mongkutklao or King Vajiravudh, was born on January 1, 1881. He was King Rama V's first son by Queen Saowaphaphongsi. He was educated in England at Sandhurst and Oxford. He studied in England for nine years and returned to Thailand via the U.S.A., Canada, and Japan. He reached Thailand in January 1903 and resided at the Saranrom Palace. He was appointed the Crown Prince in 1984. When King Rama V passed away on October 23, 1910. Prince Vajiravudh ascended the throne to become King Rama VI.
KING PRAJADHIPOK
KING RAMA VII (1925 - 1934)
His Majesty King Phra-Pok-Klao Chaoyuhua (Rama VII), popularly known as Prajadhipok, was the 7th King of the Chakri Dynasty. He was born in Bangkok on November 8, 1893. He succeeded to the throne after the death of his elder brother, King Vajiravudh. He had not expected to become King indeed until nine months before the end of King Vajiravudh, the heir presumptive to the throne had been Prince Asdang Dejavudh, Prince of Nakron Rajasima. And with his death in February 1925, Prince Prajadhipok became heir presumptive. He was quite a capable King and had made many personal sacrifices for the good of the country during his reign. The gifts include overcoming the economic depression after World War I, his consent to be King under a constitutional monarchy system after the 1932 Revolution, his abdication to the throne, and his keen interest in promoting Thai art and culture.
PHRA CHAOYUHUA ANANDA MAHIDOL
KING RAMA VIII (1934 - 1946)
His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) was the 2nd monarch of the Chakri Dynasty to be crowned King under the new Constitutional Monarchy System. Born on September 20, 1925, in Heidelberg, Germany, he was the first son of HRH Prince Sonkhla Nakarind and Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara, with one elder sister, Princess Galyani Vadhana and a younger brother, then Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej. At the tender age of ten, he has crowned King Rama V's son and did much for the country in medicine. His mother was brilliant and enterprising and devoted her time to attending to the needs of the people.
HIS MAJESTY KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ
KING RAMA IX (1946 - 2016)
King Ananda's younger brother. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej became Rama IX, the previous King of the Thai kingdom. He is much loved and revered. In 1996, his Majesty became the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Thailand and the world. The Thai people threw a big celebration in commemoration of his 50th year on the throne, which continued until the last years of his reign. In 1999. the Thai people also threw another big celebration, one that celebrated the 72nd birthday of the King, which is an extremely auspicious year for the Thai people, representing the 6th cycle of 12 years of a person's life.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej peacefully passed away at Siriraj Hospital on October 13, 2016, at 15:52 (08:52 GMT).