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Monarchy of Thailand
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The Monarchy of Thailand (also referred to as the King of Thailand) ( refers to the constitutional monarchy and monarch of the Kingdom of Thailand (formerly Siam). The King of Thailand is the head of state and head the ruling Royal House of Chakri. As a constitutional monarch the powers of the King is limited to a symbolic figurehead, however the institution elicits huge amount of respect and reverence from the Thai people.
The current monarch of Thailand is King Bhumibol Adulyadej or King Rama IX.
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Encyclopedia
The Monarchy of Thailand (also referred to as the King of Thailand) ( refers to the constitutional monarchy and monarch of the Kingdom of Thailand (formerly Siam). The King of Thailand is the head of state and head the ruling Royal House of Chakri. As a constitutional monarch the powers of the King is limited to a symbolic figurehead, however the institution elicits huge amount of respect and reverence from the Thai people.
The current monarch of Thailand is King Bhumibol Adulyadej or King Rama IX. He has reigned since the 9 June 1946, making him the world’s longest reigning monarch and the world’s longest serving head of state. Most of the King’s powers are exercised by his elected government in accordance with the constitution of the day. The King still retains many powers such as: being head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the prerogative of royal assent and the power of pardon. The King and his family are protected by Lèse majesté laws. The King is assisted in his work and duties by the Private Secretary to the King of Thailand and the Privy Council of Thailand. His household finances are handled by the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Crown Property Bureau.
The heir apparent to the Thai monarchy is the Crown Prince of Thailand, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The succession to the throne is governed by the 1924 Palace Law of Succession, promulgated by King Vajiravudh. The rule of succession is male agnatic primogeniture, where only males are accepted and inheritance is between male lines, from father to son. However the last two Constitutions of Thailand included provisions to permit for the amendment of the Palace Law to allow females to succeed. This seemed unlikely with the birth of Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti in 2005.
The Thai monarchy has been in continuous existence since the founding of the Kingdom of Sukhothai in 1238. The institution reached its current constitutional form in 1932 after a revolution, which ended the absolute monarchy. The monarchy's official residence is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. However the present King spends most of his time at the Chitralada Palace (also in Bangkok) and the Klai Kangwon Villa in Hua Hin.
History
Origin
The current concept of Thai kingship has evolved through 800 years of absolute rule. The first King of a unified Thailand was the founder of the Kingdom of Sukhothai: King Sri Indraditya in 1238. The idea of this early Kingship was based on two grand concepts based from Hinduism (which the Thais inherited from its previous rulers the Khmers) and Theravada Buddhist beliefs. The first concept is based on the Vedic-Hindu caste of: “Kshatriya” (or warrior-ruler, in which the King derives his powers from military might. The second is based on the Theravada Buddhist concept of “Dhammaraja” (Buddhism having been introduced to Thailand somewhere around the sixth century A.D. 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 Ramkhamhaeng came to the throne. Ramkhamhaeng departed from the Khmer tradition and created instead a concept of “paternal rule” (in which the King governs his people as a father would govern his children. This idea is reinforced in the title of the King, as he is still known today, Pho Khun Ramkhamhaeng ( (“Pho” is Thai for Father). However this lasted only briefly, by the end of the Kingdom the two old concepts had returned as symbolized by the change in the style of the Kings; “Pho” was changed to “Phya” or Lord.
Kings of Ayutthaya
The Kingdom of Sukhothai was eventually supplanted by the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, which was founded in 1351 by King Ramathibodhi I. During the Ayutthayan period the idea of Kingship changed and Khmer traditions reappeared and the paternalistic ideals were lost entirely. The two former concepts were re-established, with a new third concept taking a more serious hold. This new concept was the concept of “Dhevaraja” ( (or Divine-King), which was an ideal borrowed from Hinduism and especially the Brahmins. This 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, moral power and purity of blood. .
The King as a semi-divine figure became an object of worship and veneration for his people. From then on the monarchy was largely removed from the people, although they continued their absolute rule. Living in palaces designed after Mount Meru (Home of the gods in Hinduism). The Kings turned themselves into a “Chakravartin” or literally from Sansakrit "whose wheels are moving", where the Kings became an absolute and universal lord of his realm. The Kings demanded that the universe must revolve around them, expressing 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; especially King Trailokanat created many institutions to support their rule such as a system of feudalism, the nobility (the Sakna and the Sakdina) and the creation of “Rachasap” (a special language reserved exclusively when addressing the King or talking about the King). The King’s power was absolute and sovereign: as the “Lord of the Land” (Phra Chao Phaendin). The King was also the chief administrator, chief legislator and chief judge. All of this came to an end in 1767 when a Burmese Army under the Alaungpaya Dynasty invaded and sacked the city of Ayutthaya.
Chakri Kings
After a brief interlude filled first by civil war then the short-lived Thonburi Kingdom under King Taksin. In 1782 a new Kingdom was established by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (or Rama I) when he moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. King Rama I also founded the House of Chakri, the current ruling house of Thailand.
During the Rattanakosin Period the Chakri Kings tried to combine the concepts of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Kingship with that of the paternal monarchy of King Ramkhamhaeng, 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. During this period (King Rama II, Rama III and Rama IV) tried to create the first semblance of a modern government, creating ministries and appointing chief ministers to help with the running of the government. It was through the endeavour of these monarchs that Siam remained independent and was never colonized.
When King Chulalongkorn (or Rama V) ascended the throne as King of Siam in 1868, he decided to embrace many European and Western ideas. King Chulalongkorn; himself educated by Westerners, was intent on reforming the monarchy along Western lines. First he abolished the practice of kneeling and crawling in front of the monarch and repealed many laws concerning the relationship between the monarch and his people. Instead he created a monarchy based on western lines of an ‘enlightened ruler’; absolute but enlightened. However he continued to preserve many ancient aspects and rituals of the old kingship, including his religious and feudal powers. His son King Vajiravudh (or Rama VI) (succeeded in 1910) continued his father’s zeal for reform and brought the monarchy into the 20th century. He was succeeded by his brother King Prajadhipok (or Rama VII) in 1925.
Change
In June 1932, a group of foreign educated students called “the Promoters” carried out a bloodless Revolution, seizing power and demanded that King Prajdhipok, grant the people of Siam a constitution. The King agreed and in December 1932 the people were granted a charter, ending almost exactly 150 years of Chakri rule. From then on the role of the monarch was relegated to that of a symbolic figurehead, stripped of his many ancient powers and privileges with a constitutional government exercising them instead.
In 1935 King Pradhipok abdicated the throne, following disagreements with the increasingly undemocratic and dictatorial constitutional government. The King was replaced by his young nephew Ananda Mahidol (or Rama VIII). The new king was only 10 years old and was living abroad in Switzerland at the time. After the King’s mysterious death in 1946 he was replaced by his brother King Bhumibol Adulyadej (or Rama IX) the current monarch.
List of Kings
Royal Regalia
The present set of Royal Regalia of Thailand ( 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.
- Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella (??????????????)- the most important regalia; currently there are seven, distributed at various palaces.
- Great Crown of Victory (????????????????)- official headgear and the main symbol of kingship.
- Sword of Victory (?????????????????)- found in Tonlé Sap in 1784, the sword represents military power.
- Royal Staff (????????)- symbol of justice
- Royal Fan and Flywhisk (????????)- Royal Fan made of gold and the Royal Flywhisk made from the tail of a white elephant.
- Royal Slippers (??????????)- official footwear made of gold
Other Symbols of Kingship
- Royal Thrones of Thailand- currently there are six, distributed at various Throne Halls in the Grand Palace.
- Royal White Elephant- usually one to represent each reign, the current one resides at Dusit zoo, the King also has 10 others.
- The Royal Garuda- Emblem of the King and of Thailand
- The Royal Standards- Flags of the King and Royal Family
Royal Ceremonies
His Majesty the King and other members of the Royal Family carry-out many Royal Ceremonies per year, some dating from the 13th century.
Royal Orders and Decorations
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.
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See also
External Links
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