Chulalongkorn[a] (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured asKing Chulalongkorn the Great,[b] was the fifthking of Siam from theChakri dynasty, titledRama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was characterised by the modernisation of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to theBritish andFrench empires. As Siam was surrounded byEuropean colonies, Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, ensured the independence of Siam.
Chulalongkorn was born as the son ofMongkut, the fourth king of Siam. In 1868, he travelled with his father and Westerners invited by Mongkut to observe thesolar eclipse of 18 August 1868 inPrachuap Khiri Khan Province. During that trip, Chulalongkorn and his father both contracted malaria which resulted in his father's death, and his accession to the throne. The1893 Franco-Siamese crisis andHaw wars took place during his reign. All his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siam's independence given the increasing encroachment of Western powers, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithetPhra Piya Maharat or known as theGreat Beloved King.[c]
Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut andQueen Debsirindra. In his lifetime, Mongkut had 39 wives and concubines who he had82 children with. Chulalongkorn was neither Mongkut's first child or first son, but was made the heir presumptive as the first son born to Debsirindra.[1] During Mongkut's reign, Siam came under increasing pressure from European colonial ambitions, specifically from the British inBurma andMalaya, and the French inIndochina. These pressures jeopardised Siamese independence. Although Mongkut pushed for reforms, he was aware much of it would be carried out by his successor. As such, he began preparing Chulalongkorn to become an innovative king.[1]
Young crown prince of Siam.
King Mongkut with Prince Chulalongkorn, both in western style court uniforms, c. 1868.
From age 7, the prince began learning under the guidance of royal lecturers who gave him a more traditional education. Under this, Chulalongkorn was taughtBuddhism,Pali, historical chronicles, royal practices, rituals, Siamese writing, military command andfencing.[1] In 1866, he became anovice monk for six months atWat Bawonniwet according to royal tradition.[2] Additionally, he was educated by Western teachers who taught himscience,English andFrench.[1] Among these Western tutors wasAnna Leonowens, who taught the prince and some of his siblings between 1862 and 1867. Chulalongkorn became friends with her sonLouis, which continued into their adulthood.[3] Mongkut himself also played a large direct role in Chulalongkorn's education. From age 7, Mongkut maintained his son by his side where he involved him with the daily matters of Siam to allow Chulalongkorn to understand how to rule. Through this, Mongkut passed down his desires for reform.[1]
In 1868, Chulalongkorn accompanied his father on an expedition to Wa Ko, south ofHua Hin, to observe and validate Mongkut's predictions made for thesolar eclipse of 18 August. Mongkut proved correct, being more accurate than some Frenchastronomists. However, both he and his son became ill frommalaria. In Bangkok, Mongkut died on October 1, 1868. He had yet to designate a successor, leaving the choice to a council who chose Chulalongkorn. The accession council was headed bySri Suriyawongse (Chuang Bunnag) of theBunnag family, and was made up of theSupreme Patriarch, prelates, princes and noblemen. Nominated by Prince Deves, Chulalongkorn was unanimously chosen. However, since he was only 15-years old, Chuang served as regent until he became 20-years old. Additionally,Wichaichan was chosen as the viceroy – a choice normally made by the monarch. To Chuang, Wichaichan could serve as an ally if Chulalongkorn ever opposed him.[4]
The young Chulalongkorn was an enthusiastic reformer. He visited Singapore andJava in 1870 andBritish India in 1872 to study the administration of British colonies. He toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, and back to Calcutta in early 1872. This journey was a source of his later ideas for the modernization of Siam. He was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873.[5]
Sri Suriwongse then arranged for theFront Palace of KingPinklao (who was his uncle) to be bequeathed to King Pinklao's son, PrinceYodyingyot (who was Chulalongkorn's cousin).
As regent, Sri Suriwongse wielded great influence. Sri Suriwongse continued the works of King Mongkut. He supervised the digging of several importantkhlongs, such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and the paving of roads such as Charoen Krung and Silom. He was also a patron of Thai literature and performing arts.
Chualongkorn, the future King Rama V. of Thailand during his temporary ordination as a Buddhist monk, 1873. Photo taken at Rathansattan Montiraram in the Grand Palace.King Chulalongkorn of Siam, cooking and smoking, while on one of his royal trips in 1890.
King Chulalongkorn in his first coronation ceremony on his first coronation 11 November 1868.
King Chulalongkorn after his second coronation ceremony on 16 November 1873
Chulalongkorn's first reform was to establish the "Auditory Office" (Th: หอรัษฎากรพิพัฒน์) on 4 June 1873,[7] solely responsible for tax collection, to counter the influence of theBunnag family who had been in control of wealth collection since earlyRattanakosin.[8] As tax collectors had been under the aegis of various nobles and thus a source of their wealth, this reform caused great consternation among the nobility, especially the Front Palace. Chulalongkorn appointedChaturonrasmi to be an executive of the organization, which he closely oversaw.[9] From the time of King Mongkut, the Front Palace had been the equivalent of a "second king", with one-third of national revenue allocated to it. Prince Yodyingyot of the Front Palace was known to be on friendly terms with many Britons, at a time when Siamese relations with theBritish Empire were tense.[citation needed]
In 1874, Chulalongkorn established the Council of State as a legislative body and a privy council as his personal advisory board based on the Britishprivy council. Council members were appointed by the monarch.
On the night of 28 December 1874, a fire broke out near the gunpowder storehouse and gasworks in the main palace. Front Palace troops quickly arrived, fully armed, "to assist in putting out the fire". They were denied entrance and the fire was extinguished.[10]: 193 The incident demonstrated the considerable power wielded by aristocrats and royal relatives, leaving the king little power. Reducing the power held by the nobility became one of his main motives in reforming Siam's feudal politics.
When Prince Yodyingyot died in 1885, Chulalongkorn took the opportunity to abolish the titular Front Palace and created the title of "Crown Prince of Siam" in line with Western custom. Chulalongkorn's son, PrinceVajirunhis, was appointed the first Crown Prince of Siam, though he never reigned. In 1895, when the prince died of typhoid at age 16, he was succeeded by his half-brotherVajiravudh, who was then at boarding school in England.
King Chulalongkorn in his western suit with a few of his sons in England 1907, during his second Grand Tour of Europe.
In the northernLaotian lands bordering China, the insurgents of theTaiping Rebellion had taken refuge since the reign of King Mongkut. These Chinese were calledHaw and became bandits, pillaging the villages. In 1875, Chulalongkorn sent troops from Bangkok to crush the Haw who had ravaged as far asVientiane. However, they met strong Chinese resistance and retreated toIsan in 1885. New, modernized forces were sent again and were divided into two groups approaching the Haw from Chiang Kam and Pichai. The Haw scattered and some fled toVietnam. The Siamese armies proceeded to eliminate the remaining Haw. The city ofNong Khai maintains memorials for the Siamese dead.
In Burma, while the British Army fought the BurmeseKonbaung Dynasty, Siam remained neutral. Britain had agreements with the Siamese government, which stated that if the British were in conflict with Burma, Siam would send food supplies to the British Army. Chulalongkorn honored the agreement. The British expected he would send an army to help defeat the Burmese, but he did not do so.
King Chulalongkorn in Russia 1897, with the TsarNicholas II and family, at theAlexander Palace. During his reign the king employed his brothers and sons in the government, ensuring royal monopoly on power and administration.
Freed of the Front Palace and Chinese rebellions, Chulalongkorn initiated modernization and centralization reforms.[11] He established theRoyal Military Academy in 1887 to train officers in Western fashion. His upgraded forces provided the king much more power to centralize the country.
The government of Siam had remained largely unchanged since the 15th century. The central government was headed by theSamuha Nayok (i.e., prime minister), who controlled the northern parts of Siam, and theSamuha Kalahom (i.e., grand commander), who controlled southern Siam in both civil and military affairs. The Samuha Nayok presided over theChatu Sadombh (i.e., Four Pillars). The responsibilities of each pillar overlapped and were ambiguous. In 1888, Chulalongkorn moved to institute a government of ministries. Ministers were, at the outset, members of the royal family. Ministries were established in 1892, with all ministries having equal status.
The Council of State proved unable to veto legal drafts or to give Chulalongkorn advice because the members regarded Chulalongkorn as an absolute monarch, far above their station. Chulalongkorn dissolved the council altogether and transferred advisory duties to the cabinet in 1894.
Chulalongkorn abolished the traditional Nakorn Bala methods of torture in the judiciary process, which were seen as inhumane and barbaric to Western eyes, and introduced a Western judicial code. His Belgian advisor,Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, played a great role in the development of modern Siamese law and its judicial system.
Chulalongkorn was the first Siamese king to send royal princes toEurope to be educated. In 19th century Europe, nationalism flourished and there were calls for more liberty. The princes were influenced by the liberal notions ofdemocracy and elections they encountered in republics likeFrance andconstitutional monarchies like theUnited Kingdom.[citation needed]
In 1884 (year 103 of theRattakosin Era), Siamese officials in Europe warned Chulalongkorn of possible threats to Siamese independence from the European powers. They advised that Siam should be reformed likeMeiji Japan and that Siam should become a constitutional monarchy. Chulalongkorn demurred, stating that the time was not ripe and that he himself was making reforms.
Throughout Chulalongkorn's reign, writers with radical ideas had their works published for the first time. The most notable ones includedThianwan Wannapho, who had been imprisoned for 17 years and from prison produced many works criticizing traditional Siamese society.
In 1863, KingNorodom of Cambodia was forced to put his country under French protection. The cession of Cambodia was officially formulated in 1867. However,Inner Cambodia (as called in Siam) consisting ofBattambang,Siem Reap, andSrisopon, remained a Siamese possession. This was the first of many territorial cessions.
In 1887, French Indochina was formed fromVietnamese andCambodian lands. In 1888, French troops invaded northern Laos to subjugate the Heo insurgents. However, the French troops never left, and the French demanded more Laotian lands. In 1893Auguste Pavie, the French vice-consul ofLuang Prabang, requested the cession of all Laotian lands east of theMekong River. Siam resented the demand, leading to theFranco-Siamese crisis of 1893.
The French gunboatLe Lutin entered theChao Phraya and anchored near theFrench consulate ready to attack. Fighting was observed in Laos.Inconstant andComete were attacked in Chao Phraya, and the French sent an ultimatum: an indemnity of three million francs, as well as the cession of and withdrawal from Laos. Siam did not accept the ultimatum. French troops then blockaded theGulf of Siam and occupiedChantaburi andTrat. Chulalongkorn sent Rolin-Jacquemyns to negotiate. The issue was eventually settled with the cession of Laos in 1893, but the French troops in Chantaburi and Trat refused to leave.
The cession of vast Laotian lands had a major impact on Chulalongkorn's spirit. PrinceVajirunhis died in January 1895. PrinceVajiravudh was made crown prince to replace him. Chulalongkorn realised the importance of maintaining the navy and established theRoyal Thai Naval Academy in 1898.
Despite Siamese concessions, French armies continued the occupation of Chantaburi and Trat for another 10 years. Anagreement was reached in 1904 that French troops would leave Chantaburi but hold the coast land from Trat toKoh Kong. In 1906, the final agreement was reached. Trat was returned to Siam but the French kept Koh Kong and received Inner Cambodia.
Seeing the seriousness of foreign affairs, Chulalongkornvisited Europe in 1897. He was the first Siamese monarch to do so, and he desired European recognition of Siam as a fully independent power. He appointed his queen,Saovabha Phongsri, as regent in Siam during his travel to Europe. During a visit toSpain andPortugal, on 26 October, he condemned and ordered his servant to beexecuted for a breach of etiquette committed inLisbon, according to the telegram news fromSaragossa.[12]
King Chulalongkorn with TsarNicholas II in Saint Petersburg, during his first Grand Tour in 1897
Siam had been composed of a network of cities according to theMandala system codified by KingTrailokanat in 1454, with local rulers owing tribute toBangkok. Each city retained a substantial degree of autonomy, as Siam was not a "state" but a "network" of city-states. With the rise of European colonialism, the Western concept of state and territorial division was introduced. It had to define explicitly which lands were "Siamese" and which lands were "foreign". The conflict with the French in 1893 was an example.
Sukhaphiban (สุขาภิบาล)sanitary districts were the first sub-autonomous entities established in Thailand. The first such was created in Bangkok, by royal decree of King Chulalongkorn in 1897. During his European tour earlier that year, he had learned about the sanitary districts of England, and wanted to try out this local administrative unit in his capital.
With his experiences during the travel to British colonies and the suggestion of PrinceDamrong, Chulalongkorn established the hierarchical system ofmonthons in 1897, composed ofprovince,city,amphoe,tambon, andmuban (village) in descending order. (Though an entire monthon, the Eastern Province, Inner Cambodia, was ceded to the French in 1906). Each monthon was overseen by anintendant of theMinistry of Interior. This had a major impact, as it ended the power of all local dynasties. Central authority now spread all over the country through the administration of intendants. For example, theLanna states in the north (including theKingdom of Chiangmai, Principalities ofLampang,Lamphun,Nan, andPrae, tributaries to Bangkok) were made into two monthons, neglecting the existence of theLanna kings.
Ayutthaya KingRamathibodi II established a system ofcorvée in 1518 after which the lives of Siamese commoners and slaves were closely regulated by the government. All Siamese common men (phraiไพร่) were subject to the Siamese corvée system. Each man at the time of his majority had to register with a government bureau, department, or leading member of the royalty calledkrom (กรม) as aPhrai Luang (ไพร่หลวง) or under a nobleman's dominion (Moon Nai orChao Khun Moon Naiมูลนาย หรือเจ้าขุนมูลนาย) as aPhrai Som (ไพร่สม).Phrai owed service to sovereign or master for three months of the year.Phrai Suay (ไพร่ส่วย) were those who could make paymentin kind (cattle) in lieu of service. Those conscripted into military service were calledPhrai Tahan (ไพร่ทหาร).
Chulalongkorn was best known for his abolition ofSiamese slavery (ทาส.) He associated the abolition of slavery in the United States with the bloodshed of theAmerican Civil War. Chulalongkorn, to prevent such a bloodbath in Siam, provided several steps towards the abolition of slavery, not an extreme turning point from servitude to total freedom. Those who found themselves unable to live on their own sold themselves into slavery by rich noblemen. Likewise, when a debt was defaulted, the borrower would become a slave of the lender. If the debt was redeemed, the slave regained freedom.
However, those whose parents were household slaves (ทาสในเรือนเบี้ย) were bound to be slaves forever because their redemption price was extremely high.
Because of economic conditions, people sold themselves into slavery in great numbers and in turn they produced a large number of household slaves. In 1867 they accounted for one-third of Siamese population. In 1874, Chulalongkorn enacted a law that lowered the redemption price of household slaves born in 1867 (his ascension year) and freed all of them when they had reached 21.
The newly freed slaves would have time to settle themselves as farmers or merchants so they would not become unemployed. In 1905, theSlave Abolition Act ended Siamese slavery in all forms. The reverse of 100baht banknotes in circulation since the 2005 centennial depict Chulalongkorn in navy uniform abolishing the slave tradition.
The traditional corvée system declined after theBowring Treaty, which gave rise to a new class of employed labourers not regulated by the government, while many noblemen continued to hold sway over large numbers ofPhrai Som. Chulalongkorn needed more effective control of manpower to undo the power of nobility. After the establishment of themonthon system, Chulalongkorn instituted a census to count all men available to the government. TheEmployment Act of 1900 required that all workers be paid, not forced to work.
Establishment of a modern army and modern land ownership
Chulalongkorn had established adefence ministry in 1887. The ending of the corvée system necessitated the beginning of militaryconscription, thus theConscription Act of 1905 in Siam. This was followed in 1907 by the first act providing for invokingmartial law, which seven years later was changed to its modern form by his son and successor, King Vajiravudh.[14]
In 1873, theRoyal Siamese Government Gazette published an announcement on the abolition ofprostration. In it, King Chulalongkorn declared, "The practice of prostration in Siam is severely oppressive. The subordinates have been forced to prostrate in order to elevate the dignity of thephu yai. I do not see how the practice of prostration will render any benefit to Siam. The subordinates find the performance of prostration a harsh physical practice. They have to go down on their knees for a long time until their business with thephu yai ends. They will then be allowed to stand up and retreat. This kind of practice is the source of oppression. Therefore, I want to abolish it." TheGazette directed that, "From now on, Siamese are permitted to stand up before the dignitaries. To display an act of respect, the Siamese may take a bow instead. Taking a bow will be regarded as a new form of paying respect."[16]
Hua Lamphong railway station, Bangkok's main train station, built by Rama V and completed after Rama V's deathThe Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in theGrand Palace was completed in 1882
The construction of railways in Siam had a political motivation: to connect all of the country so as to better maintain control of it.
In 1901, the first railway was opened from Bangkok toKorat. In the same year, the first power plant of Siam produced electricity and electric lights first illuminated roadways.
In 1906 King Chulalongkorn adopted aSemang orphan boy named Khanung.[17]
In 1907 he founded the royal rice varieties competition, at first only for theTung Luang andRangsit Canal districts. The next year it was held atWat Suthat and since then has been held at various locations around the kingdom, by Chulalongkorn and his descendants.[18][19]
Siamese authorities had exercised substantial control over Malay sultanates since Ayutthaya times. The sultans sought British support as a counterweight to Siamese influence. In 1909, theAnglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was agreed. Four sultanates (Kedah,Kelantan,Terengganu andPerlis) were brought under British influence in exchange for Siamese legal rights and a loan to construct railways in southern Siam.
Royal funeral ceremony of King Chulalongkorn in 1911 atSanam Luang, BangkokRoyalcoat of arms of the Kingdom of Siam, introduced by King Chulalongkorn, the arms was theEmblem of Siam from 1878 to 1910.
Chulalongkorn had visited Europe twice, in 1897 and 1907. In 1897, he travelled widely through Europe, learning all he could on many subjects to benefit the Siamese people. He travelled and visited many European royal families. He spent much time in Britain and was inspired, among other things, to improve the health of his people by creating public health, or sanitary districts. In Sweden he studied the Forestry system. In 1907, he visited his son's school in Britain and consulted with European doctors in pursuit of a cure for his kidney disease.
The royalEquestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn was finished in 1908 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the king's reign. It was cast in bronze by a Parisian metallurgist.
In 1997, amemorial pavilion was raised in honour of King Chulalongkorn inRagunda, Sweden. This was done to commemorate King Chulalongkorn's visit toSweden in 1897 when he also visited theWorld's Fair in Brussels.[21] During the time when Swedish–Norwegian kingOscar II travelled toNorway for a council, Chulalongkorn went up north to study forestry. Beginning inHärnösand and travelling viaSollefteå andRagunda he mounted a boat in the small village of Utanede in order to take him back throughSundsvall toStockholm.[22] His passage through Utanede left a mark on the village as one street was named after the king. The pavilion is erected next to that road.
The old 100 baht banknote of Series 14, circulated from 1994 to 2004, bears the statues of Rama V and Rama VI on its reverse. In 2005, the 100 baht banknote was revised to depict King Chulalongkorn in naval uniform and, in the background, abolishing slavery.[23]The 1,000 baht banknote of Series 16, issued in 2015, depicts the King Chulalongkorn monument, Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall, and the abolition of slavery.[24]
Chulalongkorn was one of twenty "Most Influential Asians of the Century" for the 20th Century by Time Asia Magazine in 1999.[25]
King Chulalongkorn was a prolific producer of children. He had 9 consorts and 143 concubines during his lifetime, siring with them32 sons and 44 daughters.[46]
^YourDictionary, n.d. (23 November 2011)."Chulalongkorn".Biography. YourDictionary. Archived fromthe original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved1 December 2011.When Thailand was seriously threatened by Western colonialism, his diplomatic policies averted colonial domination and his domestic reforms brought about the modernization of his kingdom.
^abMurdoch, John B. (1974)."The 1901–1902 Holy Man's Rebellion"(PDF).Journal of the Siam Society. JSS Vol.62.1 (digital). Siam Heritage Trust. Retrieved2 April 2013.The background to the rebellion must be sought in the factors that led up to the situation in the Lower Mekong at the turn of the century. Prior to the late nineteenth century reforms of King Chulalongkorn, the territory of the Siamese Kingdom was divided into three administrative categories. First were the inner provinces which were in four classes depending on their distance from Bangkok or the importance of their local ruling houses. Second were the outer provinces, which were situated between the inner provinces and further distant tributary states. Finally there were the tributary states which were on the periphery....
^Pakorn Nilprapunt (2006)."Martial Law, B.E. 2457 (1914) – unofficial translation"(PDF).thailawforum.com. Office of the Council of State. Retrieved21 May 2014.Reference to Thai legislation in any jurisdiction shall be to the Thai version only. This translation has been made so as to establish correct understanding about this Act to the foreigners.
^Giblin, R.W. (2008) [1908]."Royal Survey Work."(65.3 MB). In Wright, Arnold; Breakspear, Oliver T (eds.).Twentieth century impressions of Siam. London&c: Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Company. pp. 121–127. Retrieved7 October 2011.
^Norges Statskalender (in Norwegian), 1890, pp. 595–596, retrieved6 January 2018 – via runeberg.org
^Sveriges statskalender (in Swedish), 1905, p. 440, retrieved6 January 2018 – via runeberg.org
^刑部芳則 (2017).明治時代の勲章外交儀礼(PDF) (in Japanese). 明治聖徳記念学会紀要. p. 144.
^Bille-Hansen, A. C.; Holck, Harald, eds. (1900) [1st pub.:1801].Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1900 [State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1900](PDF). Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender (in Danish). Copenhagen: J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri. p. 3. Retrieved16 September 2019 – viada:DIS Danmark.
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