Bangkok History

Ratanakosin Period

The Chakris were inaugurated on April 6, 1782 together with the coronation of Rama I or King Buddha Yot Fa Chulalok. He moved the capital across the Chao Phaya River from Thonburi to a small village known as "Bangkok" and raised up new laws to rule the country. Under his reign, Thailand covered all areas of present day Laos and parts of Burma, Cambodia and Kedah province in Malaysia.

In 1809, Rama II or King Buddha Loet Lad, son of Rama I took the throne until 1824. He devoted himself to preserve the Thai literature that had remained from Ayutthaya period and produced a new version of Ramakien or Thai Ramayana, the classical literature.

In 1824-1851, Rama III or King Nang Klao was successful in re-establishing relation and making trades with China which was necessary to meet the increasing domestic agricultural production. 

Rama IV or King Mongkut (Phra Chom Klao), who reigned from 1851 to 1868 lived as a Buddhist monk for 27 years. During his monastic period, he could speak many languages such as Latin, English, and five other languages. He also studied western sciences and adopted the discipline of local Mon monk. Under his reign, he created new laws to improve the women's and children's right, opened new waterways and roads, and created the first printing press.

Rama V or King Chulalongkorn, Rama IV's son, continued the throne from 1868 to 1910. He started to reform the tradition, legal and administrative realm by allowing officials to sit on chairs during royal audiences. Under the reign of Rama V, Thailand developed relations with European nations and the USA. He introduced schools, roads, railways, and Thailand's first post office. He even established civil service system. In 1892, Rama V overhauled the administration of Siam to a form of cabinet government with 12 ministers.

In 1886, Siam lost some territory to French, Laos and British Burma accorded the foreign powers intercede. After that King Chulalongkorn declared Thailand as an independent kingdom on the 23rd of October, making this day as a national holiday. Every year this national holiday is celebrated in commemoration of this event and people lay wreaths in memory of king they called "Phra Piya Maharaj" 

Rama VI or King Vajiravudh, took the throne from 1910 to 1925. During his short reign, he introduced the westernization to Thailand. He introduced the primary school education, Thai women were encouraged to grow their hair at a certain length. Surnames were introduced, and football was introduced in Thailand.

1925-1935 was the period of Rama VII or King Prachadhipok, Rama VI's brother. He changed Siam's form of government from absolute monarchy to democracy. This revolution developed the constitutional monarchy along British lines, with mixed military and civilian group in power. At that time, Phibul Songkhram was a key military leader in the 1932 coup. He maintained his position and power from 1938 until the end of World War II.

Rama VIII or King Ananda Mahidol, a nephew of Rama VII, took the throne in 1935 but was assassinated under mysterious circumstances in 1946. His brother King Bhumipol Aduldej succeeded as Rama IX.

Under Rama IX's government, the country's name was officially changed from "Siam" to "Thailand" in 1946 which was defined in Thai as "Prathet Thai", the word "Prathet" means "country" and the word "Thai" means "free" referring to the Thai races.

World War II & Post War

n 1941, The Japanese attacked the Allied troop in Malay and Burma. Field Marshal Phibul Songkhram cultivated the Japanese as a way to extend Thailand's influence in Asia. Phibul declared war with the United States and Britain in 1942 but Seni Pramoj, Thai ambassador in Washington, refused to deliver the declaration. Phibul resigned in 1944 under the pressure from the Thai underground resistance. In 1945, Seni became the premier.

In 1946, King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) who had returned from Switzerland after completing his education was assassinated with a pistol. Seni and Kukrit (Seni's brother) were unseated in a general election and a democratic civilian group took power for a short time because Phibul returned to overthrown in 1948.

In 1951, Phibul's power was snatched by General Sarit Thanarat, who continued the tradition of military dictatorship. However, Phibul still retained the premier until 1957 but finally exiled by Sarit. Sarit was forced to resign by the general election. He escaped abroad after the election and returned in 1958 to launch another coup. By that time he expanded his power to the constitution by dissolving the parliament and banning all political parties until his death from cirrhosis in 1963.

During Vietnam War from 1964 to 1973, Thailand was based for USA operations with the permission of army officers, Thanom Kittikachorn and Praphat Charusathien. Bangkok was the center for troop rest and recreation. As a reaction to political repression, Thai students demanded the real constitution in June 1973. In October of the same year, students from Thammasat University in Bangkok went to the streets demanding a new constitution but "King Bhumiphol (Rama IX) and General Krit Sivara tried to mediate to prevent the bloodshed confrontation, forcing army leader, Thanom and Praphat to leave Thailand by helicopters. In 1974, a new constitution was declared by a civil government under the leading of Prof. Sanya Dharmasakti but it didn't last for a long time.

In 1976, Thammasat University once again became the battlefield. Students demonstrated to protect the return of Thanom as a monk and Thanin Kraivichien, a new right-wing government official was declared as a premier. This incident made Thai students and numerous idealists joined the insurgents in the forest. Finally Thanin was forced to resign by another coup in 1977. In 1980, the military position changed again, leaving General Prem Tinsulanonda at the helm. Prem retained as primer until 1988 who was politically credited for the economic stabilization of Thailand in the Vietnam post-war years.

During the latest period of democracy (1988-1991), Chatichai Choonhaven led a coalition of parties. The economy had unprecedented boom for three years. However, Chatichai was arrested by the soldiers who were ordered by the military to intervene as he was in the airport hangar because of corruption charges and the accusation of inability against him. Then the non-elected primer General Suchinda Kraprayoon appointed himself to hold the position on May 18, 1992. In one intervening incident, hundreds of pro-democracy protestors and many Thai people were killed and wounded in the violence. King Bhumipol (Rama IX) had to lend a hand to stop the bloodshed confrontation. Afterwards, Suchinda was forced to resign and Anan Panyarchun was appointed to the temporary primer at that time.