1.
Line of succession to the Thai Throne
–
The Palace Law of Succession, Buddhist Era 2467 governs succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, under the ruling House of Chakri. Succession matters prior to the end of monarchy in 1932 could be contentious. In 1924, King Vajiravudh attempted to clarify the process by laying down the Palace Law of Succession. In 1932, after Siam became a monarchy, various amendments relating to succession were introduced. The 1997 Constitution of Thailand relied on the law with regards to succession, the 2007 Constitution again relied on the Palace Law. The preamble of the 2014 interim constitution of Thailand abrogated the 2007 Constitution, with the exception of chapter 2, concerning the monarchy and the succession. The original Palace Law of A. D.1360 relating to succession since Ayutthaya Kingdom period did not lay out a system for determining a successor upon the death of a king. Rather, it provided a frame of reference from which the king could be chosen. Typically, the new king would be either the kings son born of a major queen or consort. The Law also provided rules by which someone who was neither a son nor a brother of the king could accede to the throne. However, the Palace Law was not always followed and did not ensure smooth successions, at least one third of Ayutthayas royal successions involved bloodshed. Indeed, the history of the kingdom at that time is a chronicle of frequent usurpations, historian David K. King Taksin established himself as King of Siam by right of conquest. He, however, alienated the support to secure the legitimacy of his reign. His chief military commander, then on an expedition to enforce recognition of his friend and king by the current ruler of Cambodia, hastened to the rescue. Then, following the precedent of the newly crowned King Wareru of the 13th century, the Code of Wareru is reflected in successive codes, but the Siamese went beyond it to establish a true code of laws. The Palace Law was a constituent part of new legal compendium called The Three Seals Code, which was needed, Rama I said, because old laws were often misinterpreted. Succession under the Three Seals Code took into account the potential of the king to be, as prescribed by ancient Buddhist texts. This was manifested in his upholding of the Ten Virtues of Kingship, Dāna, Śīla, Paricaga, Ajava, Maddava, Tapa, Akkodha, Avihimsa, Khanti, lineage, however, still played a very important role
2.
Vajiralongkorn
–
Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun is the King of Thailand, since 2016. As the tenth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, he is styled as Rama X. At the age of 64, Vajiralongkorn is the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne and he is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was crown prince by his father. After his fathers death on 13 October 2016, he was expected to succeed to the throne of Thailand and he accepted the throne on the night of 1 December 2016 but will not be crowned formally until after the cremation of his father. The government retroactively declared his reign to have begun on 13 October 2016, Vajiralongkorn was born on 28 July 1952 at 17,45 in the Ambara Villa of the Dusit Palace in Bangkok. He is the son, the second of the four children of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Vajiralongkorn began his education in 1956, when he entered kindergarten at the Chitralada School in Dusit Palace, in August 1970, he attended a five-week military training course at The Kings School, in Sydney, Australia. In 1972, the enrolled at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra. His education at Duntroon was divided into two parts, military training by the Australian Army and a degree course under the auspices of the University of New South Wales. He graduated in 1976 as a commissioned lieutenant with a liberal arts degree. In 1982 he completed a bachelors degree in law with second-class honours at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Vajiralongkorn was proclaimed prince on 28 December 1972 at 12,23 in the stately Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. At this present time, all people including citizens of all over the world shall accept. On 6 November 1978, the prince was ordained as a monk at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, as is traditional for royals, stayed at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara for 15 days and under the monastic name Vajiralongkornno. After completing his studies, Vajiralongkorn served as a officer in the Royal Thai Army. He served as a officer in the Directorate of Army Intelligence, attended the Command. Vajiralongkorn trained for periods with the US, British, and Australian armed services, studying unconventional warfare and he is a qualified fixed-wing and helicopter pilot
3.
Siriraj Hospital
–
Siriraj Hospital is the oldest and largest hospital in Thailand, located in Bangkok on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Thammasat Universitys Tha Phrachan campus. It is the teaching hospital of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. With a capacity of more than 2,000 beds and more than one million outpatient visits per year, the medical school accepts about 250 medical students and more than 100 for postgraduate residency training each year. Siriraj is the largest public hospital in Thailand, thanks to its excellent reputation, its tertiary care unit is the referral center for all hospitals in Thailand. The hospital was founded by King Chulalongkorn in 1888, two years after a cholera outbreak. It is named after the kings 18-month-old son, Prince Siriraj Kakuttaphan, the medical school was established two years later in 1890. Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti the grandson of King Bhumibol and the son of Thai crown prince, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, was born here. Siriraj was the residence of the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej and he entered the hospital for treatment of a respiratory condition. In October 2014 King Bhumibol had gall bladder surgery at Siriraj and he died there on 13 October 2016. The hospital houses the Siriraj Medical Museum, which is open to the public, the museum contains six separate permanent exhibits and includes a temporary exhibit. The permanent exhibits include sections on anatomy, pathology, congenital disorders, toxicology, techniques of Thai traditional medicine, in 2008, the temporary exhibit featured the role of Siriraj Hospital during the 2004 tsunami that devastated the Andaman coastline of Thailand and other countries. The latest museum is Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum which is opened in early 2013, the museum is housed in the renovated vintage architecture of the old Bangkok Noi train station, next to Sirirajs newly opened private subsidiary Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital. The museum exhibits history of medicine in Thailand from traditional medicine to modern and includes history of the Bangkok-noi area where the museum and the hospital are sited
4.
Bangkok
–
Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres in the Chao Phraya River delta in Central Thailand, over 14 million people live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region, making Bangkok an extreme primate city, significantly dwarfing Thailands other urban centres in terms of importance. Bangkok was at the heart of the modernization of Siam—later renamed Thailand—during the late 19th century, the city grew rapidly during the 1960s through the 1980s and now exerts a significant impact on Thailands politics, economy, education, media and modern society. The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a regional force in finance and business. It is a hub for transport and health care, and has emerged as a regional centre for the arts, fashion. The city is known for its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks. The historic Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the scenes of Khaosan Road. Bangkok is among the top tourist destinations. It is named the most visited city in MasterCards Global Destination Cities Index, Bangkoks rapid growth amidst little urban planning and regulation has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure systems. The city has turned to public transport in an attempt to solve this major problem. Five rapid transit lines are now in operation, with more systems under construction or planned by the national government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The history of Bangkok dates at least back to the early 15th century, because of its strategic location near the mouth of the river, the town gradually increased in importance. Bangkok initially served as a customs outpost with forts on both sides of the river, and became the site of a siege in 1688 in which the French were expelled from Siam. After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese Empire in 1767, the newly declared King Taksin established his capital at the town, in 1782, King Phutthayotfa Chulalok succeeded Taksin, moved the capital to the eastern banks Rattanakosin Island, thus founding the Rattanakosin Kingdom. The City Pillar was erected on 21 April, which is regarded as the date of foundation of the present city, Bangkoks economy gradually expanded through busy international trade, first with China, then with Western merchants returning in the early-to-mid 19th century. As the capital, Bangkok was the centre of Siams modernization as it faced pressure from Western powers in the late 19th century, Bangkok became the centre stage for power struggles between the military and political elite as the country abolished absolute monarchy in 1932
5.
Thailand
–
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country at the centre of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. With a total area of approximately 513,000 km2, Thailand is the worlds 51st-largest country and it is the 20th-most-populous country in the world, with around 66 million people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and has switched between parliamentary democracy and military junta for decades, the latest coup being in May 2014 by the National Council for Peace and Order. Its capital and most populous city is Bangkok and its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The Thai economy is the worlds 20th largest by GDP at PPP and it became a newly industrialised country and a major exporter in the 1990s. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are leading sectors of the economy and it is considered a middle power in the region and around the world. The country has always been called Mueang Thai by its citizens, by outsiders prior to 1949, it was usually known by the exonym Siam. The word Siam has been identified with the Sanskrit Śyāma, the names Shan and A-hom seem to be variants of the same word. The word Śyâma is possibly not its origin, but a learned, another theory is the name derives from Chinese, Ayutthaya emerged as a dominant centre in the late fourteenth century. The Chinese called this region Xian, which the Portuguese converted into Siam, the signature of King Mongkut reads SPPM Mongkut King of the Siamese, giving the name Siam official status until 24 June 1939 when it was changed to Thailand. Thailand was renamed Siam from 1945 to 11 May 1949, after which it reverted to Thailand. According to George Cœdès, the word Thai means free man in the Thai language, ratcha Anachak Thai means kingdom of Thailand or kingdom of Thai. Etymologically, its components are, ratcha, -ana- -chak, the Thai National Anthem, written by Luang Saranupraphan during the extremely patriotic 1930s, refers to the Thai nation as, prathet Thai. The first line of the anthem is, prathet thai ruam lueat nuea chat chuea thai, Thailand is the unity of Thai flesh. There is evidence of habitation in Thailand that has been dated at 40,000 years before the present. Similar to other regions in Southeast Asia, Thailand was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of India, Thailand in its earliest days was under the rule of the Khmer Empire, which had strong Hindu roots, and the influence among Thais remains even today. Voretzsch believes that Buddhism must have been flowing into Siam from India in the time of the Indian Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire, later Thailand was influenced by the south Indian Pallava dynasty and north Indian Gupta Empire. The Menam Basin was originally populated by the Mons, and the location of Dvaravati in the 7th century, the History of the Yuan mentions an embassy from the kingdom of Sukhothai in 1282
6.
Dynasty
–
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a feudal or monarchical system but sometimes also appearing in elective republics. The dynastic family or lineage may be known as a house, historians periodize the histories of many sovereign states, such as Ancient Egypt, the Carolingian Empire and Imperial China, using a framework of successive dynasties. As such, the dynasty may be used to delimit the era during which the family reigned and to describe events, trends. The word dynasty itself is often dropped from such adjectival references, until the 19th century, it was taken for granted that a legitimate function of a monarch was to aggrandize his dynasty, that is, to increase the territory, wealth, and power of his family members. The longest-surviving dynasty in the world is the Imperial House of Japan, dynasties throughout the world have traditionally been reckoned patrilineally, such as under the Frankish Salic law. Succession through a daughter when permitted was considered to establish a new dynasty in her husbands ruling house, however, some states in Africa, determined descent matrilineally, while rulers have at other times adopted the name of their mothers dynasty when coming into her inheritance. It is also extended to unrelated people such as poets of the same school or various rosters of a single sports team. The word dynasty derives via Latin dynastia from Greek dynastéia, where it referred to power, dominion and it was the abstract noun of dynástēs, the agent noun of dynamis, power or ability, from dýnamai, to be able. A ruler in a dynasty is referred to as a dynast. For example, following his abdication, Edward VIII of the United Kingdom ceased to be a member of the House of Windsor. A dynastic marriage is one that complies with monarchical house law restrictions, the marriage of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, to Máxima Zorreguieta in 2002 was dynastic, for example, and their eldest child is expected to inherit the Dutch crown eventually. But the marriage of his younger brother Prince Friso to Mabel Wisse Smit in 2003 lacked government support, thus Friso forfeited his place in the order of succession, lost his title as a Prince of the Netherlands, and left his children without dynastic rights. In historical and monarchist references to formerly reigning families, a dynast is a member who would have had succession rights, were the monarchys rules still in force. Even since abolition of the Austrian monarchy, Max and his descendants have not been considered the rightful pretenders by Austrian monarchists, nor have they claimed that position. The term dynast is sometimes used only to refer to descendants of a realms monarchs. The term can therefore describe overlapping but distinct sets of people, yet he is not a male-line member of the royal family, and is therefore not a dynast of the House of Windsor. Thus, in 1999 he requested and obtained permission from Elizabeth II to marry the Roman Catholic Princess Caroline of Monaco. Yet a clause of the English Act of Settlement 1701 remained in effect at that time and that exclusion, too, ceased to apply on 26 March 2015, with retroactive effect for those who had been dynasts prior to triggering it by marriage to a Catholic
7.
Chakri Dynasty
–
The Chakri dynasty is the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand, while the Head of the house is the monarch. The royal house was founded by King Rama I, an Ayutthayan military leader of Sino-Mon descent, prior to the founding of the dynasty, King Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the title of the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, King Rama I himself chose Chakri as the name for the dynasty, the emblem of the dynasty is composed of the discus and the trident, the celestial weapons of god Vishnu and Shiva, whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation. The houses current dynastic seat is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the present royal family of Thailand is descended from Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla and Srinagarindra forming the House of Mahidol. The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen Savang Vadhana, the Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne in 1946, in 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016
8.
Srirasmi Suwadee
–
Than Phu Ying Srirasmi Suwadee, formerly Princess Srirasm, Royal Consort to the Crown Prince of Thailand, is a former member of the royal family of Thailand. She was the consort of then-Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn from February 2001 to December 2014. Srirasmi Suwadee was born in Samut Songkhram Province to a family of modest means and she was the third of four children born to Aphirut and Wanthanee Suwadee. and has Mon descent from her mother side. She attended college at Bangkok Business College and in 1993, at age 22, Srirasmi enrolled in Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 1997 and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in management science. Vajiralongkorn personally bestowed her with her diploma, in 2007 she received a Master of Science degree in Family and Childs Development from Kasetsart University. Srirasmi married the Crown Prince of Thailand on 10 February 2001 in a ceremony at the princes Nonthaburi Palace. The public was informed of the event some time afterwards, the prince, who had married twice before and has children with his previous wives, stated it was his intention to settle down, I am now 50 years old and think I should have a complete family. On 14 February 2005, it was announced that Srirasmi was pregnant, on 29 April 2005, a son named Dipangkorn Rasmijoti was born via caesarean section at Siriraj Hospital. Because of the birth, she was granted by King Bhumibol Adulyadej the title princess of Thailand and style Her Royal Highness as the royal consort of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. A royal ceremony, called Phra Ratchaphithi Somphot Duean Lae Khuen Phra U, Srirasmi initiated and launched the Sai Yai Rak Chak Mae Su Luk campaign which promoted breast feeding. The campaign features images of her son, in November 2009, a home video was released showing Vajiralongkorn and a topless Srirasmi celebrating the birthday of the princes poodle dog. The media reported that this was indicative of the decadent lifestyle. A letter asking for Srirasmis family to be stripped of their name was sent to the interior ministry in November 2014. The letter was sent by her husband, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, on 11 December 2014, the Royal Thai Government Gazette announced that Srirasmi relinquished her royal title, presumably due to the corruption affairs that involved her family. Srirasmi was granted a payment of 200 million baht by Maha Vajiralongkorn in exchange for her relinquishment, the money was paid out of the Crown Property Bureau, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance. On 9 March 2015, a court sentenced her father Apiruj Suwadee and mother Wanthanee for lodging a slander claim and they pleaded guilty to the offenses and were sentenced to two and a half years in prison. 9 December 1971 –10 February 2001, Srirasmi Suwadee,10 February 2001 –15 June 2005, Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya. 15 June 2005 –11 December 2014, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm,11 December 2014 – present, Than Phu Ying Srirasmi Suwadee
9.
Theravada Buddhism
–
Theravāda is a branch of Buddhism that uses the Buddhas teaching preserved in the Pāli Canon as its doctrinal core. The Pali canon is the only complete Buddhist canon which survives in a classical Indic Language, Pali, another feature of Theravada is that it tends to be very conservative about matters of doctrine and monastic discipline. As a distinct sect, Theravada Buddhism developed in Sri Lanka, Theravada also includes a rich diversity of traditions and practices that have developed over its long history of interactions with varying cultures and religious communities. It is the dominant form of religion in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and is practiced by minority groups in Bangladesh, China, Nepal, and Vietnam. In addition, the diaspora of all of these groups as well as converts around the world practice Theravāda Buddhism, contemporary expressions include Buddhist modernism, the Vipassana movement and the Thai Forest Tradition. The name Theravāda comes from the ancestral Sthāvirīya, one of the early Buddhist schools, according to its own accounts, the Theravāda school is fundamentally derived from the Vibhajjavāda doctrine of analysis grouping, which was a division of the Sthāvirīya. Significantly, the Sthāviras in turn comprise three sub-nikāyas, the Jetavanīyas, the Abhayagirivāsins, and the Mahāvihāravāsins, according to Damien Keown, there is no historical evidence that the Theravāda school arose until around two centuries after the Great Schism which occurred at the Third Council. These teachings were known as the Vibhajjavada, emperor Ashoka is supposed to have assisted in purifying the sangha by expelling monks who failed to agree to the terms of Third Council. The elder monk Moggaliputta-Tissa was at the head of the Third council and compiled the Kathavatthu, later, the Vibhajjavādins in turn is said to have split into four groups, the Mahīśāsaka, Kāśyapīya, Dharmaguptaka, and the Tāmraparṇīya. The Theravāda is said to be descended from the Tāmraparṇīya sect, the most distinctive features of this phase and virtually the only contemporary historical material, are the numerous Brahmi inscriptions associated with these caves. They record gifts to the sangha, significantly by householders and chiefs rather than by kings, the Buddhist religion itself does not seem to have established undisputed authority until the reigns of Dutthagamani and Vattagamani. The first records of Buddha images come from the reign of king Vasabha, in the 7th century, the Chinese pilgrim monks Xuanzang and Yijing refer to the Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka as Shàngzuòbù, corresponding to the Sanskrit Sthavira nikāya and Pali Thera Nikāya. Yijing writes, In Sri Lanka the Sthavira school alone flourishes, the school has been using the name Theravāda for itself in a written form since at least the 4th century, about one thousand years after the Buddhas death, when the term appears in the Dīpavaṁsa. According to Buddhist scholar A. K. Warder, the Theravāda, spread rapidly south from Avanti into Maharashtra and Andhra and down to the Chola country, as well as Sri Lanka. According to Richard Gombrich this is the earliest record we have of Buddhist scriptures being committed to writing anywhere, the Theravada Pali texts which have survived are derived from the Mahavihara of Anuradhapura, the ancient Sri Lankan capital. Later developments included the formation and recording of the Theravada commentary literature, the Theravada tradition records that even during the early days of Mahinda, there was already a tradition of Indian commentaries on the scriptures. Of great importance to the tradition is the work of the great Theravada scholastic Buddhaghosa. Buddhaghosa wrote in Pali, and after him, most Sri Lankan Buddhist scholastics did as well and this allowed the Sri Lankan tradition to become more international through a lingua franca so as to converse with monks in India and later Southeast Asia
10.
Chakri dynasty
–
The Chakri dynasty is the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand, while the Head of the house is the monarch. The royal house was founded by King Rama I, an Ayutthayan military leader of Sino-Mon descent, prior to the founding of the dynasty, King Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the title of the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, King Rama I himself chose Chakri as the name for the dynasty, the emblem of the dynasty is composed of the discus and the trident, the celestial weapons of god Vishnu and Shiva, whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation. The houses current dynastic seat is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the present royal family of Thailand is descended from Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla and Srinagarindra forming the House of Mahidol. The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen Savang Vadhana, the Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne in 1946, in 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016
11.
Bajrakitiyabha
–
Princess Bajrakitiyabha was born on 7 December 1978. She is the first grandchild of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, Princess Bajrakitiyabha studied at the all-girls Rajini School when she was in elementary and junior high school. She moved to England and began her education first at Heathfield School in Ascot. Princess Bajrakitiyabha received a LL. B. degree from Thammasat University, as well a B. A. degree in International Relations from Sukhothai Thammatirat University, both in 2000. She subsequently obtained a LL. M. degree from Cornell Law School in 2002, on 12 May 2012 she was awarded an honorary LL. D. degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. On completion of her doctorate Princess Bajrakitiyabha worked for a time at the Thai Permanent mission to the United Nations, in New York City, before returning to Thailand. In September 2006 she was appointed Attorney of the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok and her mother, Princess Soamsavali and the princess founded the foundation in 1995 when Bangkok was flooded. The foundation aims to help people in rural areas and people affected by natural disasters. From 2012 to 2014, she was the Thai Ambassador to Austria, until she took a post at the Office of the Attorney General
12.
Sirivannavari Nariratana
–
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is a princess of Thailand and the only daughter of King Vajiralongkorn and Sujarinee Vivacharawongse. She was born Mom Chao Busyanambejra Mahidol, but later changed to Mom Chao Chakkrityapha Mahidol, however, she later was taken by her father from England and brought back to Thailand. She was elevated to Princess status by royal command of her grandfather, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Princess Sirivannavari has many interests in the arts and sports. She represented Thailand in badminton in 2005 at 23rd South East Asian Games in the Philippines, in this, she follows in the footsteps of her grandfather, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who represented his country in international sailing events. A badminton tournament that made its debut in 2016, the Thailand Masters, was named as the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters, in 2007, she was invited by Pierre Balmain, the French couturier, to present her fashion show in Paris. Her debut Paris collection was titled Presence of the Past, which drew on memories of her grandmother as well as giving a modern interpretation to traditional Thai costume. The following year, she presented her own show in Paris. In 2008 she was included as 16th on the list of the 20 Hottest Young Royals, compiled by Forbes
13.
Sirikit
–
Sirikit is the queen dowager of Thailand. She was the consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is the mother of King Vajiralongkorn. She met Bhumibol in Paris, where her father was Thai ambassador and they married in 1950, shortly before Bhumibols coronation. Sirikit was appointed regent in 1956. Sirikit has one son and three daughters with the king, consort of the monarch who was the worlds longest-reigning head of state, she was also the worlds longest-serving consort. Sirikit suffered a stroke on 21 July 2012 and has refrained from public appearances. Sirikit was born on 12 August 1932, at the home of Lord Vongsanuprabhand and she is the eldest daughter and the third child of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, the son of Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana, and Mom Luang Bua Snidvongs. Her name, which was given by King Prajadhipok, means the greatness of Kitiyakara and she had three siblings, two elder brothers and a younger sister, Prof. Her mother joined her three months later. When she was one old, her parents returned to Thailand. Sirikit lived together with her family in Deves Palace, near the Chao Phraya River, as a child, Sirikit often visited her paternal grandmother. Once in 1933, she travelled with Princess Absornsaman Devakula following King Prajadhipoks tour in Songkhla, at age four, Sirikit attended the Kindergarten College at Rajini School, where she studied at the primary level. During that time the Pacific War was being fought, Bangkok was bombed many times, especially the rail lines, making travel unsafe. She therefore moved to Saint Francis Xavier Convent School, since it was near the palace and she studied at Saint Xavier from her second primary year through the early secondary level. In 1946, with the war now over, her moved to the United Kingdom as the ambassador to the Court of St Jamess. Sirikit was then 13 and completed her secondary education, while in England she learned to play the piano and became fluent in English and French. Because of her fathers work as a diplomatic, the moved to other countries, including Denmark. While in France, she studied at an academy in Paris
14.
Sirindhorn
–
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born Princess Sirindhorn Debaratanasuda Kitivadhanadulsobhak on 2 April 1955 is the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Her full ceremonial title is Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari, thais commonly refer to her by reducing such title to Phra Thep, meaning princess angel. Her title in Thai is the equivalent of the title once held by her brother. The Thai constitution was altered in 1974 to allow for female succession, having been the eldest female child of the royal family, her position was comparable to a princess royal. Sirindhorn was born on 2 April 1955, the child of King Bhumibol. As the royal couple has one son, the Thai constitution was altered in 1974 to allow for female succession. This made Sirindhorn second-in-line to the throne until the birth of Princess Bajrakitiyabha in 1978, the privy council will submit the name of a successor when the throne becomes vacant. In December 2012, Sirindhorn was briefly hospitalised to remove calcium deposits, Sirindhorn attended Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary at Thailands most exclusive school, The Chitralada Palace School which was established for the children of the Royal Family and Palace staff. She ranked first in the National School Examinations in primary level in 1967, in secondary level in 1972. In 1975 she enrolled in the faculty of arts at Chulalongkorn University and graduated with a BA degree, first-class honours, from 1976 she continued her studies in two graduate programs concurrently, obtaining an MA in Oriental epigraphy in 1980 and also archaeology from Silpakorn University and in 1980. In 1978, she obtained an MA in Sanskrit and Pali from Chulalongkorn University, in 1981 she enrolled in a doctoral program at Srinakharinwirot University, and was awarded a PhD in developmental education in 1987. In 1984 she earned a certificate from the Asian Regional Remote Sensing Training Centre at the Asian Institute of Technology where she studied for two months, in April 2001 she won a scholarship in Chinese culture at Peking University in China where she studied the course for a month. Aside from her passion for technology, she holds degrees in history and she teaches at the history department of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, where she is the nominal head of the department. In addition to Thai, she speaks fluent English, French and she is also a skilled performer and avid promoter of Thai traditional music. One full scholarship will be awarded annually to enable a Thai student to study at Liverpool to complete a one-year taught Masters programme. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a Thai national, construction of the eight m2 outhouse overlooking Yeak Lom Lake was carried out by the Siam Cement Group. According to Ven Churk, head of the Yeak Lom Lake Committee, when the princess has finished with it, they will take the toilet equipment back to Thailand, but the princess will leave the building for our community to use, Mr Churk said. After the visit, the toilet will be removed, as a manager from SCG, identified only as Mr Pursat, said, follow-on news reports said that the princess did not have occasion to use the royal toilet on her visit
15.
Ubol Ratana
–
Princess Ubolratana, or full name Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, is a princess of Thailand and the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. She relinquished her title and settled in the United States with her husband, Peter Ladd Jensen. Since her return to Thailand, she has taken part in royal ceremonies. In 2008, she began a career, playing the main role in the Thai film Where the Miracle Happens. Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya is the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and she was born on 5 April 1951 at Mont Suisse Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland. She returned to Thailand and stayed at Ambhornsathan Throne Hall, Dusit Palace and her names are derived from several royal ancestors, The name Ubol Ratana comes from her maternal grandmother, Mom Luang Bua Sanitvongse. The name Siri comes from the name of her mother, Queen Sirikit, the name Vadhana comes from the name of her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother. She has taken part in royal duties since she was very young, in 4th SEA Games in 1967 in Bangkok, the King and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya competed in sailing and won gold medals. Ubol Ratana attended primary to secondary levels at Chitralada School and she went to the United States for her tertiary education. She studied at MIT, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1973 and she later obtained a masters degree in public health at University of California at Los Angeles. While at MIT she first met Peter Ladd Jensen, whom she later married, on 25 July 1972, Ubol Ratana relinquished her royal titles to marry Jensen, then lived in the United States with her husband for over 26 years. Her husband, as a foreigner, did not receive any royal titles, after years of rumoured marital problems, they divorced in 1998. Ubol Ratana and her children lived in San Diego until 2001, Ubol Ratana and Peter Ladd Jensen had three children, two daughters and a son, all born in the United States. Khun Ploypailin Jensen Khun Bhumi Jensen, who had autism, died in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, Princess Ubol Ratana established the Khun Poom Foundation in his memory, to aid children with autism and other learning disabilities. Khun Sirikitiya Jensen While Ubolratana Rajakanya Jensen remained in the U. S. her mother Queen Sirikit and other members of the Royal Family often flew to the United States for visits. Ubol Ratana likewise flew to Thailand along with her husband to visit her parents and she visited in 1980,1982,1987,1992 and 1996, taking part in several family events, before her permanent return in 2001. Ubol Ratana was born with the titles of Her Royal Highness and Princess Chao Fa, the title Chao Fa was lost because she married a commoner. She had previously held the royal title Chao Fa Ubolratana Rajakanya and she still retains the style of Tunkramom Ying, which means Daughter to the Queen Regent
16.
Ploypailin Jensen
–
Ploypailin Mahidol Jensen is a member of the Thai Royal Family, a granddaughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and a niece of King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. She is the eldest daughter of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya of Thailand, Ploypailin is not in the line of succession to the throne of Thailand as her mother relinquished her royal title when she married Ploypailins American father, Peter Ladd Jensen. Born in 1981 in San Diego, and known as Khun Ploypailin in Thailand, she is the grandchild of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand and her given name was proposed by her aunt, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Ploypailin had a brother, Bhumi Jensen, and has a younger sister. Ploypailin graduated from the Purcell School, England and she received a BCP degree with honors from the University of California, San Diego with 1st honor in 2003 and a MBA degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2007. As a pianist, she has given performances around the world, including at the Sydney Opera House and she also has had occasional honorary starring roles in Thai soap operas, dramas, and musicals, including Nemiraj - Scenes from Ten Lives of the Buddha. A socialite, she has been a model for Thai fashion magazines. Ploypailin married her long-time boyfriend David Wheeler in Hawaii, United States on 25 August 2009 and they have two sons, Maximus Wheeler and Leonardo Wheeler. Dame Grand Cordon of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal
17.
Sirikitiya Jensen
–
Khun Sirikitiya Jensen, born Mai Jensen, is a granddaughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and a niece of King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. She is a daughter of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya and her American former husband Peter Ladd Jensen and she is also known by her birth name and nickname as Khun Mai. Sirikitiya is the youngest of three children and her older sister is Khun Ploypailin, and her older brother was Khun Poom. Sirikitiya and her siblings grew up in San Diego, California and she and her brother attended Torrey Pines High School, a public school. In 2001, after their parents divorce, Princess Ubolratana and Poom moved back to Thailand, Sirikitiya stayed in San Diego with her father and graduated from high school in 2003. She subsequently attended University of California, Riverside and she graduated from New York University, majoring in East Asian studies, with a focus on the histories of Japan and China. Dame Grand Cordon of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal
18.
Soamsawali
–
Princess Soamsawali, born Mom Luang Soamsawali Kitiyakara, is a member of the Thai royal family, and is the former wife of her first cousin King Vajiralongkorn. She was titled the Princess Mother of the Kings First Grandchild after her divorce with the crown prince in 1991. She is also a niece of Queen Sirikit, Princess Soamsawali was born on 13 July 1957 at Guys Hospital in London, United Kingdom. She is the eldest child of Mom Rajawongse Adulyakit Kitiyakara and her father was an elder brother of Queen Sirikit of Thailand and her mother is Thanpuying Bandhu Savali Kitiyakara. She has one sister, Mom Luang Sarali Kitiyakara, born 8 April 1966. Her father was the child of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara. Her mother was the daughter of Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala and Mom Luang Soiraya Snidvongs and she first attended the primary level at Chitralada School, then moved to Chiang Mai with her father when he was a judge at the Chiang Mai Court. She moved to study at Regina Coeli College, the academy in Chiang Mai in 1967. On 3 January 1977, at the age of 19, she married her first cousin, Maha Vajiralongkorn, after their marriage, her official title became Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, Royal Consort of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. The couple had one daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand, born on 7 December 1978, the marriage ended in divorce in 1991 for numerous irreconcilable differences. After her divorce from the prince, the king, by royal proclamation. Her official full title became Phravararajatinuddamat, meaning the mother of the kings first grandchild, Princess Soamsawali has an adopted daughter, Siraphatchara Sophatcharamani or Bai Phlu. Since her divorce, Princess Soamsawali has performed many functions on behalf of the royal household and she has shown keen interest in public health and social welfare. The following Thai Red Cross Society programs are under her patronage, funding for Reducing AIDS infection from Mother to the New-Born Baby. Milk funds for infants under the Reduce AIDS effects from Mother to the New-Born Baby Program, the Foundation of Professor Dr. Mom Rajawongse Galyanakit Kitiyakara. The Program of Life Giving to the Parents of AIDS-infected Babies, member First Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau, Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara Princess Foundation Wanjai
19.
Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram
–
Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram, née Dhasanawalaya Ratanakul Serireongrit, is the only daughter of Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Naradhiwas and niece of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Dhasanawalaya Ratanakul Serireongrit was born on November 11,1945 in Switzerland and she is the only daughter of Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Naradhiwas and Colonel Aram Ratanakul Serireongrit. At the age of 6, she returned to Thailand with her uncle, King Bhumibol and her aunt-in Law, Queen Sirikit, after arriving in Thailand, she continued her education at Mater Dei School, Triam Udom Suksa School and Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. After graduation, she continued her studies in Switzerland, during her time studying in Switzerland, she met Sinthu Sornsongkram, who was a civil servant at the Royal Thai Embassy in Bern. They married on 12 November 1973 and they have a son, First Lieutenant Jitat Sornsongkram. Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sorasongkram has been a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and she received her rank as Thanpuying on 5 May 1986. She was considered to be the closest grandchild of Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother
20.
Thai language
–
Thai, also known as Siamese or Central Thai, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people and the vast majority of Thai Chinese. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family, over half of the words in Thai are borrowed from Pali, Sanskrit and Old Khmer. It is a tonal and analytic language, Thai also has a complex orthography and relational markers. Spoken Thai is mutually intelligible with Laotian, Thai is the official language of Thailand, natively spoken by over 20 million people. Standard Thai is based on the register of the classes of Bangkok. In addition to Central Thai, Thailand is home to other related Tai languages, Isan, the language of the Isan region of Thailand, a collective term for the various Lao dialects spoken in Thailand that show some Siamese Thai influences, which is written with the Thai script. It is spoken by about 20 million people, Thais from both inside and outside the Isan region often simply call this variant Lao when speaking informally. Northern Thai, spoken by about 6 million in the independent kingdom of Lanna. Shares strong similarities with Lao to the point that in the past the Siamese Thais referred to it as Lao. Southern Thai, spoken by about 4.5 million Phu Thai, spoken by half a million around Nakhon Phanom Province. Phuan, spoken by 200,000 in central Thailand and Isan, Shan, spoken by about 100,000 in north-west Thailand along the border with the Shan States of Burma, and by 3.2 million in Burma. Lü, spoken by about 1,000,000 in northern Thailand, and 600,000 more in Sipsong Panna, Burma, nyaw language, spoken by 50,000 in Nakhon Phanom Province, Sakhon Nakhon Province, Udon Thani Province of Northeast Thailand. Song, spoken by about 30,000 in central and northern Thailand, Elegant or Formal Thai, official and written version, includes respectful terms of address, used in simplified form in newspapers. Rhetorical Thai, used for public speaking, religious Thai, used when discussing Buddhism or addressing monks. Royal Thai, influenced by Khmer, this is used when addressing members of the family or describing their activities. Most Thais can speak and understand all of these contexts, street and Elegant Thai are the basis of all conversations. Rhetorical, religious, and royal Thai are taught in schools as the national curriculum, many scholars believe that the Thai script is derived from the Khmer script, which is modeled after the Brahmic script from the Indic family. However, in appearance, Thai is closer to Thai Dam script, the language and its script are closely related to the Lao language and script
21.
House of Chakri
–
The Chakri dynasty is the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand, while the Head of the house is the monarch. The royal house was founded by King Rama I, an Ayutthayan military leader of Sino-Mon descent, prior to the founding of the dynasty, King Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the title of the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, King Rama I himself chose Chakri as the name for the dynasty, the emblem of the dynasty is composed of the discus and the trident, the celestial weapons of god Vishnu and Shiva, whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation. The houses current dynastic seat is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the present royal family of Thailand is descended from Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla and Srinagarindra forming the House of Mahidol. The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen Savang Vadhana, the Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol, King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne in 1946, in 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016
22.
His Royal Highness
–
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes other than monarchs and their female consorts. When used as a form of address, spoken or written. When used as a reference, it is gender-specific and, in plural. Holders of the style Royal Highness generally rank below holders of the style Imperial Highness, by the 17th century, all local rulers in Italy adopted the style Highness, that was once used by kings and emperors only. Thus, the first use of the style Royal Highness was recorded in 1633, gaston, Duke of Orléans, younger son of King Henry IV of France, encountered the style in Brussels and assumed it himself. His children later used the style, considering it their prerogative as grandchildren of France, by the 18th century, Royal Highness had become the prevalent style for members of a continental reigning dynasty whose head bore the hereditary title of king or queen. The titles of members of non-hereditary rulers were less clear. Even in the cases of the titles, they usually only exist as courtesies. The chiefly appellation Kabiyesi is likewise used as the equivalent of the HRH, the title of Archduke or Archduchess of Austria was known to be complemented with the style of Royal Highness to all of the members of the House of Habsburg and later the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. The title of Prince/Princess of the Netherlands with the style of H. R. H. is or may be granted by law to the following classes of persons. The heir apparent to the throne, the spouse of the heir apparent. The children of the monarch, other than the heir apparent, the children of the heir apparent. A Prince/Princess of Orange-Nassau who is not also a Prince/Princess of the Netherlands is addressed as His/Her Highness without the predicate royal and that is the case for example of the children of Princess Margriet, younger daughter of the late Queen Juliana. In the British monarchy the style of Royal Highness is associated with the rank of prince or princess and this is especially important when a prince has another title such as Duke by which he or she would usually be addressed. In the United Kingdom, letters patent dated 21 August 1996 stated that the wife of a member of the Royal Family loses the right to the style of HRH in the event of their divorce. It was for this reason that when the Prince and Princess of Wales divorced, she ceased to be Royal Highness, and was styled Diana, Princess of Wales. Almost a year before, according to the claim of writer Tina Brown. The Princess of Wales is said to have replied, My title is a lot older than yours and she noted that the Spencer family, the family she was born to, is older than the House of Windsor
23.
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall
–
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a royal reception hall within Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It was commissioned by King Chulalongkorn in 1908, the building was completed in 1915,5 years after Rama Vs death in 1910. It now serves as a museum and is time to time employed for certain state occasions. The hall is open to the every day except on Chulalongkorn Day, the Kings birthday. The building in Italian Renaissance and neoclassical style was commissioned to the architects Mario Tamagno, marble from Carrara, Italy and other foreign materials were used. Italian sculptor Vittorio Novi, who would also work on the Mahadthai Udthit Bridge, was employed with his nephew Rudolfo Nolli. It was used as the headquarters of the Peoples Party during the four days of the 1932 Revolution, the first National Peoples Assembly convened on 28 June 1932 in this throne hall. After that, it was used as the Parliament House until 1974 when the new Parliament House was opened to the north. However, the old Parliament House is still used for the State Opening of Parliament marking the first assembly in consequence of an election for the House of Representatives. The Throne Hall is a construction with a large dome in the centre. The domes and walls are covered with paintings by Professor Galileo Chini and Carlo Riguli depicting the history of the Chakri Dynasty, in front of the Hall is the Royal Plaza with the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn. Fresco drawings in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall were accomplished by Galileo Chini and Carlo Riguli, there are paintings on every ceiling and wall of the dome depicting the history of the Chakri Dynasty. The northern dome exhibits the picture of King Rama I leading his armies back to Thailand after defeating the Khmer and later crowned as the first king of the Chakri dynasty. The eastern dome shows the contribution of King Rama II and King Rama III to arts by ordering constructions of the royal temples, the southern dome displays King Rama Vs abolition of slavery. Pictures of King Rama IV surrounded by priests of various faiths are shown on the western dome, mural paintings in the middle hall narrate the royal duties of King Rama V and King Rama VI. Other parts of the hall are decorated with King Rama Vs and King Rama VIs monograms, on the balcony of the middle hall, art nouveau paintings are decorated on the walls with pictures of European women holding flower garlands. Shorts, ripped jeans, short skirts and sleeveless shirts are prohibited, women in long trousers are not considered suitable. If needed, appropriate attire can be purchased there, all cameras and mobile phones must be kept in provided lockers at no cost
24.
Srirasmi
–
Than Phu Ying Srirasmi Suwadee, formerly Princess Srirasm, Royal Consort to the Crown Prince of Thailand, is a former member of the royal family of Thailand. She was the consort of then-Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn from February 2001 to December 2014. Srirasmi Suwadee was born in Samut Songkhram Province to a family of modest means and she was the third of four children born to Aphirut and Wanthanee Suwadee. and has Mon descent from her mother side. She attended college at Bangkok Business College and in 1993, at age 22, Srirasmi enrolled in Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 1997 and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in management science. Vajiralongkorn personally bestowed her with her diploma, in 2007 she received a Master of Science degree in Family and Childs Development from Kasetsart University. Srirasmi married the Crown Prince of Thailand on 10 February 2001 in a ceremony at the princes Nonthaburi Palace. The public was informed of the event some time afterwards, the prince, who had married twice before and has children with his previous wives, stated it was his intention to settle down, I am now 50 years old and think I should have a complete family. On 14 February 2005, it was announced that Srirasmi was pregnant, on 29 April 2005, a son named Dipangkorn Rasmijoti was born via caesarean section at Siriraj Hospital. Because of the birth, she was granted by King Bhumibol Adulyadej the title princess of Thailand and style Her Royal Highness as the royal consort of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. A royal ceremony, called Phra Ratchaphithi Somphot Duean Lae Khuen Phra U, Srirasmi initiated and launched the Sai Yai Rak Chak Mae Su Luk campaign which promoted breast feeding. The campaign features images of her son, in November 2009, a home video was released showing Vajiralongkorn and a topless Srirasmi celebrating the birthday of the princes poodle dog. The media reported that this was indicative of the decadent lifestyle. A letter asking for Srirasmis family to be stripped of their name was sent to the interior ministry in November 2014. The letter was sent by her husband, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, on 11 December 2014, the Royal Thai Government Gazette announced that Srirasmi relinquished her royal title, presumably due to the corruption affairs that involved her family. Srirasmi was granted a payment of 200 million baht by Maha Vajiralongkorn in exchange for her relinquishment, the money was paid out of the Crown Property Bureau, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance. On 9 March 2015, a court sentenced her father Apiruj Suwadee and mother Wanthanee for lodging a slander claim and they pleaded guilty to the offenses and were sentenced to two and a half years in prison. 9 December 1971 –10 February 2001, Srirasmi Suwadee,10 February 2001 –15 June 2005, Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya. 15 June 2005 –11 December 2014, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm,11 December 2014 – present, Than Phu Ying Srirasmi Suwadee
25.
1924 Palace Law of Succession
–
The Palace Law of Succession, Buddhist Era 2467 governs succession to the Throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, under the ruling House of Chakri. Succession matters prior to the end of monarchy in 1932 could be contentious. In 1924, King Vajiravudh attempted to clarify the process by laying down the Palace Law of Succession. In 1932, after Siam became a monarchy, various amendments relating to succession were introduced. The 1997 Constitution of Thailand relied on the law with regards to succession, the 2007 Constitution again relied on the Palace Law. The preamble of the 2014 interim constitution of Thailand abrogated the 2007 Constitution, with the exception of chapter 2, concerning the monarchy and the succession. The original Palace Law of A. D.1360 relating to succession since Ayutthaya Kingdom period did not lay out a system for determining a successor upon the death of a king. Rather, it provided a frame of reference from which the king could be chosen. Typically, the new king would be either the kings son born of a major queen or consort. The Law also provided rules by which someone who was neither a son nor a brother of the king could accede to the throne. However, the Palace Law was not always followed and did not ensure smooth successions, at least one third of Ayutthayas royal successions involved bloodshed. Indeed, the history of the kingdom at that time is a chronicle of frequent usurpations, historian David K. King Taksin established himself as King of Siam by right of conquest. He, however, alienated the support to secure the legitimacy of his reign. His chief military commander, then on an expedition to enforce recognition of his friend and king by the current ruler of Cambodia, hastened to the rescue. Then, following the precedent of the newly crowned King Wareru of the 13th century, the Code of Wareru is reflected in successive codes, but the Siamese went beyond it to establish a true code of laws. The Palace Law was a constituent part of new legal compendium called The Three Seals Code, which was needed, Rama I said, because old laws were often misinterpreted. Succession under the Three Seals Code took into account the potential of the king to be, as prescribed by ancient Buddhist texts. This was manifested in his upholding of the Ten Virtues of Kingship, Dāna, Śīla, Paricaga, Ajava, Maddava, Tapa, Akkodha, Avihimsa, Khanti, lineage, however, still played a very important role
26.
Chulalongkorn
–
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poraminthra Maha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua, or Rama V, was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang and his reign was characterized by the modernization of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to the British and French. As Siam was threatened by Western expansionism, Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, all his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siams survival in the face of Western colonialism, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat. King Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra, in 1861, he was designated Krommamuen Pikhanesuan Surasangkat. His father gave him an education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens. In 1866, he became a monk for six months at Wat Bawonniwet according to royal tradition. Both father and son fell ill of malaria, Mongkut died on 1 October 1868. Si Suriyawongse, the most powerful government official of the day, managed the succession of Chulalongkorn to the throne, the coronation was held on 11 November 1868. Chulalongkorns health improved, and he was tutored in public affairs, traveled to India and he was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873. Si Suriyawongse then arranged for the Front Palace of King Pinklao to be bequeathed to King Pinklaos son, the young Chulalongkorn was an enthusiastic reformer. He visited Singapore and Java in 1870 and British India during 1870–1872 to study the administration of British colonies and he toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, and back to Calcutta in early-1872. This journey was a source of his ideas for the modernization of Siam. As regent, Si Suriyawongse wielded great influence, Si Suriyawongse continued the works of King Mongkut. He supervised the digging of several important khlongs, such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and he was also a patron of Thai literature and performing arts. At the end of his regency, Si Suriyawonse was raised to Somdet Chao Phraya, Si Suriyawongse was the most powerful noble of the 19th century. His family, Bunnag, was a one, of Persian descent. It dominated Siamese politics since the reign of Rama I, Chulalongkorn then married four of his half-sisters, all daughters of Mongkut, Savang Vadhana, Saovabha, and Sunandha, and Sukumalmarsri. Chulalongkorns first reform was to establish the Auditory Office, solely responsible for tax collection, 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
27.
Mahidol Adulyadej
–
Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla or Mahidol Adulyadej the Prince Father or Mahidol Songkla was the father of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. He was also regarded as the father of medicine and public health of Thailand. He also founded the House of Mahidol or the present Royal Family of Thailand, Prince Mahidol was the 69th child of King Chulalongkorn and the 7th of Queen Savang Vadhana. Later in their lives, Prince Rangsit would play a role in Mahidols career. Like the other sons of King Chulalongkorn, Prince Mahidol started his education at the Royal School within the Grand Palace and he received the title of Prince of Songkla at age 13. Following the wish of his half-brother, King Vajiravudh, he entered the Imperial German Naval Academy at Flensburg-Mürwik. While there, he won a competition in submarine design and he was commissioned Lieutenant in both the Imperial German Navy and the Royal Thai Navy in 1912. The Prince had to back to Thailand in 1914 as the World War I had started. The Prince, feeling that his expertise would never be used, resigned just 9 months after joining the Navy and his half-brother and old friend Prince Rangsit then came into play. He was then the Chief of the Royal Medical College, Medical and public health education did not receive much attention at that time, and medical practice was much lagged behind the Western standard. The Medical College and its hospital, Siriraj, was small and he strategically invited Prince Mahidol to a boat trip along the Bangkok Yai and Bangkok Noi canals. His office, Siriraj Hospital, was certainly on the route, however, a few days elapsed and he agreed. He also decided he would study in the related fields himself, thus the Prince went to Cambridge, Massachusetts to study public health at Harvard. It was said that the Prince went to the station to greet the students himself. Mahidol diligently looked after his students, and thus close to Miss Talabhat. While there, they married under the blessing of his half-brother King Vajiravudh at Sapathum Palace before returning to Harvard. He received his Certificate in Public Health on the following year and his first child, Princess Galyani Vadhana, was born in London in 1923. He returned to Thailand in the year to take the position of Director-General of the University Department in the Ministry of Education
28.
Savang Vadhana
–
Queen Savang Vadhana of Siam was a consort of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V and his half sister. Her full name and title was Queen Sri Savarindira – thus she was not the Rajini and she was the 27th daughter of King Rama IV and Princess Consort Piam and thus her husbands half-sister. All of her Biological children died before her and she saw two of her sons first-in-line to the throne, Vajirunhis and Mahidol. When King Prajadhipok abdicated in 1935, the son of Queen Savang Vadhanas youngest son, Prince Ananda Mahidol and she received the title of Queen Grandmother, having been renamed Sri Savarindira by King Prajadhipok while she was Queen Aunt. Queen Sri Savarindira was also the grandmother of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, although her son, Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis did not survive to become king she lived to see two of her grandsons become king. She died on 17 December 1955, at the age of 93 and her ashes are interred in the Royal Cemetery at Wat Ratchabophit, Bangkok. A residence of the queen can be seen at the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace and she resided in latter years at Sa Pathum Palace, where a museum dedicated to her is being constructed at the Tamnak Yai Mansion. Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation was founded on 27 October 2005 under the aegis of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, her great granddaughter
29.
Bhumibol Adulyadej
–
Bhumibol Adulyadej, conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great in 1987, was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty as Rama IX. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he was, at the time of his death, the worlds longest-serving head of state, during his reign, he was served by a total of 30 prime ministers beginning with Pridi Banomyong and ending with Prayut Chan-o-cha. Although Bhumibol did invite public criticism in a 2005 speech, the lèse majesté laws have not been revoked by the Thai parliament, in May 2014, Bhumibols wealth was once again listed as US$30 billion. After 2006, Bhumibol suffered declining health and spent extended periods at Siriraj Hospital and he was generally highly revered by the people in Thailand – many even saw him as close to divine. Notable political activists and Thai citizens who criticized the king or the institution of monarchy were often forced into exile or to suffer frequent imprisonments. His successor Vajiralongkorn does not share the popularity of his father, leading to concerns that the Thai monarchy will lose prestige and influence under the latters reign. Bhumibols U. S. birth certificate reads simply Baby Songkla, as the parents had to consult his uncle, King Rama VII, then head of the House of Chakri, for an auspicious name. The king chose a name of Sanskrit origin, Bhumibol Adulyadej, a compound of Bhūmi, meaning Land, Bala, meaning Strength or Power, Atulya, meaning Incomparable, and Tej, meaning Power. Thus, Bhūmibala Atulyateja, or Bhumibol Adulyadej as it is transliterated in Thai, literally means Strength of the Land, Bhumibol was born at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, on 5 December 1927. He was the youngest son of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla and his father was enrolled in the public health program at Harvard University, which is why Bhumibol was the only monarch to be born in the US. Bhumibol had a sister, Princess Galyani Vadhana, and an older brother. Bhumibol came to Thailand in 1928, after his father obtained a certificate from Harvard and his father died of kidney failure in September 1929, when Bhumibol was less than two years old. He briefly attended Mater Dei school in Bangkok, but in 1933 his mother took her family to Switzerland, in 1934 Bhumibol was given his first camera, which ignited his lifelong enthusiasm for photography. When Bhumibols childless uncle Prajadhipok abdicated in 1935, his nine-year-old brother Ananda became the new King Rama VIII, however, the family remained in Switzerland and the affairs of the head of state were conducted by a regency council. They returned to Thailand for only two months in 1938, in 1942, Bhumibol became a jazz enthusiast, and started to play the saxophone, a passion that he kept throughout his life. Bhumibol ascended the throne following the death by gunshot wound of his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, on 9 June 1946, while a first government statement stated that Ananda had accidentally shot himself, an investigation committee ruled this was virtually impossible. Two palace aides were convicted of regicide and executed. Bhumibol succeeded his brother, but returned to Switzerland before the end of the 100-day mourning period, despite his interest in science and technology, he changed his major and enrolled in law and political science to prepare for his duties as head of state
30.
Srinagarindra
–
She was the mother of Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Princess of Naradhiwas, King Ananda Mahidol, and King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Her given name was Sangwan, while her name and title were Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani. In Thailand, she was affectionately called Somdet Ya, the Royal Grandmother, by the various hill tribe people, to whom she was a special patron, she was called Mae Fah Luang, Royal Mother from the Sky or The Heavenly Royal Mother. Princess Srinagarindra was born Sangwan Chukramol on 21 October 1900, in Nonthaburi Province and she was the third of four children, her elder brother and sister died while still young. By the time she was nine years old, she had also lost both her parents and had one remaining sibling, a younger brother named Thomya. Her aunt, Suay, who earned a living by making sweets and rolling cigarettes, Sangwans mother had taught the girl to read. With this elementary skill, she enrolled at the school of Wat Anongkharam. She then studied at Suksanari, but left only a month due to lack of funds. She nonetheless maintained her reading habit by regularly visiting her aunt’s friend and she read the Thai classics, such as Inao, Phra Aphai Mani, and Sangsinchai. At the age of seven, Sangwan found herself at the royal court and her only duty at that time was to present herself at a twice-daily audience with the princess—when she woke up, and again in the evening. Every now and then, she would join the princesss entourage when she went for an audience with her mother, Queen Savang Vadhana, after an accident with a sewing needle, Sangwan was sent to Lord Damrong Baedyakhun, the court physician for surgery. She stayed at his house while continuing her schooling at Satri Wittaya School, sensing that she was feeling listless and unhappy, he asked her if she would be interested in studying nursing. Sangwan answered at once that she would be, Siriraj Hospital had opened a school of midwifery and nursing, but despite the minimum requirement of being able to read and write, had not been able to attract many students. As a further incentive, each student was paid 15 baht per month, Sangwan enrolled as a student of Siriraj School for Midwifery and Nursing in 1913, when she was thirteen. She was two years under the age requirement, but her qualifications more than made up for her young age. She was a student, and on accepting the 15 baht monthly for her expenses. Upon graduation in 1916, she joined the team at the hospital. These scholarship students were expected to return to future generations of medical students
31.
Kitiyakara Voralaksana
–
Kitiyakara Voralaksana, Prince of Chanthaburi was a Prince of Siam, a member of the Siamese Royal Family. He originated the House of Kitiyakara and his descendants use this royal surname. He is the grandfather of Queen Sirikit, consort of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Prince Kitiyakara Voralaksana was born at Grand Palace, Bangkok and he was the 12th child of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam, and Chao Chom Manda Uam. He attended primary school at Suankularb Wittayalai School, Bangkok, in 1885, he went to the United Kingdom, to study Oriental Studies, Pali and Sanskrit at Balliol College, Oxford. In 1902, he became the Minister of Finance, on 26 April 1902, his father gave him the royal title as The Prince of Chanthaburi, translated as Krom Muen Chunthaburi Naruenat (กรมหมื่นจันทบุรีนฤนาถ, the fifth level of the Krom ranks. He had used this title until his fathers death and he established the warehouses or bank for people, saving deposit avoid any dangerous, like thieves, fires, etc. He promoted saving money to the people, and he established the Department of Commerce and he outlined the legal regulation of customs, and updated the revenue and taxation. Then collected all the office in the one department, in the control of the ministry. Moreover, he provided alcohols and opiums into a governments monopoly and he translated the novel Chandrakumarn Chadok from Pali into Thai version. He created the Pali-Thai-Sanskrit-English Glossary, by used the references from the Pali dictionary of R. C, later the Pali Pakorn Association published as the primary edition. But the original had not clearly done, the new edition was established, and has become widely well-known. In his later life, he went to Paris, France, but he died peacefully on 27 May 1931. Later, the Minister of Commerce built his statue stand in front of the Ministry building, and the statue has been still standing. In remembrance that he was the first Minister of Commerce of Siam, the official residence of the House of Kitiyakara is Dheves Palace, Bangkok. Descendants continue to live in this palace
32.
Royal Highness
–
Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes other than monarchs and their female consorts. When used as a form of address, spoken or written. When used as a reference, it is gender-specific and, in plural. Holders of the style Royal Highness generally rank below holders of the style Imperial Highness, by the 17th century, all local rulers in Italy adopted the style Highness, that was once used by kings and emperors only. Thus, the first use of the style Royal Highness was recorded in 1633, gaston, Duke of Orléans, younger son of King Henry IV of France, encountered the style in Brussels and assumed it himself. His children later used the style, considering it their prerogative as grandchildren of France, by the 18th century, Royal Highness had become the prevalent style for members of a continental reigning dynasty whose head bore the hereditary title of king or queen. The titles of members of non-hereditary rulers were less clear. Even in the cases of the titles, they usually only exist as courtesies. The chiefly appellation Kabiyesi is likewise used as the equivalent of the HRH, the title of Archduke or Archduchess of Austria was known to be complemented with the style of Royal Highness to all of the members of the House of Habsburg and later the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. The title of Prince/Princess of the Netherlands with the style of H. R. H. is or may be granted by law to the following classes of persons. The heir apparent to the throne, the spouse of the heir apparent. The children of the monarch, other than the heir apparent, the children of the heir apparent. A Prince/Princess of Orange-Nassau who is not also a Prince/Princess of the Netherlands is addressed as His/Her Highness without the predicate royal and that is the case for example of the children of Princess Margriet, younger daughter of the late Queen Juliana. In the British monarchy the style of Royal Highness is associated with the rank of prince or princess and this is especially important when a prince has another title such as Duke by which he or she would usually be addressed. In the United Kingdom, letters patent dated 21 August 1996 stated that the wife of a member of the Royal Family loses the right to the style of HRH in the event of their divorce. It was for this reason that when the Prince and Princess of Wales divorced, she ceased to be Royal Highness, and was styled Diana, Princess of Wales. Almost a year before, according to the claim of writer Tina Brown. The Princess of Wales is said to have replied, My title is a lot older than yours and she noted that the Spencer family, the family she was born to, is older than the House of Windsor
King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal (First Class)_ribbon.png){kind=small}
Media related to Dipangkorn Rasmijoti at Wikimedia Commons
