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Also
known as Phra Chula Chomklao Chaoyuhua, and the eldest
son of , he was
born in Bangkok on September 20, 1853 and was crowned King on
October 1, 1868, following the death of his father. The first
few years of his reign were under a regency. King Chulalongkorn
is perhaps the most revered of all the
Kings--during his long reign of 42 years 23 days great advances
were achieved for the country.
The
King actively pursued a policy of "modernizing" the
country and had a number of Europeans in his service to oversee
such projects as the building of the first railway in .
He himself made two visits to Europe, one in 1897 and another in
1907, during which he became acquainted with most of the rulers
of Europe. Bonds of friendship between himself and the various
European royal families were formed which exist to the present
day. Not only was he the first Thai king to travel abroad [ he
made several visits to the Straits Settlements, the Malay States
and the Dutch East Indies ] but he also sent his sons to study
in Europe [ to school in England and later for military training
to Denmark, Germany and Russia ].
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. Much beloved by
his people he died on October 23, 1910. |
