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King Chulalongkorn

A detailed biography of *King Chulalongkorn (Rama V),* or affectionately known by the Thai people as *"The Beloved Great King,"* covers his personal history, his reforms of the country, and important events during his reign, as follows: 1. Early Life *Birth:* He was born on Tuesday, September 20, 1853, the fourth son of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and the first son of Queen Debsirindra. His original name was *"Prince Chulalongkorn."* *Education:* He received an education in both modern and traditional subjects. He studied literature, Pali language, English language, public administration, swordsmanship, and engineering. Including the firing of firearms. *Accession to the Throne:* *First Coronation:* He ascended the throne on October 1, 1868, at the age of only 15. As he was not yet of legal age, *Somdej Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag)* served as regent. *Second Coronation:* After reaching legal age and completing a 15-day monastic ordination (in 1873), he was crowned for the second time on November 16, 1873, and ruled the country himself from then on. 2. Royal Activities in Social Reform (Abolition of Slavery and Serfdom) This is considered a crucial royal activity that granted freedom to the Thai people. He pursued a gradual approach to prevent unrest: *Abolition of Slavery:* This began with the enactment of the Royal Decree on the Age of Slave Children on August 21, 1874 (retroactive to his ascension to the throne in 1868), which allowed slave children to have their redemption price reduced annually and gain freedom upon reaching the age of 21. Later, on **April 1, 1905**, he proclaimed the **"Royal Decree on the Abolition of Slavery, B.E. 124"**, granting freedom to all slave children and prohibiting the existence of slavery in Siam. *Abolition of the Correspondent System:* He abolished the correspondent system that bound citizens to their lords, replacing it with a conscription system under the "Royal Decree on Conscription, B.E. 124," giving citizens freedom to pursue their occupations. 3. Reform of the Administrative System To create stability and centralize power. (Centralization) Modernizing the country to be on par with the West: *Establishment of Ministries:* In 1892, King Rama V officially proclaimed the establishment of 12 ministries to clearly define responsibilities, such as the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education (overseeing education and religion), and the Ministry of Justice, etc. *Provincial Administration System:* He consolidated various provinces into **"Provincial Administrative Systems"**, with Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the Minister of the Interior, playing a key role in the reform, so that the central government could oversee the provinces more effectively. *Advisory Councils:* He established the "Council of State" and the "Privy Council" at the beginning of his reign (1874) to provide opinions on the administration of the country. 4. Public Utilities and the Economy He laid the foundation for crucial national infrastructure: *Finance:* He established the *"Royal Treasury Department"* in 1873 to systematize national revenue collection, prevent leakage, and prepare the national budget for the first time. *Banking:* The "Book Club" was founded, which developed into the *"Siam Commercial Bank"* (Thai Commercial Bank), the first commercial bank in Thailand, in 1906. *Railways:* He inaugurated the first railway line (Bangkok - Ayutthaya) on March 26, 1896, and later extended the line to Nakhon Ratchasima and other areas. To connect the regions *Other Public Utilities:* *Electricity:* Electricity was first used in the Grand Palace in 1884, and the Samsen Royal Electricity Authority was established. *Water Supply:* A royal decree was issued in 1909 to establish a water supply system, including the digging of a water canal and the construction of the Samsen water treatment plant. *Postal and Telegraph Services:* The Postal Department was established, and postal services began in 1883. *Hospitals:* His Majesty donated personal funds to build Wang Lang Hospital (Siriraj Hospital), which opened in 1888. 5. Foreign Affairs and Maintaining Independence During the era of imperialism, King Rama V pursued diplomatic policies to maintain national independence: *Overseas Travel:* *Asia:* He traveled to Singapore, Java (Indonesia), and India to observe the advancements and systems of governance of Western nations. For application in Siam: *Europe:* Two royal visits to Europe took place, the first in 1897 (R.S. 116) and the second in 1907 (R.S. 125), to foster diplomatic relations with leaders of major powers and to demonstrate Siam's civilization. **Crisis of R.S. 112 (1893):