| Royal Title: | King |
| Realm: | Thailand |
| Native Name: | พระมหากษัตริย์แห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย |
| Coatofarms: | King's Standard of Thailand.svgborder |
| Coatofarmscaption: | Royal Standard |
| Incumbent: | Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) |
| Incumbentsince: | 13 October 2016[1] |
| His/Her: | His |
| Heir Presumptive: | Dipangkorn Rasmijoti |
| First Monarch: | Si Inthrathit |
The monarchy of Thailand is the constitutional form of government of Thailand (formerly Siam). The king of Thailand (Thai: พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย, historically, king of Siam; Thai: พระเจ้ากรุงสยาม) is the head of state and head of the ruling Royal House of Chakri.
Although the current Chakri dynasty was created in 1782, the existence of the institution of monarchy in Thailand is traditionally considered to have its roots in the founding of the Sukhothai Kingdom in 1238, with a brief interregnum from the death of Ekkathat to the accession of Taksin in the 18th century. The institution was transformed into a constitutional monarchy in 1932 after the bloodless Siamese Revolution of 1932. The monarchy's official ceremonial residence is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, while the private residence has been at the Dusit Palace. The king of Thailand is head of state, head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, adherent of Buddhism and upholder of religions.[2]
The current concept of Thai kingship evolved through 800 years of absolute rule. The first king of a unified Thailand was the founder of the Sukhothai Kingdom, King Si Inthrathit, in 1238.[3] The idea of this early kingship is said to be based on two concepts derived from Hinduism and Theravada Buddhist beliefs. The first concept is based on the ancient Indian Khattiya (Thai: กษัตริย์), or warrior-ruler, in which the king derives his powers from military might. The second is based on the Buddhist concept of Dhammaraja (Thai: ธรรมราชา), Buddhism having been introduced to Thailand around the 6th century AD. The idea of the Dhammaraja (or kingship under Dharma) is that the king should rule his people in accordance with Dharma and the teachings of the Buddha.
These ideas were briefly replaced in 1279, when King Ram Khamhaeng came to the throne. Ramkhamhaeng departed from tradition and created instead a concept of "paternal rule" (Thai: พ่อปกครองลูก), in which the king governs his people as a father would govern his children.[4] [5] This idea is reinforced in the title and name of the king, as he is still known today, Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng (Thai: พ่อขุนรามคำแหง)[6] meaning 'Father Ruler Ram Khamhaeng'. This lasted briefly. By the end of the kingdom, the two old concepts returned as symbolized by the change in the style of the kings: "Pho" was changed to "Phaya" or Lord.
See main article: Devaraja, Chakravartin and Divine right of kings.
See also: History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia, Greater India, Indosphere, Sanskritization, Mandala (political model) and Indianisation.
The Sukhothai Kingdom was supplanted by the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which was founded in 1351 by King Ramathibodhi I. During the Ayutthayan period, the idea of kingship changed. Due to ancient Khmer tradition in the region, the Hindu concept of kingship was applied to the status of the leader. Brahmins took charge in the royal coronation. The king was treated as a reincarnation of Hindu gods. Ayutthaya historical documents show the official titles of the kings in great variation: Indra, Shiva and Vishnu, or Rama. Seemingly, Rama was the most popular, as in "Ramathibodhi". However, Buddhist influence was also evident, as many times the king's title and "unofficial" name "Dhammaraja", an abbreviation of the Buddhist Dharmaraja. The two former concepts were re-established, with a third, older concept taking hold. This concept was called "Devaraja" (Thai: เทวราชา) (or "divine king"), which was an idea borrowed by the Khmer Empire from the Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms of Java, especially the idea of a scholar class based on Hindu Brahmins. The concept centered on the idea that the king was an incarnation (avatar) of the god Vishnu and that he was a Bodhisattva (enlightened one), therefore basing his power on his religious power, his moral power, and his purity of blood.
The king, portrayed by state interests as a semi-divine figure, then became—through a rigid cultural implementation—an object of worship and veneration to his people. From then on the monarchy was largely removed from the people and continued under a system of absolute rule. Living in palaces designed after Mount Meru ("home of the gods" in Hinduism), the kings turned themselves into a "Chakravartin", where the king became an absolute and universal lord of his realm. Kings demanded that the universe be envisioned as revolving around them, and expressed their powers through elaborate rituals and ceremonies. For four centuries these kings ruled Ayutthaya, presiding over some of the greatest period of cultural, economic, and military growth in Thai history.
The Kings of Ayutthaya created many institutions to support their rule. Whereas feudalism developed in the European Middle Ages, Ayutthayan King Trailokanat in the 15th century instituted sakdina, a system of social hierarchy which ranked the king's subjects according to the amount of land they were entitled to, according to their rank and position.[7]
Rachasap is required by court etiquette as an honorific register consisting of a special vocabulary used exclusively for addressing the king, or for talking about royalty.
The king was chief administrator, chief legislator, and chief judge, with all laws, orders, verdict and punishments theoretically originating from his person. The king's sovereignty was reflected in the titles "Lord of the Land" (Thai: พระเจ้าแผ่นดิน Phra Chao Phaen Din) and "Lord of Life" (Thai: เจ้าชีวิต Chao Chiwit). The king's powers and titles were seen by foreign observers as proof that the king was an absolute monarch in the European sense. However, in Siamese tradition the duty and responsibility of the king was seen as developed from the ancient Indian theories of royal authority, which resemble Enlightened Absolutism, although the emphasis is not on rationality but on Dhamma.[8] This was disrupted in 1767, when Thai digests of the dhammasāt (Thai: ธรรมศาสตร์) were lost when a Burmese army under the Konbaung dynasty invaded, sacked and burned the city of Ayutthaya.
An interlude filled by a short civil war was ended when Taksin restored the country under what has been called the Thonburi Kingdom. Kingship during the Thonburi period saw the adoption of the 'personal kingship' system that was previously administered under Naresuan (but abandoned after his death). Taksin treated the concept of kingship by abandoning the shroud of mysticism usually adopted by many Ayutthayan monarchs; he often revealed himself to the common folk by partaking in public activities and traditional festivities. He did little to emphasize his new capital, Thonburi, as the spiritual successor to Ayutthaya. He also emphasized the building of moats and defensive walls in Thonburi.[9]
In 1782, Phutthayotfa Chulalok ascended the throne and moved the capital from the Thonburi side to the Bangkok side of the Chao Phraya River. There he established the House of Chakri, the current ruling dynasty of Thailand. (This first reign was later designated as that of Rama I in the list of Rama Kings of Thailand.) He also established the office of Supreme Patriarch as the head of the Sangha, the order of Buddhist monks.
During the Rattanakosin period the Chakri kings tried to continue the concepts of Ayutthayan kingship once again emphasizing the connection between the sovereign and his subjects. On the other hand, they continued to not relinquish any authority of the throne. Kings Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II) and Nangklao (Rama III) created a semblance of a modern administration by creating a supreme council and appointing chief officers to help with the running of the government.[10]
Mongkut (Rama IV) marked a significant break in tradition when he spent the first 27 years of his adult life as a Buddhist monk during which time he became proficient in the English language, before ascending the throne. As king, he continued the appointment of officers to his supreme council, the most notable being Somdet Chao Phraya Prayurawongse and Si Suriyawongse, both of whom acted as Chief Ministers for King Mongkut (and the latter as regent, from the king's death in 1868 until 1873.)
Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ascended the throne as a minor at age 15 in 1868, and as King of Siam on 16 November 1873. As a prince, he had been tutored in Western traditions by the governess, Anna Leonowens. Intent on reforming the monarchy along Western lines, during his minority he traveled extensively to observe western administrative methods. He transformed the monarchy along Western lines of an "enlightened ruler". He abolished the practice of prostration in front of the monarch, and repealed many laws concerning the relationship between the monarch and his people, while continuing many of the ancient aspects and rituals of the old kingship.[11] In 1874, he created a privy council copied from the European tradition, to help him rule his Kingdom. During his reign Siam was pressured to relinquish control of its old tributaries of Laos and northern Malaya to Western powers, Siam itself narrowly avoided being colonized.[12] [13] In 1905, 37 years after his coronation, Chulalongkorn ended slavery with the Slave Abolition Act. In 1867 slaves accounted for one-third of the Siamese population.
His son, Vajiravudh (Rama VI), ascended to the throne in 1910 and continued his father's zeal for reform to bring the monarchy into the 20th century. The perceived slow pace of reform resulted in the Palace Revolt of 1912. In 1914, Vajiravudh determined that the act providing for invoking martial law, first promulgated by his father in 1907, was not consistent with modern laws of war, nor convenient for the preservation of the security of the state, so it was amended to a more modern form that, with minor amendments, continued in force through subsequent changes in government.[14]
Prajadhipok (Rama VII) succeeded his brother in 1925. The Eton and Sandhurst educated monarch created a council similar to a cabinet, where the most important government officials could meet to decide state affairs. This advisory and legislative council, styled the Supreme Council of State of Siam (Thai: อภิรัฐมนตรีสภา) was founded on 28 November 1925 and existed until 1932.
In June 1932, a group of foreign-educated students and military men called "the promoters" carried out a bloodless revolution, seized power and demanded that King Prajadhipok grant the people of Siam a constitution. The king agreed and in December 1932 the people were granted a constitution, ending 150 years of absolute Chakri rule. From then on the role of the monarch was relegated to that of a symbolic head of state. His powers from then on were exercised by a prime minister and the national assembly.
In 1935 Prajadhipok (Rama VII) abdicated the throne, following disagreements with the government. He lived in exile in the United Kingdom until his death in 1941. The king was replaced by his young nephew Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII). The new king was 10 years old and was living abroad in Switzerland. A council of regents was appointed in his place. During this period the roles and powers of the king were entirely usurped by the fascist government of Plaek Phibunsongkhram, who changed the name of the kingdom from Siam to Thailand, and aligned it on the side of the Axis powers in the Pacific theatre of World War II. By the end of the war Phibunsongkhram was removed and the young king returned. The Free Thai movement provided resistance to foreign occupation during the war and helped rehabilitate Thailand after the war.
After Rama VIII's sudden death from a bullet wound in 1946, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), aged 19 years old, became the new monarch. In establishing his rule, the king was aided by the efforts of the US government, who used the monarchy as a bulwark against communist gains in Southeast Asia.[15]
King Bhumibol was the world's longest reigning monarch at the time of his death in October 2016. He died on 13 October 2016 at the age of 88.[16]
Since 2000, the role of the Thai monarchy has been increasingly challenged by scholars, students, media, observers and traditionalists, and as pro-democracy interests began to express their speech.[17] [18] Many deemed that a series of laws and measures relating to lèse majesté in Thailand are hindrances to freedom of expression. Dozens of arrests, hundreds of criminal investigations and multiple imprisonments have been made based on these laws.[19] King Bhumibol Adulyadej's speech in his 2005 national birthday broadcast could be interpreted that he welcomed criticism.[20]
The lèse-majesté law is part of Thailand's Criminal Code and has been described as "world's harshest lèse majesté law"[21] and "possibly the strictest criminal-defamation law anywhere".[22] Political scientist Giles Ungpakorn noted that "the lèse-majesté laws are not really designed to protect the institution of the monarchy. In the past, the laws have been used to protect governments and to shield military coups from lawful criticism. This whole [royal] image is created to bolster a conservative elite well beyond the walls of the palace."[23] Thai activist and magazine editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, who was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment for lèse-majesté in 2013,[24] is a designated prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.[25]
The king is assisted in his work and duties by the Private Secretary to the King of Thailand and the Privy Council of Thailand, in consultation with the head of the cabinet, the Prime Minister. In accordance with the constitution the king is no longer the originator of all laws in the kingdom; that prerogative is entrusted to the National Assembly of Thailand. All bills passed by the legislature, however, require his royal assent to become law. The monarchy's household and finances are managed by the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Crown Property Bureau respectively, these agencies are not considered part of the Thai government and all personnel are appointed by the king.[26]
The junta which took power in 2014 has been aggressive in jailing critics of the monarchy.[27] [28] In 2015, it spent US$540 million, more than the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on a promotional campaign called "Worship, protect and uphold the monarchy." The campaign includes television commercials, seminars in schools and prisons, singing contests, and competitions to write stories and films praising the king. "This is not propaganda," Prayut Chan-o-cha, the leader of the junta, said. "The youth must be educated on what the king has done."[29]
In its fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget, the ruling military government has increased its expenditure for "upholding, protecting and preserving the monarchy" to 18 billion baht (US$514 million), an increase of 28 per cent for this budget line item since 2014 when it took power.[30] Budget allocations to support the monarchy in FY2020 amount to 29.728 billion baht, or 0.93% of the total budget.[31]
See main article: List of Thai monarchs and Family tree of Thai monarchs.
See also: List of Thai royal consorts.
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from:1351 till: 1767 color:p text:"Kings of Ayutthaya" from:1351 till: 1369 color:p text:"Ramathibodi I" from:1369 till: 1370 color:p text:"Ramesuan (1st reign)" from:1370 till: 1388 color:p text:"Borommarachathirat I" from:1388 till: 1388 color:p text:"Thong Lan" from:1388 till: 1395 color:p text:"Ramesuan (2nd reign)" from:1395 till: 1409 color:p text:"Ramrachathirat"
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from:1629 till: 1655 color:p text:"Sanphet V" from:1655 till: 1656 color:p text:"Sanphet VI" from:1656 till: 1656 color:p text:"Sanphet VII" from:1656 till: 1688 color:p text:"Ramathibodi III"
from:1688 till: 1703 color:p text:"Phetracha" from:1703 till: 1709 color:p text:"Sanphet VIII" from:1709 till: 1733 color:p text:"Sanphet IX" from:1733 till: 1758 color:p text:"Borommarachathirat V" from:1758 till: 1758 color:p text:"Borommarachathirat VI" from:1758 till: 1767 color:p text:"Borommaracha III"
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from:638 till: 1259 color:rp text:"Kings of Ngoenyang" from:638 till: 759 color:rp text:"Lawachangkarat" from:759 till: 804 color:rp text:"Kao Kaeo Ma Muang" from:804 till: 842 color:rp text:"Sao" from:842 till: 868 color:rp text:"Tang" from:868 till: 886 color:rp text:"Klom" from:886 till: 902 color:rp text:"Leo" from:902 till: 917 color:rp text:"Kap" from:917 till: 934 color:rp text:"Khim" from:934 till: 950 color:rp text:"Khiang" from:950 till: 970 color:rp text:"Khiu" from:970 till: 985 color:rp text:"Thoeng" from:985 till: 1005 color:rp text:"Tueng" from:1005 till: 1022 color:rp text:"Khon" from:1022 till: 1028 color:rp text:"Som" from:1028 till: 1043 color:rp text:"Kwak" from:1043 till: 1059 color:rp text:"Kiu" from:1059 till: 1079 color:rp text:"Chong" from:1079 till: 1148 color:rp text:"Chom Phra Rueang" from:1148 till: 1192 color:rp text:"Chueang" from:1192 till: 1218 color:rp text:"Ngoen Rueang" from:1218 till: 1239 color:rp text:"Chuen" from:1239 till: 1259 color:rp text:"Ming" from:1259 till: 1259 color:rp text:"Mueang" from:1259 till: 1259 color:rp text:"Meng"
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from:1775 till: 1939 color:b text:"Kings of Chiang Mai" from:1775 till: 1782 color:b text:"Chaban" from:1802 till: 1816 color:b text:"Kawila" from:1816 till: 1822 color:b text:"Thammalangka" from:1823 till: 1825 color:b text:"Khamfan" from:1826 till: 1846 color:b text:"Phutthawong" from:1847 till: 1854 color:b text:"Mahotaraprathet" from:1856 till: 1870 color:b text:"Kawilorot Suriyawong" from:1870 till: 1897 color:b text:"Inthawichayanon" from:1901 till: 1910 color:b text:"Intavaroros Suriyavongse" from:1910 till: 1939 color:b text:"Kaew Nawarat"
from:1732 till: 1925 color:g text:"Lords of Lampang" from:1732 till: 1759 color:g text:"Thipphachak" from:1759 till: 1774 color:g text:"Chaikaeo" from:1774 till: 1782 color:g text:"Kawila (later King of Chiang Mai)" from:1782 till: 1794 color:g text:"Khamsom" from:1794 till: 1825 color:g text:"Duangthip" from:1825 till: 1838 color:g text:"Chaiwong" from:1838 till: 1838 color:g text:"Khattiya" from:1838 till: 1848 color:g text:"Noi" from:1848 till: 1873 color:g text:"Worayannarangsi" from:1873 till: 1887 color:g text:"Phrommaphiwong" from:1887 till: 1887 color:g text:"Suriya Changwang" from:1887 till: 1897 color:g text:"Noranan Chaichawalit" from:1897 till: 1922 color:g text:"Bunyawat Wongmanit" from:1922 till: 1925 color:g text:"Ratchabut"
from:1805 till: 1943 color:m text:"Lords of Lamphun" from:1805 till: 1815 color:m text:"Khamfan (later King of Chiang Mai)" from:1815 till: 1827 color:m text:"Bunmamueang" from:1827 till: 1837 color:m text:"Noi (later Lord of Lampang)" from:1838 till: 1841 color:m text:"Khamtan" from:1841 till: 1843 color:m text:"Thammalangka" from:1848 till: 1871 color:m text:"Chailangkaphisan Sophakkhun" from:1871 till: 1888 color:m text:"Daradirekratphairot" from:1888 till: 1895 color:m text:"Hemphinphaichit" from:1895 till: 1911 color:m text:"Inthayongyotchot" from:1911 till: 1943 color:m text:"Chakkham Khachonsak"
from:500 till: 1107 color:n text:"Kings of Singhanawat" from:757 till: 809 color:n text:"Singhon" from:809 till: 812 color:n text:"Phanat" from:812 till: 814 color:n text:"Achutarat" from:814 till: 817 color:n text:"Mangrayanarat" from:817 till: 820 color:n text:"Cheuang" from:820 till: 822 color:n text:"Cheun" from:822 till: 825 color:n text:"Kham" from:825 till: 828 color:n text:"Phoeng" from:828 till: 830 color:n text:"Chat" from:830 till: 833 color:n text:"Wao" from:833 till: 836 color:n text:"Waen" from:836 till: 838 color:n text:"Kaeo" from:838 till: 841 color:n text:"Ngoen" from:841 till: 843 color:n text:"Waen II" from:843 till: 846 color:n text:"Ngam" from:846 till: 848 color:n text:"Leu" from:845 till: 848 color:n text:"Roy" from:848 till: 851 color:n text:"Choeng" from:851 till: 854 color:n text:"Phan" from:854 till: 856 color:n text:"Phao" from:856 till: 859 color:n text:"Phing" from:859 till: 862 color:n text:"Si" from:862 till: 864 color:n text:"Som" from:864 till: 867 color:n text:"Suan" from:867 till: 869 color:n text:"Phaeng" from:869 till: 872 color:n text:"Phuan" from:872 till: 875 color:n text:"Jan" from:875 till: 877 color:n text:"Fu" from:877 till: 880 color:n text:"Fan" from:880 till: 883 color:n text:"Wan" from:883 till: 885 color:n text:"Mang Sing" from:885 till: 888 color:n text:"Mang Saen" from:888 till: 891 color:n text:"Mang Som" from:891 till: 893 color:n text:"Thip" from:893 till: 896 color:n text:"Kong" from:896 till: 899 color:n text:"Kom" from:899 till: 901 color:n text:"Chay" from:901 till: 904 color:n text:"Chin" from:904 till: 907 color:n text:"Chom" from:907 till: 909 color:n text:"Phang" from:909 till: 912 color:n text:"Ping II" from:912 till: 915 color:n text:"Peang" from:915 till: 991 color:n text:"Phangkharat" from:991 till: 1029 color:n text:"Thukkhita" from:1029 till: 1089 color:n text:"Phrom" from:1089 till: 1107 color:n text:"Chaiyasiri"
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See main article: Coronation of the Thai monarch. The present set of royal regalia of Thailand (Khrueang Raja Kakudhabhand, Thai: เครื่องราชกกุธภัณฑ์) and the royal utensils was created mostly during the reign of King Rama I and Rama IV, after the previous set was lost during the sack of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767. The regalia is used mainly during the coronation ceremony of the king at the beginning of every reign. The regalia is presently on display in the Museum of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.[32] [33]
The Thai royal utensils (Phra Khattiya Rajuprapoke; พระขัตติยราชูปโภค) are also for the personal use of the monarch,[33] comprising:
These unique objects are always placed on either side of the king's throne or his seat during royal ceremonies.
The king and other members of his family carry out many royal ceremonies per year, some dating from the 13th century.
See also: List of orders and medals of Thailand.
The king is sovereign of several Royal Orders and Decorations, the prerogative to appoint and remove any persons from these orders are at the king's discretion. However, sometimes recommendations are made by the Cabinet of Thailand and the Prime Minister. There are twelve Royal Orders and some of these have separate classes.
th:พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าธานีนิวัต กรมหมื่นพิทยลาภพฤฒิยากร
. 1947 . The Old Siamese conception of the Monarchy. . JSS Vol. 36.2b . digital . image 10 page 93. Siamese Heritage Trust. 7 March 2013. Patriarchal Sukhothai Kingship ...The monarch was of course the people's leader in battle; but he was also in peace-time their father whose advice was sought and expected in all matters and whose judgment was accepted by all. He was moreover accessible to his people, for we are told by an old inscription that, in front of the royal palace of Sukhothai there used to be a gong hung up for people to go and beat upon whenever they wanted personal help and redress. The custom survived with slight modifications all through the centuries down to the change of regime in 1932.....