HIS LABOUR.

King Chulalongkorn Rama V
His Labour's and His Voyages
Imagine, if you will, that you have inherited a large house with spacious gardens.You are a diligent, well-educated person and you know that a lot of house repairs have to be made and a host of weeds removed from the garden. It will take time to put everything in order but, without being asked, foreign neighbours have suggested they help. You are wary of such assistance since you know that the neighbours, although outwardly friendly, are the bullying types and are really looking for a chance to seize part of your large garden.
Such was the delicate predicament facing King Chulalongkorn of Siam although instead of a large house and garden being at stake, it was the territory of his Kingdom and its independence which was at risk.
Since acceding to the Siamese throne in 1868, King Rama V set about a program of reform and modernization for his nation but progress had to be "slow and steady" in order not to alienate his Nobility, Government and people. Bonded slavery was abolished, Government taxation revenues streamlined and centralized, medical services and hospitals created as were police and postal services. Railways and roadways were also on the Monarch's agenda. Upgrading an agricultural country, basically without a communication infrastructure and steeped in heartfelt cultural traditions was a mammoth undertaking especially as the King did not wish to lose any of the Siamese culture in the process of modernization.Foreign experts were engaged to assist in various fields and, generally, these were good men with a sincere desire to assist King Chulalongkorn in the development of Siam but the hidden agenda of their governments was, perhaps, another matter. The "neighbours" were France to the East (French Indo-China Colonies) and Britain to the West and South (Burma & Malaya Colonies). Britain was nibbling at Siam's southern territories but France was taking great bites of territory on the left bank of the Maekhong River (present day Laos & Cambodia). During the course of King Chulalongkorn's reign, Siam had to "give" some 294,000 square kilometers of territory to France while a further 52,000 square kilometers went to Britain.
King Chulalongkorn's learned education and fluency in English allowed him to communicate easily with visiting diplomats so they were usually welcome guests as were other visiting Royalty. King Chulalongkorn gave a sincere greeting and genuine friendship with Tsar Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia at Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. An important visitor to Siam was the Tsarevitch Nicholas who thoroughly enjoyed his visit while staying at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace north of Bangkok. An easy, genuine friendship sprang up between the visiting Tsarevitch and King Chulalongkorn. It was especially appreciated as Russia had no territorial eyes on Siam. Another visitor, in 1881 (the same year as telephone services began in Siam), was His Majesty King Kalakaua of Hawaii. Again the two Monarchs got on famously but, sadly, King Kalakaua was to be the last king of Hawaii as his island Kingdom was later seized and annexed by the United States. Territorial loss was an ever-present worry for the Siamese King as he could see the Great Powers were insatiable in extending their "spheres of influence".King Chulalongkorn regarded the situation as so potentially serious that, in 1897, he embarked on a visit of European countries. He hoped to establish "balancing" friendships and create bonds with as many European nations as possible. Likewise to learn of latest developments, which could be incorporated into Siamese progress, and to arrange for Siamese students to study in European countries. Also, King Chulalongkorn had at least one genuine friend in Europe his visitor to the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace had now become Tsar Nicholas II, Emperor of all Russia.
So began an arduous, nine month, overseas journey with much of its success being credited to Tsar Nicholas II and the inherent "likeability" of King Chulalongkorn. The Tsar had spoken highly of the Siamese King to Austrian Emperor Franz-Josef who had, in turn, spoken to Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II. The road for successful visits was, accordingly, paved as was, most importantly, King Chulalongkorn being accepted as a "Royal equal".The Royal European Progress began in Italy on May 14, 1897 and, after meeting with the Italian King and His Holiness the Pope, King Chulalongkorn moved on to Switzerland, Austria and Hungary before catching up with his friend Tsar Nicholas II at the Peterhof. Throughout his journey, European Crowned Heads and Presidents of Republics welcomed the Siamese King royally, graciously and warmly. Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal were all captivated by the slightly built Siamese Monarch. The Prince of Wales officially welcomed King Chulalongkorn for his five week visit to Great Britain during which he toured extensively and called on Her Majesty Queen Victoria at her Isle of Wight residence (the elderly Queen was preparing for her Diamond Jubilee). Another call was to visit his son who was being educated at Harrow a noted English "public" school.

As it happened, such were the strains between Siam and the French Republic, France had not been included in the Royal itinerary. However, having heard of the magnificent receptions accorded to King Chulalongkorn by other European Heads of State, President Faure of France sent his presidential train to Brussels (where King Chulalongkorn had been visiting King Leopold II) to invite and embark the Siamese King. The reception in France, on 11 September 1897, was magnificently regal and wherever he went King Chulalongkorn was cheered by the French people Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and, indeed, Long champs horse races were all graced by visits from King Rama V. The ordinary people of France were heart-warmed by King Chulalongkorn (and by his gifts to the poor of Paris) but the Government of France never returned the Siamese territory it had taken. But, thanks to these eminently successful State Visits, France could not risk censure and the embarrassment of further bullying tactics. Siamese territorial losses were stemmed!
After visiting fourteen European countries and making many important connections, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, Rama V returned to Siam in the latter part of 1897. Success had been heaped upon success and, in a speech to his Nobles, Government and people, the Siamese King declared "I am determined to do everything in my power to make Siam a free and progressive country". And he did!

KING CHULALONGKORN RAMA V

A few weeks after his 20th birthday in 1873, King Chulalongkorn was crowned King of Siam on 16th October.He had actually acceded to the Siamese Throne at the age of 15, on the death of his illustrious father King Mongkut (Rama IV), but a Council of Nobles considered Chulalongkorn was too young to rule. Thus a Regent was appointed to advise the Boy-King until he reached his age of majority. The Regent was Chao Phraya Suriyawong a most capable and competent man of the Noble Bunnag Family (who had migrated from Persia to Siam centuries earlier).
As was traditional in the Siamese Court, a "Co-King or Second King" was appointed; although opposed by some Nobility, the Regent engineered the choice of Second King perhaps fearing that young King Chulalongkorn would not survive an earlier illness. The Co-King was Grom Phra Rajawang Boworn Wichaicharn and he would accede to the Throne if King Chulalongkorn should die before reaching his 20th birthday. The prince was thirty-two at that time and was able candidate for the throne, but was thus sidelined. He was the son of Co-King Pinklao (during the reign of Rama IV) who named him as "Prince George Washington" after a British King and American President.
Nevertheless, King Chulalongkorn had learned well from his late father and was not prepared to idle away his teenage years. He asserted his will to travel and to learn from such travels. Extremely interested in the Great European Powers which had colonized many of Siam's neighbours (and determined to do his best to avoid a similar fate for his beloved Kingdom), teenage King Chulalongkorn travelled to visit Sir Harry Orde, Governor of Singapore and also a family friend of the Siamese Monarchy, and thence on to Java which was then controlled by Dutch colonists.Hugely interested in all that he saw (and keeping his aides furiously busy in taking notes!), King Chulalongkorn further travelled to the Raj of British India where he was received, with pomp and ceremonial, by Queen Victoria's Viceroy Lord Mayo. King Chulalongkorn was gratified by the welcome he had received from the officers of the Colonial Powers and learned much about their methods and means of governance. If the Kingdom of Siam was to modernize, as had been the wish of his late father, King Chulalongkorn knew that he had to rule decisively, diplomatically and skilfully. He did so with a wisdom that was beyond his years.
Even before the State Ceremonial of his Coronation had finished, King Chulalongkorn began his "Revolution from the Top". As Siam's nobility and military leaders prostrated themselves full-length before the newly crowned ruler, King Chulalongkorn announced, "His Majesty proposes to substitute, in place of crouching and crawling on all-fours, standing upright with a graceful bow of the head…" The gathered assembly of the mighty and powerful drew themselves to a standing position and, with quiet dignity, the collective heads bowed to their new king. That such homage was more suitable was something that King Chulalongkorn had learned from his travels and from his father King Mongkut.
Change and reform continued during the following years as nothing seemed to escape King Chulalongkorn's attention or his desire for the overall welfare of his Kingdom. Slavery (most ordinary Siamese were bonded by some degree of servitude to Noble Families), education and health were all addressed. The conservative, and comfortable Nobility, were not entirely happy with some of the reforms especially with the abolition of hereditary slavery and the centralization of tax-revenue collection. Both of these changes weakened the power of the Nobility, as did the formation of two new committees the Privy Council and Council of State to lend their opinions to their Sovereign.Perhaps the pace and content of some of King Chulalongkorn's decrees alarmed the Nobility that found itself more and more given to support the Co-King. The Co-King (protégé of the ex-Regent) had the right to have his own standing army and also to collect his own tax-revenue. As the Co-King appeared to be gathering support from some Nobility (some others hedged their bets) and allegedly he was increasing the strength of his armaments, it is understandable that King Chulalongkorn was wary of this potential threat.
The situation came to a head when a suspicious fire broke out in the Grand Palace and attempts to douse the flames (or otherwise) brought some of the Royal Guards into confrontation with members of the Co-King's army. King Chulalongkorn was furious (as the fire was a scant twelve feet from the palace gasworks and not far from the saltpetre magazine for the Royal Armoury). The Co-King, apparently fearing his immediate arrest, fled to the haven of the British Embassy where he remained for a good two months.

In the interim, King Chulalongkorn requested Sir Andrew Clarke (the new Governor of Singapore) to come to Bangkok to mediate in any misunderstanding between King Chulalongkorn and his Co-King. This delicate matter, which also involved the former Regent, was successfully resolved to King Chulalongkorn's satisfaction (and to that of Sir Andrew Clarke as he reported to the British Government). The reforming decrees of the Siamese Monarch continued although, perhaps, more slowly and less alarmingly for the Nobility.
King Chulalongkorn indicated that Royal Princes and Members of the Nobility should be better educated and established a place of learning for them within the palace compound. For children of his ordinary subjects, the King proclaimed, "All children, from my own to the poorest, should have an equal chance of education". And so began the opening of many schools.
After delighting in the opening of the first public hospital in 1886, King Chulalongkorn and the hospital supervisor, Dr. Peter Cowan, were dismayed to find the hospital could not attract patients despite there being many people in need. Traditional remedies were still to the forefront of Siamese minds and when it was suggested that beggars, suffering from sores, ulcers and other ailments, should be treated at the new hospital, the beggars themselves rejected this invitation feeling that a cure for their afflictions would deprive them of their livelihood! This deficit of patients was finally resolved when members of the hospital committee ordered any of their ailing employees into the hospital for treatment. Under Dr. Cowan's care and supervision, the many which were helped back to good health spread the word and soon the first of King Chulalongkorn's hospitals had a waiting list!
Chulalongkorn Rama V, King of Siam - whose "new broom" swept away the old manacles of serfdom, launched Siam onto a river of modernization and progress. More was to follow, as were the King's further travels to the heart of the Colonial Powers Imperial Russia, Europe and Great Britain.

KING CHULALONGKORN

King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868 - 1910)

The 23rd October commemorates the death of Maharaj (the Great) King Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Siam (20 September 1853 - 23 October 1910). On this date Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit will pay respects to their illustrious ancestor at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok. The day is a Public Holiday in Thailand and many people will pay homage to King Chulalongkorn at hisequestrian statue in Bangkok. If King Chulalongkorn were alive today, he would be 151 years old. The United Nations' UNESCO voted him as world outstanding leader last year which was recognized on his 150th year anniversary. UNESCO emphasized that King Chulalongkorn contributed his work to promote international understanding, closer relations among people and peace especially in the six areas of education, culture, social science, humanities, social development, and mass communication.

Rama IV, King Mongkut Buddhist Monk, Statesman, Educator and Absolute Monarch of Siam was dead. He died on 1st October 1868 from a form of blackwater fever (related to malaria) which he had contracted when hosting a Solar Eclipse party (at the Wah Gor "Jungle Palace") for foreign diplomats and friends. The Heir Apparent, Prince Chulalongkorn, also attended the Royal Party and, likewise, was stricken by fever. King Mongkut died and teenaged Prince Chulalongkorn survived to become Rama V, King Chulalongkorn.
King Chulalongkorn is one of the most revered monarchs of Siam and, even today, many homes, shops and offices offer respect by displaying his portrait (as well as that of the present monarch H.M. King Bhumibol, Rama IX) and other likenesses. A slightly built, moustached figure, King Chulalongkorn was the Sovereign who, building on his father's teachings, brought Siam very much closer to a modernizing world while keeping his Kingdom independent and free. But the beginning was a delicate series of stepping-stones over which he had to pass. The reason he was too young to rule!
Born on 20 September 1853, Prince Chulalongkorn was the son of King Mongkut and Queen Thepsirinthara. From his earliest childhood he was groomed in the ways of the Royal Court protocol and responsibilities. He was also tutored regularly in basic subjects and, in addition, was brought up to be fluent in English. The Prince had specialized tutors (mostly from overseas) for his wide ranging curriculum but he also learned much from his father, King Mongkut, and had inherited his father's inquiring mind. By the time he was thirteen he was of such responsible bearing he was able to supervise the Monarch's Royal Guards (although his father had not yet appointed him as Second King). At his father's side, he had also met many important visitors to the Grand Palace including ambassadors and envoys from overseas. Prince Chulalongkorn was being well prepared for kingship but he had no idea how soon the mantle would fall on his shoulders. On 1st October 1868 his father died!
Only 15 years of age, Prince Chulalongkorn had now become King Rama V, and he was still weakened from the blackwater fever which had claimed his father. Siam's House of Nobles decided that a Regency must be formed; a Regency that would govern Siam until the King reached his 20th year. The man chosen for the supreme rank of Regency Chairman was from one of Siam's noblest and most capable families the Noble "Bunnag's" (who had migrated from Persia to Siam centuries earlier) he was Jao Phraya Suriyawong.
Prince Yodyingyot headed the Royal Office and Treasury. Perhaps not expecting King Chulalongkorn to survive the malarial illness, it is interesting that Regent Jao Phraya Suriyawong proposed that the eldest son of second (Deputy) King Pin Klao who shared the throne with King Mongkut and made great contributions to the country Prince Yodyingyot (who, strangely, sometimes took the name "George Washington"), to be Second (Deputy) King with the royal rank of Maha Uparaj as H.R.H. Grom Phra Rajawang Boworn Wichaicharn. This proposal was challenged, but overruled. Had King Chulalongkorn died before his 20th year, the result of this manoeuvre could have afforded Jao Phraya Suriyawong long-term power.
Happily, the Regency was largely benign and King Chulalongkorn (well recovered from his illness) was able to work with the members. It is not the Siamese way to be aggressive but young King Chulalongkorn, well aware of his Royal Prerogative, was assertive when it came to realizing his own wishes.
Two of the items on King Chulalongkorn's personal agenda were travel and knowledge of the colonizing superpowers (Great Britain & France) which hovered around his Kingdom. The young King, fluent in English and informed by his father about many European affairs, wanted to visit Europe and see for himself how the colonial giants functioned. By such knowledge, King Chulalongkorn hoped to avoid the colonial jaws that had snapped up Indo-China, the Malayan Peninsula, Burma and India. However, the Regency was alarmed that one so young wished to go as far as Europe so a compromise was reached! King Chulalongkorn would travel abroad (the first Siamese Monarch to do so since the Sukhothai period) on tours of the colonies of the Great Powers. This suited King Chulalongkorn just fine as he would have the opportunity to study the colonial powers within the King's own Asian setting.
In 1870, the Royal Yacht "Pitayam-Ronnayoot" , with 17 year old King Chulalongkorn aboard, set sail for British Singapore. The King was royally welcomed to Singapore by the Governor (he had already been introduced to Sir Harry Orde who had attended the Siamese Royal Eclipse Party) and was acquainted with other Singaporean administrative officials. Next stop for the royal yacht was the Dutch controlled islands of Sumatra and Java (now part of Indonesia). Again a warm welcome was afforded and the King was immediately able to compare similarities and differences between the British and Dutch colonial systems. Not only interested in seeing the sights, King Chulalongkorn asked many pointed questions relating to conditions of the local people, how revenue was raised, education policies, transportation needs and plans indeed, his own accompanying Siamese officials were hard pressed to keep up with their young Sovereign and take notes of all that was discussed.
After this successful and informative tour to Southeast Asia, King Chulalongkorn returned to Bangkok where he gave the benefit of his thoughts and observations to the governing Regency. But there had to be more. Singapore, although commercially busy, was territorially small and the Spice Islands didn't really give a view of the "big picture". The King needed to see and learn MORE!
The following year, 1871, King Chulalongkorn boarded the Royal Yacht "Bangkok" and steamed off to what was the Jewel of Queen Victoria's Crown British India! Thanks to groundwork laid down by his father, The Kingdom of Siam was well known (and regarded) by Raj administrators so there was no hesitation in receiving young King Chulalongkorn. King Chulalongkorn had been impressed during his visit to India by the value and importance of structure and organization in the affairs of state and gradually began to impose structure during his reign. He broke down the large and unwieldy departments of government into smaller and more specific units, some of which further evolved into ministries, and gave structure to the military, realizing their vital rule in defending and maintaining sovereignty of the Kingdom.
Again questions were asked and answered governance, administration, commerce, taxation, medical facilities, army training and so on. In this way the King learned a lot about custom and practice of governing European and civil authorities. Such knowledge would help him enormously, and his Kingdom of Siam, in the years to come.
King Chulalongkorn came of age in 1873 and was crowned on 16 October of that year. As Absolute Monarch, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, of Siam would prove to be one of the greatest Sovereigns, Ruler, Leader and Father to his Kingdom of Siam.

CHULALONGKORN HISTORY

King Chulalongkorn Rama V
The Fifth King of the Chakri Dynasty
Thailand Celebrates many auspicious occasions but none with more feeling or genuine sentiment than the festivities held on October 23rd every year in commemoration of his Majesty King Chulalongkorn.
Born September 20, 1853, King Rama V was to inherit the throne from his father, King Monkut (Rama IV), in 1868 at the tender age of 15. Because he was still a child, Thailand was governed by regency for the first five years of his reign, and the boy King took advantage of the time to travel the world. His father had been one of Siam's most educated monarchs, recognizing the need for education and also the importance of the western world, yet understanding fully the threat of colonization. Wisely, he had instilled these principles in his son who was an apt student. During those first five years, King Chulalongkorn visited most of the major western powers, learning about their cultures, traditions, political organization and technology while in neighbouring countries he spent time making political friends, realizing the need for allies in the fight to prevent colonization. Also during the last days of the regency, King Chulalongkorn became ordained into the monk hood, the first monarch of the Chakri Dynasty to do so during his reign, leaving the monastery just days before his attaining absolute power on October 16th 1873.

On his return to Siam and absolute rule, King Rama V set about the task of reforming his country, a monumental assignment to bring Siam into the modern world. At that time there were no communication systems, ox carts and elephants were the only form of transport and government was administered in some 20 regional "Mini Kingdoms" by Governors whose only loyalty was to themselves. Taxes were collected by ordinary citizens, most of whom were thieves, and law and order was based on "Trial by ordeal" the strongest party being declared the winner of the dispute.
At home, King Chulalongkorn reorganized the Government, appointing 12 ministers, all either his sons or loyal members of the nobility, to run the country centrally from Bangkok. Faced with confrontation, he allowed the Governors of the provinces to continue in their posts but skilfully planted people loyal to the crown into positions where they were gradually able to take over. Abroad, King Rama V continued a diplomatic strategy against the colonizing powers of France and England, one notable exchange being with Queen Victoria. The British Monarch had proposed that the East India Company construct a railroad in Siam but fearful that England would use the project to trick Siam out of its sovereignty, King Rama V sent a message to Queen Victoria saying "Siam is not yet ready for a railroad due to insufficient economy and a relatively low population." He added a note that the ox cart was the most common form of transport and quite sufficient for the time.

In the meantime, forestalling the British attempt to sneak in by the back door, King Chulalongkorn approached other western nations for their technology and skills, encouraging bidding and plans for a railway system. As these experts arrived from across Europe they discussed plans, argued incessantly and could not agree on a strategy. King Rama V made use of these disagreements to forestall even longer until eventually a railroad could be built by a combination of resources from European countries, "giving no single power to any country". Queen Victoria backed off, Siam got its railway and no political power had been compromised.

King Rama V was to become the country's greatest patriarch, siring no less than 77 children (44 girls, 33 boys). At the time, procreation on a large scale was expected of a Siamese King but like everything else he accomplished, fathering a large family was just another part of the big plan. To implement the necessary changes that would bring Siam into the modern world, absolute control was required and government officials needed to be educated, well travelled and above all, loyal to the king. This could only be guaranteed by "placing blood relatives into key posts across the land and to achieve that aim, King Chulalongkorn took many wives and courtesans".

Daughters of high-ranking officials were chosen, thus bestowing honour on the father and securing his political support. The resulting offspring were destined to become the future league of ministers and to this day, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren comprise the present nobility of the Kingdom.
During his 42-year reign, King Chulalongkorn succeeded in establishing a government based on the western system, which ultimately paved the way for the present democracy. He reformed the rule of law, established a proper judicial system and introduced compulsory military service, improving the country's national defence. He introduced the Baht (still in use today) as the official currency and made taxes directly payable to the government, cutting out the corrupt middlemen. King Chulalongkorn also set up Siam's first hospital based on western medical practices, the first medical school and a nationwide education system.
The Thai Nation rightly reveres King Chulalongkorn. The preservation of Thailand's sovereignty and independence, in contrast to other Asian countries that capitulated to colonialism, was a direct result of his efforts. His skills of diplomacy abroad and ability to form a central government at home endeared him to the people. His reign was one of the most successful of any monarch in any country in the world and through his vision and leadership, a small, traditional Kingdom was transformed into a modern Nation at the heart of Asian affairs. The Thai people are proud of him.

KING NARAI THE GREAT FAIR

King Narai the Great Fair
February TBC (Every year)

Processions during The King Narai Great Fair

LopBuri's biggest annual event celebrates the life of the most outward-looking and cosmopolitan of the Ayutthayan monarchs at the Phra Narai Ratchaniwet Palace.

During his reign (1656-1688), Narai the Great developed trade and cultural links with the English, French, Dutch and Portuguese. The fair centers around the palace that the King built because he felt Ayutthaya was vulnerable to attacks from the sea. The entertainment features homage-paying ceremonies, processions, a light and sound presentation, folk entertainment and bazaars.

There are Juk, Ko, Kae and Oai contests, where traditional children's hairstyles are judged. Games include Kee Ma Kan Kuay (riding on the banana tree horse) and Dern Kala (walking on coconut shells). There's also Lop Buri-style dancing, a beauty contest and a parade of floats covered with flowers.

Thai food stalls sell local dishes such as babin (coconut sweets), salty eggs and coconut jelly. Visitors to the fair are encouraged to wear traditional Thai costumes and you can hire them for the day from shops around the station.

KING NARAI AND THE FALCON OF SIAM.

King Narai and the Falcon of Siam

The first Counsellor to King Narai, at the Royal court of Ayutthaya, pressed his personal seal onto the blob of hot wax and waited for the wax to cool. The image impressed on the wax was that of a falcon on the wing a bird of prey.
That first Counsellor was Constantine Phaulkon and he had soared from very humble beginnings to a position of great influence, power and wealth. However, like Icarus, did the first Counselor's falcon fly too close to the sun And what of the man this Constantine Phaulkon, First Counsellor to King Narai of Siam.
Born in 1647 Phaulkon, as a youth, left the beautiful island of Cephalonia in his native Greece and went in search of life, adventure and fortune. He found work as a cabin boy with the British East India Company and work out of London until around 1669. After touring around the Mediterranean several times and gaining experience, the East India Company eventually brought Phaulkon to Indonesia and, in 1678, to the shores of Siam. He was now 31 years of age a charismatic, ambitious, seafaring adventurer with knowledge of languages and international trade. Phaulkon saw great possibilities in Siam and initially found work in the government trading service at Songkhla. With a natural aptitude for language, he began to study the difficult language of Siam and, as he learned, he also climbed the ladder of power as he mixed his knowledge of European trading needs with the exotic products Siam had to offer. Since King Narai and his Nobles controlled all trade, Constantine Phaulkon came quickly to the notice of the Monarch. Phaulkon was promoted to head of Foreign Trade with a royally approved title and name of "Laung Vichayen". The poor boy from the Greek Island of Cephalonia had risen to be on speaking terms with His Majesty, King Narai of Siam.
Phaulkon had been brought up in the Catholic faith (although some reports indicate Greek Orthodox) but, sensing the winds of change during his seafaring days with the British East India Company, had quickly changed to Protestant teachings. Now resident in Siam, he reconverted to the church of Rome under the influence of a French Jesuit priest and additionally, married a deeply Catholic girl of Japanese/Portuguese extraction. Was it, perhaps, because of this reconversion that the French Jesuits supported Phaulkon to be Chao Phraya (Chief/First) Vichayen to King Narai Whatever the reason, Phaulkon had now reached the highest heights and, in favour of the French, had distanced himself from his British exemployers.
King Narai the Great was an outreaching monarch extremely interested in European nations and foreign trade and had welcomed European merchants, religious scholars and people of learning to his Kingdom. This was the Golden Age of Siam with the ornate temples and chedis of Ayutthaya glittering in the sun. Unfortunately, the Dutch were proving a bit heavy-handed so, in an attempt to counterbalance Dutch influence, King Narai sent official ambassadors to France and the Court of King Louis XIV. They were well received and, in turn, His Most Catholic Majesty, King Louis XIV, of France sent a series of three official embassies to King Narai and the Court of Ayutthaya. First Counsellor, Constantine Phaulkon, arranged everything and when the first French delegation arrived, in 1685, acted as interpreter and official "go between". The delegation was warmly received and included not only French diplomatic Nobles but also more French Jesuit priests and some military personnel.
(It should be noted that in the year 1685 Europe was in religious and political ferment the Netherlands and Britain had declared for Protestantism Catholic King Louis XIV had revoked the Edict of Nantes (giving freedom of worship) and thousands of Protestant Huguenots had fled France to escape persecution).
It was with this backdrop of European affairs that Phaulkon worked to serve King Narai and increase his own power and influence. In doing so, it is certain that he created many jealousies from other foreign merchants and also Siamese Nobility who could not understand why their monarch was so influenced by this "foreigner". King Louis XIV, perhaps not realizing that King Narai had invited French influence purely as a counterweight to Dutch demands, had thoughts that the Siamese King was ready for conversion to Christianity. Such thoughts were encouraged by the Jesuit Order and facilitated by First Counsellor Constantine Phaulkon.
After the deliberations of official embassies, King Narai was pleased to accept and alliance with France (to keep the Dutch in place) and the French were delighted to offer their support in exchange for trade, military and missionary privileges. As part of these concessions, it was decided that a French military force of 650 soldiers, under General Desfarges, would be based at Songkhla. When General Desfarges indicated that his troops would be available for the defence of Siam and, indeed, would be honoured to provide a personal bodyguard to King Narai, French soldiers were then garrisoned at Bangkok as well as Songkhla. Assisting in "oiling the wheels" of all negotiations was Constantine Phaulkon. Indeed, Phaulkon knew that if French forces were based at Bangkok they could be a means to lever French influence on the Siamese government. It remained for Phaulkon to persuade King Narai to accept French military offers but he felt he could convince the Siamese Monarch.
However, it was all becoming too much for the Royal Court of Ayutthaya if not for King Narai who always held Phaulkon in high regard. In 1687, a high ranking Court Official, Phra Phetraja, who was also Keeper of the King's Elephants, was so incensed that he formed an "anti Phaulkon" group. Phra Phetraja couldn't understand why "this foreigner" mesmerized his King and other Nobles plus the hierarchy of the Buddhist faith supported him. It appeared there were foreigners everywhere merchants, traders, soldiers and those dreadful Jesuit priests preaching to the simple, Buddhist people of the land. It had to be stopped
The following year, 1688 , King Narai died. He had been suffering from dropsy and ailing for some time. Before the King's death, Phaulkon had tried to persuade King Narai to declare his adopted son, Mom Pi, as his successor. Had this happened, Phaulkon may well have been able to rule the Kingdom as Regent However, Siamese Nobles persuaded King Narai, that Phra Phetraja should be the appointed successor. And so, upon the King's death, Phra Phetraja became the new monarch. He moved immediately against Phaulkon, the Jesuits and the French military. Most were imprisoned but Phaulkon was humiliated, tortured and, finally, executed on 5th July 1688.
Thus ended the life of the boy from Cephalonia. Constantine Phaulkon had risen from nothing to become First Counsellor to King Narai at the Court of Ayutthaya. At his height of power, Phaulkon's life style was magnificent two palaces, a personal, bodyguard of twenty European mercenaries, an extravagant dinner table, wine to and annual value of over 14,000 crowns and everyone, except the French, having to crawl before him. Phaulkon gave loyal service to King Narai but he failed to see that what was good for himself was not necessarily good for the King or the Siamese people. Perhaps he genuinely thought King Narai would be better as a Catholic Christian but that was an arrogant and patronizing thought. King Narai was a devout Buddhist, unshakable in his belief, which reflected the same beliefs of his Siamese subjects. So it is to this day, Siam now Thailand is devoutly Buddhist. The ruins of Constantine Phaulkon's palace, at Lopburi, may be visited and are a reminder that Thailand has never been colonized either by a foreign power or a foreign individual.

KING NARAI

King Narai the Great 1656-1688

Prince Narai succeeded to the Throne of Siam in 1656 at the age of twenty seven. In later years it was noted by a visiting missionary, Father Tachard, that "The King is below average height, but very straight and well set up. His demeanour is attractive and his manners full of gentleness and kindness. He is lively and active and an enemy of sloth. He is always in the forest hunting elephants or in his palace attending to State Affairs. He is not fond of war but when forced to take up the sword, no Eastern monarch has a stronger passion for glory."
This was a time of great affluence for the Siamese Nation and its Capital City was referred to as "Golden Ayutthaya". Contact and trade with neighbouring nations, such as Malay Sultans and, especially, Japan plus the growth of European trading and diplomatic missions brought wealth to Ayutthaya as never before. However, such exposure also brought the risk of unwanted influences in particular from the empire building European countries. King Narai often walked the tightrope of dilemma in balancing pressures from Europe against, more importantly, the protection of his Kingdom of Ayutthaya, his Nobility and Thai subjects.
It was not long into King Narai's reign when, in 1660, Chinese forces invaded and captured the Burmese Kingdom of Ava. Conscious that this could upset the delicate balance of regional power in his northern vassal states, King Narai worried about his northern provinces especially Chiangmai because he wasn't convinced he could trust the ruler of that Lanna Thai kingdom. The King marched north taking Lampang and many of the smaller towns in the Chiangmai region, however, his force was not strong enough to attack Chiangmai and he returned to Ayutthaya in 1661.
Soon after, King Narai marched again on Chiangmai and, aided by his competent military commander Chao Phya Kosathibordi, quelled Chiangmai and brought the city back under his direct influence. During his time in Chiangmai, King Narai married the daughter of the ruler of the city and, later, they had a son Prince Laung Sorasak (who eventually will become Siam's infamous "Tiger King"). With his northern problem taken care of, King Narai was free to address the matter of foreign relationships.

Since the days of King Songtham and King Prasart Thong, the Dutch had enjoyed an almost "most favoured nation" status with Ayutthaya but they were becoming more greedy for trade and bullying in their tactics. King Narai permitted English merchants to open bases in Ayutthaya but the Dutch, very angry at this concession to England, demanded a monopoly for the trading in hides and, until it was obtained, the Dutch East India Company sent a fleet to blockade the entrance to Ayutthaya from the Chao Phraya River.
In the interests of peace, they got their monopoly and also, in 1664 , the signing of a treaty between Ayutthaya and the Netherlands. Perhaps the Dutch were upset at just having lost their settlement of New Amsterdam to the British (who promptly renamed it "New York") because The Dutch East India Company's imperialist style may be noted from one proviso in the treaty which read "In case (God forbid) any of the company's servants shall commit a serious crime in Siam, the King and the judges shall not have the right to judge him, but he must be handed over to the company's Chief, to be punished according to the Netherlands' Law".

Such interference in Ayutthaya's domestic affairs did not impress King Narai, indeed, they caused him great dissatisfaction. As a counterbalance to Dutch pressures, the King welcomed embassies and traders from other European nations England, Portugal and France. Over the years Ayutthaya had sent three Ambassadorial delegations to France; regrettably, the first was presumably shipwrecked off the coast of Africa because it was never heard from again.

The second delegation was chased by Algerian pirates but, on nearing the English Channel, two English warships appeared and escorted the Siamese emissaries to Margate. Whereupon, England Customs and Excise officers seized the gifts for the King of France which they were carrying. King James II of England had his officers release the gifts and, indeed, sent the Ayutthaya delegation on its way to France aboard the English Royal yacht. The French, in turn, sent three embassies to Ayutthaya in 1685, 1686 and 1688. With the French delegations came those not in search of diplomacy or trade but in the harvest of souls they were the Jesuits of Loyola!
It should be mentioned that in 1678 a certain Greek cabin boy, aboard one of the English East India Company vessels, arrived in Siam. He was Constantine Phaulcon and he rose to great importance in the Royal Court of Ayutthaya. Accordingly, when the French emissaries arrived, accompanied by the Jesuit missionaries, Constantine Phaulcon was there to assist and interpret for them.
King Narai welcomed the French ambassadors and, likewise, the Jesuits because among their number were men of skills and mathematics. Men like Father Thomas who, aside from missionary intentions, was also an engineer and architect. In fact, Father Thomas assisted King Narai in construction projects at Ayutthaya, Bangkok and Thonburi. The King trusted these missionaries and gave them land on which to build their own homes and sacred places. A hidden agenda was never thought of.

The French missionaries, delighted by the great favours betstowed upon them by the King of Ayutthaya, began to think that their harvest was ripe and that King Narai had leanings towards the Church of Rome. This was also to the political plans of France's King Louis XIV who, by converting King Narai to Christianity, would gain favour with His Holiness The Pope. They could not have been more wrong in interpreting kindnesses shown as a conversion made!

The King's Nobles were becoming very agitated by the apparent foreign influence in Ayutthaya. There were forts garrisoned by French troops, Europeans were housed in splendid style, Catholic missionaries were preaching to the Siamese people and the most eminent Advisor to the King was Greek! It was all most distasteful to the Siamese people and their Nobility and considered a great risk to state security. In 1687, an "Anti-Foreign Party" was formed and it was headed by Phra Phetraja who was a long-time favourite of King Narai's. Sadly, King Narai was gravely ill at this time but, before passing away, appointed Phra Phetraja to be his successor.
King Narai, The Great died from dropsy the following year in 1688. He further opened his Kingdom to trade, commerce and diplomacy Golden Ayutthaya blossomed. But he also took risks in permitting Europeans to have too great an influence at his Royal Court. Despite those European pressures, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya survived intact and foreign influence was brought under control.

KING TAKSIN THE GREAT.

• In this section of Thailand's World.com we will detail those people and their role in the history of Thailand and the reason for their respect in the hearts and minds of Thai people today. Here is the story of a Thai General who after the sacking of Ayutthaya and Thailand generally by the invading Burmese in 1767 escaped to reform a new army and to conquer the Burmese and their allies, retake control of Siam and reform a new government. His buildings and bronze monuments can be seen in Thonburi. In recognition of what Taksin accomplished for Thailand The Thai Cabinet resolved to entitle him as '' King Taksin the Great '', and since 1954 there has been an annual state ceremony to remember and pay homage to his memory.
• Taksin [ originally named '' Sin '' ] was born in 1733. His father was a Chinese migrant from China named Haihong of the Teochiu ethnic group and his mother was a Thai called Nok Lang. The chronicles tell us that originally Sin was a trader who later, in recognition of services he had rendered, was appointed Governor of Tak Province. In 1765, '' Phraya Tak '' as he was then called, came to Ayutthaya to help defend the city from the burmese. In recognition of his work he was promoted to the title and rank of Phraya Wachira Prakan, Governor of Kamphaeng Phet. Kamphaeng Phet was a fortified out post city.
• During the encirclement of Ayutthaya by the Burmese, General Taksin and his army escaped and with armies and supplies from vassal states in East Thailand was able to regain independence for the Siamese within 6 months. The Kingdom of Siam was fragmented but after the establishment by Taksin of the new capital in Bangkok Taksin was able to wrest control back to the new Kingdom of Siam. Taksin tackled the problems of consolidation of the Siam Empire, wars with Cambodia and Burma, as well as domestic economic and administrative issues. This Taksin did as well as restore national identity with religion and the arts.
• Taksin selected Bangkok as the new capital as it was impossible to restore Ayutthaya to its original condition and secure its defences for the future. Bangkok had excellent forts and its location was an important point of entry for foreign trade [ and weapons ]. In 1773 King Taksin commanded the renovation of the city and named it Krung Thonburi. Thonburi remained the capital for 15 years.
• In 1781 there was a rebellion against King Taksin and he was executed on 6th April 1782 at the age of 48 after a 15 year reign. The method of execution was, as for nobility, to be put inside a silk sack and clubbed to death. Popular myth has it that someone else was put in the sack and Taksin spent his final years in South Thailand. This appears unlikely as the standard procedure at the time was alo to kill heirs of those you wanted to remove from office as well so as to finally remove any possible future claims.