Chulalongkorn (Part 5): Influences and End

Chulalongkorn ushered in the transformation of Siam from an old kingdom into a modern state that Europe recognize. Other than that, he became the first Siamese monarch to travel to the west in order to secure the independence of sovereignty of his beloved kingdom. He reformed court traditions, administration, military, health, and education. But also, he launched reforms on religion and support the flow of foreign influences to the culture of Siam.

Paknam Incident: Near the Edge

The Comte and the Inconstant

Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia spared from the sufferings of becoming a colony. Thanks to political situation occurring a continent away and its efforts to modernize, the Thai people remained free and independent. The program of making progress at home of King Mongkut and Chulalongkorn paid out. Nevertheless, there were instances that their independence was threatened to be taken by a western power. Siam was on the brink of being conquered in the event known as the Paknam Incident in 1893.

Chulalongkorn (Part 4): On the Brink

King Chula and Tsar Nicholos

For almost two decade, King Chulalongkorn continued to modernize the Kingdom of Siam. His father, King Mongkut, began the process. However, they were aware that modernization needed to be slow. And so, when King Mongkut passed away in 1868, the process was passed on to King Chulalongkorn. King Chula did continued the program and succeeded in making in various fields, from the military, administration, to education, and even health services. All of this efforts made in order to protect his kingdoms independence and to equal the state of the western powers.

King Chulalongkorn (Part 3): Reform and Rebellions

Chulalongkorn 

The pace of reform and modernization in the Kingdom of Siam brought dangers to King Chulalongkorn. This was proven when the Front Palace Incident erupted. Nevertheless, the King continued his reform with the support of his brothers. Medical and educational reforms made. But Chula wanted the reform program to cover public administration as well. Once again, he relied to his brothers to enforce many of his edicts.

King Chulalongkorn (Part 2): Modernization and Opposition

King Chulalongkorn

Previously, Chulalongkorn ascended to the throne and continued the legacy of his father. At stake was his kingdom’s independence from the threats of western imperialism. However, modernization didn't came without threats. After the slow process of abolition of slavery, nobles and those within the royal family plotted against the king. Also, much were needed to be done for the people to experience the benefits of the modernization.

King Chulalongkorn (Part 1): Abolitionist

King Rama V

As the nation mourned the death of their beloved King Rama IV or King Mongkut, Siam was in the middle of its modernization in a quest to preserve its sovereignty as a free country. As cries flowed for the dead King, the court prepared to crown a new king to continue the legacy of his predecessor. Prince Chulalongkorn ascended to the throne as King Rama V. He presided over the continuity of Siam’s change towards the modern age and the change of its long time traditions as well.

Mongkut: The Modernizing King of Siam

From an intellectual open-minded monk, as King of Siam (now Thailand) from 1851 to 1868 he took the Kingdom on a path of survival in an era of growing western imperialism in Asia. He placed his Kingdom's independence as his top priority and through diplomacy and his personality he gradually brought Siam into the modern age earning him a place in history as one of the most respected Kings in Siam and in the world.

Mongkut, King Rama IV

Table of Contents

I. What did Mongkut do before becoming King? 

1. Contender to the Throne

2. An Intellectual Reformist Monk

II. How did Mongkut became King?

III. What did Mongkut do?

1.  Secured Peace and Buying Time with Siamese Honor

2. Modernized Siam

3. Introduced Siam to the World

IV. What happened to Mongkut?
V. Which Siamese King Continued Modernization after Mongkut?
VI. Summing Up

Rama I: Founder of the Chakri Dynasty

Rama I

As the Siamese saw the fall of the once great kingdom of Ayudhya, a new kingdom rose from the ashes. Under a great general named Taksin, the Siamese saw the foundation of the Kingdom of Thonburi. It reunited the lands of the fallen Ayudhyan kingdom and began to expand its domains. It became a powerful kingdom to strike a blow to the power of its equally domineering neighbor – the Burmese Kingdom of Ava. However, Thonburi and Taksin won’t last for a century. Because only few decades, a new man rose to power and establish a new dynasty that would rule and symbolize the Siamese or Thai people, the Chakri Dynasty. It founder – Rama I – would continue the works of Taksin and built a powerful Kingdom of Siam.