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Early
monarchs of the Chakri Dynasty shaped
the Thailand of today
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The absolute monarchs of the early Chakri
Dynasty had a huge role in the development of Thailand.
The influence of colonialism on Southeast
Asia was a major factor in the development of each country.
Thailand’s escape from Western colonization was due to two
farsighted kings who were well educated and who understood
Western thought.
However, foreigners did substantially
influence the economic and social growth of the country. The
trade that grew as a result of the many treaties with Western
nations pushed over the first domino of modernization.
The absolute monarchs, Rama IV and Rama V
in particular, displayed incredible foresight in their
decisions. Colonialism was a huge threat in Southeast Asia
during those early years, and Thailand is the only country in
the region never to have been colonized. It was kept as a
buffer state between French Indochina and the British
controlled Burma. The country managed to maintain its
independence because the kings realized that their country
could only escape Western control by developing and
westernizing the country. This led to major redevelopment of
the country, reorganization of the government and increased
primacy of Bangkok.
The Chakri Dynasty began in 1782 when the
capital of Bangkok, or Krung Thep, was set up in a loop of the
Chao Phraya River, after the golden capital of Ayutthaya was
burned by the Khmer. Absolute monarchs reigned the country
until 1932 when a democratic uprising changed the monarchy
into a constitutional monarchy. Two of these absolute monarchs
in particular had a vital role in planning ahead for their
country. King Mongkut (Rama IV) who reigned from 1850-1868 and
King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) who reigned from
1868-1910 were the two kings that played the most important
roles in Thailand’s escape from colonization. Rama IV and
Rama V were experts in diplomacy as they strengthened Siam and
prevented colonial powers from taking over their country. In
doing so they built an infrastructure, modernized the economy
and westernized Bangkok, creating the city as it is known
today.
King Mongkut
King Mongkut was the first monarch receptive to Western
influence, although still wary of Western dominance. He was
crowned at age 48 after having been in the monkhood for 27
years. This was a huge advantage for King Mongkut as the
education he received in the Wat helped him understand the
West and therefore he knew how to deal with them tactfully. He
realized that if Siam was to be able to meet the Western world
on equal terms, then they must have the modern technology to
do so.
Education
The education King Mongkut received as a monk was invaluable.
He learned English which enabled him to read books on modern
science, geography, history and mathematics. His English
skills also earned him respect from visiting foreign
diplomats. As a monk, King Mongkut was able to travel around
in Siam and meet people on equal terms. This gave him an open,
humane attitude toward his subjects because he saw himself as
an ordinary human being, and thoroughly understood the
problems of his people.
Foreign Policy
King Mongkut’s foreign policy consisted of two ideas. He
wanted to avoid confrontation by making concessions, and he
wanted to give all Western countries equal treatment to avoid
domination by one. He was responsible for the Bowring Treaty
of 1855, which was a treaty of commerce and friendship with
Britain. The treaty imposed concessions on Thailand that
limited tariffs on trade and granted extra-territorial rights
to the British. King Mongkut also established other
Bowring-type treaties with the United States, France, Denmark,
Holland, Portugal, Belgium, Norway, Prussia, Sweden and Italy.
The effects of these treaties on the
capital and government systems were substantial. Although the
treaties helped avert colonialism, problem areas arose within
Thailand’s traditional economic and legal system. The
country needed to modernize fast to accommodate the increase
in trade, production and services. Canal digging and road
construction began. Ships were built both to modernize the
navy and to catch the overflow of trade. The army was
reorganized. Many Europeans were employed to reorganize the
government. These foreign ministers were all from different
countries. The British advised on financing, the French helped
reorganize the law system and the Americans were trusted to
help advise on foreign affairs. With their help, the King
modernized the country and centralized the government.
Domestic Policy
Thailand’s first mint was established around this time,
along with new programs in schools that encouraged the study
of foreign languages. Rice was beginning to be exported so new
canals needed to be dug and new markets opened. The allowance
of farangs, or foreigners, into Bangkok for trade was an
impetus for the construction of new buildings and roads. The
New Road on the east side of the river was built at this time
and new buildings were built along it to accommodate the
growing businesses. Other roads were constructed soon
afterwards, as the King was ashamed of the condition of the
streets and wanted to change their appearance. At this time
roads existed only in the center of the city and near markets,
but the entire nature of the city changed. Bangkok was changed
from its traditional small-scale economy to one focused on
manufactured goods and exports.
King Chulalongkorn
the Great
King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) reigned for 42 years,
from 1868-1910. He continued the far-sighted reforms of
modernization that Mongkut had begun. King Chulalongkorn had
prided himself on the methods with which he westernized Siam
without subjecting it to foreign control, but King
Chulalongkorn was very pragmatic in his reforms. He was
critically selective of which reforms to implicate because he
did not want to erase any traditional values. The most famous
of his reforms was the abolition of slavery. He pronounced
every person born during his reign free, and took steps to
liberate the present slaves by creating incentives for their
owners.
Domestic Policy
King Chulalongkorn made other important internal reforms as
well. He expanded the communication and transportation system
by building the first railroad, post and telegraph services.
These new networks had two great effects on the growth of
Thailand. First of all, every system originated in Bangkok and
radiated out to the provinces, re-strengthening Bangkok’s
primacy. Railroad lines were a good example of this. Not only
were the provinces accessible to the city, the city became
more accessible to the rural community and as a result, rapid
urbanization took place. Second of all, these developments
gave the Thai government much more control over the provinces.
The government was able to send officials to the provinces and
replace the old ruling families with those more favorable to
the Chakri throne. Schools were promoted in the provinces
where the Thai language was taught to give the country a
common language. All of these reforms and more resulted in the
national integration of the entire country. With the
government in control of its outer provinces, there was less
of a chance of colonial takeover. Thailand was united and the
national identity that had formed made it harder for colonists
to take over parts of the country.
Rama V also sent many students to study
abroad for their education. He wanted them to return and be
capable of replacing the foreign advisors that King Mongkut
had used. King Chulalongkorn also created more government
ministers using the West as a model, and thereby centralized
the government even more.
King Chulalongkorn also established a
variety of public utilities. Health and educational standards
for the public were improved. He developed criminal and civil
courts, a police force, hospitals, universities and a teacher’s
college. Chulalongkorn often traveled through Thailand to
personally investigate and share his subject’s conditions.
These trips not only made him more aware of what was going on
in his country, it also made him more popular with the people.
Result of domestic
policy
Chulalongkorn’s domestic policy was very successful. The
colonists’ White Man’s Burden excuse was no longer
applicable. Thailand had gained the respect of the foreigners
who saw it as stable, modern, able to protect treaty rights
and promote trade, all of which were ideal for the westerner’s
needs.
Foreign Policy
King Chulalongkorn’s foreign
policy was also very successful. He had traveled extensively
in Europe in 1897 and met the European royalty on equal terms.
He was the first Thai monarch to travel to the West. He knew
English well and therefore had read books on Western history
and was determined to resist their domination. He knew their
strength and tactics and knew that Thailand could never use
force against them and still be successful. Instead,
Chulalongkorn based his foreign policy on establishing equal
rights for all European powers. He did not want any
confrontations and therefore managed to continue friendly
relations with each country.
King Chulalongkorn made several land
concessions to the French and British. To the French he
granted Laos in 1893, which had been kept as a sort of buffer
state between Siam and French Indochina. Parts of Cambodia,
including Angkor Wat, had been ceded to the French in 1867.
The southern Malay states were taken by the British in 1909
and thus the borders of present day Thailand were established.
In order for the country to be accepted as
independent and a buffer state, the country needed to reform.
Both Rama IV and Rama V foresaw this potential problem, and
although it appears that they ceded many rights away, they
managed to maintain their country’s independence and
dignity. |
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