Chakri Day (April 6) was first instituted by H.M.
King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in the year 1919 to commemorate all the Kings
in the Chakri Dynasty, which started with Rama I and continues to this
day with Rama IX, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.
The reigning Kings in the House of Chakri brought peace and tranquility
to the people within Thailand’s borders and successfully protected the
Kingdom, maintaining sovereignty and integrity through crucial periods
threatened by European colonization and two World Wars.
In commemorating Chakri Day the national flag is proudly displayed by
the people of Thailand and all government officials and members of the
community participate in traditional ceremonies, making offerings of
flowers and garlands at the many statues of Kings in the House of Chakri.
The Chakri Dynasty, or the “House of Chakri” followed the reign of King
Taksin the Great, when He abdicated due to poor health. The Chakri
Dynasty was ushered in on 6 April 1782 when a close aid of King Taksin,
General Chakri, marched back into Thonburi and assumed the throne as H.M.
King Buddha Yod Fa Chulalok the Great (Rama I). Each Monarch thereafter
has had “Rama” as part of their title.
Banks, government offices and most business offices are closed on
Wednesday, April 6 in observance of this special day.
Chakri
Dynasty - Chronology of the present-day Dynasty of Thailand
King Buddha Yod Fa
Chulalok the Great
(Rama I) 1782-1809
King Buddha Yod Fa Chulalok the Great was chosen King
in 1782, becoming the founder and first ruler of the House of Chakri.
During the year of his accession to the throne he moved the capital from
Thonburi to the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River, thus founding
the city of Bangkok. It was during his reign that the Grand Palace was
constructed and he installed the Emerald Buddha in the Chapel Royal
following its completion. Many historians have stated that modern Siam
dates from his reign.
King Buddha Loet La
Nabhalai
(Rama II) 1809-1824
King Buddha Loet La Nabhalai (Rama II) was the only
Maha Uparaja (Deputy King, appointed by his father King Rama I in 1806)
to eventually succeed to the throne during the period of the Chakri
Dynasty. His reign was a period of consolidating the achievements of the
previous reign and he began the custom of appointing senior princes to
supervise over the different departments of state. He is best
remembered, though, for his interest in the arts. He was an artist,
writer and composer, and the arts flourished during his reign.
King Nang Klao
(Rama III)
1824-1851
During King Nang Klao’s reign trade prospered and
territorial advances were made as the vassal states of the north and
east came more firmly under the rule of Bangkok. During his rule, in
1833, the first treaty with the United States was signed. Extensively
encouraged international trading and education, enhanced promotion of
Buddhism and built many temples.
His Majesty King Mongkut
(Rama IV) 1851-1868
Modernized Thailand in both commerce and education,
and instituted reforms which would adapt the country to western ways.
Known as the “Father of Thai Scientists”, he was famous for his
astrology. Before becoming King, the then Prince Mongkut entered the
monkhood. Ironically, it was this period in monkhood, which required him
to take a vow of poverty and self-denial, that gave Prince Mongkut a
good understanding of statecraft. It allowed him to meet people from all
walks of life, from the humblest to the elite, Thais as well as
foreigners. He traveled to various parts of the Kingdom, barefoot,
depending on offerings of food and other necessities from the people.
From the Thais, he gained an invaluable first-hand insight into their
welfare and livelihood. From the foreigners, he obtained precious
information about the outside world, especially about technology and
science.
King Chulalongkorn the
Great
(Rama V) 1868-1910
King Chulalongkorn the Great is one of the most
beloved and revered of all the Chakri Kings - during his long reign of
42 years 23 days great advances were achieved for the country. He
abolished slavery, extensively contacted the Western world, modernized
the government, education, transportation, and communication. Bonds of
friendship between himself and the various European royal families were
formed which exist to the present day. He successfully managed to
cultivate the idea of Siam as a buffer state between the colonial
possessions of the European powers in South-East Asia. The price he paid
of losing certain border territories was amply rewarded, for Siam was
never colonized - the only country in the region to maintain its
sovereignty throughout the period of colonial expansionism.
King Vajiravudh
(Rama VI)
1910-1925
King Vajiravudh was educated in England and his great
love of literature and poetry in both Thai and English together with his
scholastic abilities was later to manifest itself during his reign.
Among his lasting achievements were devising a system of transliteration
of Thai into English and of translating the entire works of Shakespeare
into Thai. His passion for traditional Thai theater and ballet has left
a mass of published scores which form the basis of the study of these
arts to the present day. He continued the work of Rama V in modernizing
Thailand, promoted education and established the Boy Scouts in Thailand.
King Prajadhipok
(Rama VII)
1925-1935
King Prajadhipok’s reign coincided with the worldwide
economic depression which followed the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and its
effects were not unfelt in Siam. On April 6, 1932 the country celebrated
the sesquicentenary of the Chakri Dynasty - two months later the
eventual transferal of power to a Legislative Assembly began. On
December 10, 1932 King Prajadhipok granted a constitution to the Thai
people, and the Constitutional Monarchy of the present day was born.
King Ananda Mahidol (Rama
VIII),
1935-1946
A direct grandson of King Rama V, King Ananda Mahidol
was the eldest son and second child of H.R.H. Prince Mahidol Adulyadej,
Prince of Songkla. He succeeded his uncle, King Prajadhipok, as King on
March 2, 1935.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
the Great
(Rama IX) 1946 to the present
A true monarch of the people and guiding light for
the whole Thai nation. Saved Thailand from many crises, dedicated to
raising the living standards of the poor, especially in remote regions.
As his reign advances, the growing reverence of the Thai people for
their sovereign has become ever more apparent. On May 5, 1987, to mark
his then forthcoming 60th birthday, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was
proclaimed “the Great”. On July 2, 1988, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the
Great celebrated his record reign - the day on which he had reigned
longer than any of his predecessors. To this day, he remains the longest
reigning monarch in the world.
