Chulalongkorn's reign was characterised by the modernisation of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to the British and French.
35 Facts About Chulalongkorn
2.
All his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siam's independence given the increasing encroachment of Western powers, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat.
3.
King Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra and given the name Chulalongkorn.
4.
Chulalongkorn's father gave him a broad education, including instruction from Western tutors such as Anna Leonowens.
5.
Chulalongkorn's health improved, and he was tutored in public affairs.
6.
Chulalongkorn visited Singapore and Java in 1870 and British India in 1872 to study the administration of British colonies.
7.
Chulalongkorn toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, and back to Calcutta in early 1872.
8.
Chulalongkorn was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873.
9.
Chulalongkorn supervised the digging of several important khlongs, such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and the paving of roads such as Charoen Krung and Silom.
10.
Chulalongkorn was a patron of Thai literature and performing arts.
11.
Chulalongkorn's family, the House of Bunnag, was a powerful aristocratic dynasty of Persian descent.
12.
Chulalongkorn appointed Chaturonrasmi to be an executive of the organization, which he closely oversaw.
13.
In 1874, Chulalongkorn established the Council of State as a legislative body and a privy council as his personal advisory board based on the British privy council.
14.
When Prince Yingyot 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.
15.
In 1875, Chulalongkorn sent troops from Bangkok to crush the Haw who had ravaged as far as Vientiane.
16.
Chulalongkorn established the Royal Military Academy in 1887 to train officers in Western fashion.
17.
Chulalongkorn's upgraded forces provided the king much more power to centralize the country.
18.
In 1888, Chulalongkorn moved to institute a government of ministries.
19.
Chulalongkorn dissolved the council altogether and transferred advisory duties to the cabinet in 1894.
20.
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.
21.
Chulalongkorn was the first Siamese king to send royal princes to Europe to be educated.
22.
Chulalongkorn demurred, stating that the time was not ripe and that he himself was making reforms.
23.
Chulalongkorn realised the importance of maintaining the navy and established the Royal Thai Naval Academy in 1898.
24.
Chulalongkorn was the first Siamese monarch to do so, and he desired European recognition of Siam as a fully independent power.
25.
Chulalongkorn appointed his queen, Saovabha Phongsri, as regent in Siam during his travel to Europe.
26.
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.
27.
In 1874, Chulalongkorn enacted a law that lowered the redemption price of household slaves born in 1867 and freed all of them when they had reached 21.
28.
Chulalongkorn needed more effective control of manpower to undo the power of nobility.
29.
In 1906 King Chulalongkorn adopted a Semang orphan boy named Khanung.
30.
Chulalongkorn had 92 consorts during his lifetime who produced 77 surviving children.
31.
Chulalongkorn 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.
32.
King Chulalongkorn died on 23 October 1910 of kidney disease at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall in the Dusit Palace, and was succeeded by his son Vajiravudh.
33.
The royal Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn was finished in 1908 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the king's reign.
34.
Chulalongkorn University, founded in 1917 as the first university in Thailand, was named in his honour.
35.
Chulalongkorn was one of twenty "Most Influential Asians of the Century" for the 20th Century by Time Asia Magazine in 1999.