Rama I - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Rama I - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_I
Rama I
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Thai:

), born Thongduang (Thai: ) and also known as
Rama I (20 March 1737 7 September 1809), was the
founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of
Chakri of Siam (now Thailand). His full title in Thai is Phra
Bat Somdet Phra Paramoruracha Mahachakkriborommanat
Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Thai:
). He
ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which
had deposed King Taksin of Thonburi. He was also
celebrated as the founder of Rattanakosin (now Bangkok) as
the new capital of the reunited kingdom.
Rama I was born from a Mon family where his father served
in the royal court in the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, and had
served King Taksin in wars against the Burmese Konbaung
dynasty and helped him in the reunification of Siam. During
this time he emerged as Siam's most powerful military leader.
Thongduang was the first Somdet Chao Phraya, the highest
rank the nobility could attain, equaled to that of royalty. In
1782, he took control of Siam and crowned himself as the
monarch. The most famous event in his reign was the
Burmese-Siamese War of 1785, which was the last major
Burmese assault on Siam.
Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great

King Rama I
King of Siam
Reign
6 April 1782 7 September 1809
Coronation 6 April 1782

Predecessor Taksin of Thonburi
Contents
Successor
Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II)
Vice King
Maha Sura Singhanat

Isarasundhorn (Rama II)
1 Name
2 Early life
2.1 An Ayuttayan aristocrat
2.2 Service under Taksin
2.3 Military leader
3 Ascension as King
4 Foreign Policy and War
4.1 Vietnam and Cambodia
4.2 Wars with Burma
5 Economics, Culture and Religion
6 Death and legacy
7 In Memoriam
8 References
9 See also
Spouse
Queen Amarindra
Issue
42 sons and daughters with various

consorts
House
Chakri Dynasty
Father
Thongdi (later Somdet Phra Prathom Borom

Maha Rajchanok)
Mother
Daoreung
Born
20 March 1737
Ayutthaya, Kingdom of Ayutthaya
(Siam)
Died
7 September 1809 (aged 72)

Grand Palace, Bangkok, Kingdom of
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Name
Siam
Religion
Buddhism
Like other high-ranking figures of old Siam, Rama I's name

changed several times during his lifetime, depending on his
respective position, and even posthumously the way he was referred to change. His name at birth was
Thongduang (also spelled Thong Duang ), family names had not yet been introduced in Siam at that
time.
When Thongduang served as deputy governor of Ratchaburi Province during the rule of King Ekkathat of
Ayutthaya, he bore the title of Luang Yokkrabat. After the demise of Ayutthaya, the new king Taksin to whom
he served as an important military commander, awarded him successively the titles of Phra Ratcharin Chao
Krom Phra Tamruat (head of the police department), Phraya Aphaironnarit,[1] Phraya Yommarat, Phraya
Chakri and Chaophraya Chakri (minister of the northern provinces). Finally Taksin created him the title of
Somdet Chaophraya Maha Kasatsuek, a noble title as high as no Siamese official had born before him, making
him quasi-royalty.
When he ascended to the throne in 1782, he took the name Ramathibodi, just like the founder of the Ayutthaya
Kingdom. His full title was much longer (Phra Borommarachathirat Ramathibodi Sisin Borommaha
Chakkraphat Rachathibodin etc.), intended to demonstrate his universal claim to power like of earlier Siamese
kings.
After his death, the people referred to him simply as Phaendin Ton ("the first reign"), to his son as Phaendin
Klang ("the middle reign"). Continuing this system consequently, his grandson Rama III would have been "the
last reign". To avoid this inauspicious title, he ended this practice by donating two Buddha statues that were
placed to the sides of the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaeo and dedicated one each to his father and
grandfather. He demanded to refer to his two predecessors using the names of these Buddha statues. The one
dedicated to the first Chakri king was named Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok ("the Buddha on top of the sky and
the crown of the worlds"). This is how this king is still referred to in Thai history books.[2]
His descendant Vajiravudh (Rama VI) who had studied in England, realised that most Siamese kings' names
were difficult to reproduce and remember for Westerners. He therefore disposed to use for all kings of the
Chakri dynasty the name Rama together with the respective ordinal number. So this king is Rama I in Western
literature. In 1982, 200 years after his accession, the Thai cabinet decided to award him the epithet Maharat
("The Great").
Titles and styles
1737-1758: Nai Thongduang ( )
1758-1768: Luang Yokkrabat of Ratchaburi Province ()
1768: Phra Ratcharin ()
1768-1769: Phraya Aphairanarit (
1769-1770: Phraya Yommarat ()
1770-1778: Chao Phraya Chakri ( )

1778-1782: Somdet Chao Praya Maha Kasatsuek etc. (

)
1782-1809: Phra Bat Somdet Phra Borommarachathirat Ramathibodi Sisin Borommaha Chakkraphat

Rachathibodin etc. (

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)
Posthumously renamed by King Rama III as: Phra Bat Somdet Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (
)
Posthumously renamed by King Mongkut as: Phra Bat Somdet Phra Paramoruracha
Mahachakkriborommanat Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (
)
Posthumously renamed by King Vajiravudh (for use by Westerners) as: Rama I
Posthumously renamed by the Thai cabinet in 1982 as: Phra Bat Somdet Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok
Maharat ( )
Early life
An Ayuttayan aristocrat
Thongduang was born in 1737 in the reign of King Boromakot of Ayutthaya. His father was Thongdi, a Mon
noble serving the royal court (posthumously raised to Somdet Phra Prathom Borommahachonnok "the grand
primordial father") who was Phra Akson Sunthonsat (Royal Secretary of northern Siam, Keeper of the Royal
Seal). Phra Akson Sunthonsat was also a descendant of Kosa Pan, the leader of King Narai's embassy to the
French court.[3][4] His mother, Daoreung (original name Yok), was part-Chinese.[5][6][7] Thongduang had six
other siblings.
Thongduang at a young age entered the Royal Palace as one of the royal pages of King Uthumphon, where he
met his childhood friend Taksin. In 1757, aged 21, he became a monk temporarily, in accordance with Siamese
custom. In 1760, he married Nak, daughter of a town patron in Samut Sakorn. He was later appointed the Luang
Yokkrabat (deputy governor) of Ratchaburi Province by King Ekkathat in 1758.
Service under Taksin

On the eve of the fall of Ayutthaya, Phraya Wachiraprakan (later King Taksin) had foreseen that the fall of the
city was certain. Wachiraprakan decided to break the siege of the city of Ayutthaya by the Burmese army and
establish a new base outside. Phraya Ratchaburi also joined this venture. In 1767, Ayutthaya under King
Ekkathat fell to Burmese invaders, the city was completely destroyed; burned and looted. Local warlords rose
up to establish their supremacy in the absence of a central authority.
Despite the fall of Ayutthaya, Taksin and his men in the same year managed to capture Chantaburi and Trat.
During this time Phraya Ratchaburi became one of Taksin's six ministers[8] and together with Phraya Pichai
they were regarded by Taksin as his two most valuable generals.
Military leader
Swiftly Taksin made a strategic plan and under it recaptured Ayutthaya in one year. In 1768 Taksin crowned
himself and founded the Kingdom of Thonburi on the west bank of the mouth of the Chao Phraya river, using
Thonburi as a new capital. Under the new Thonburi regime, Thongduang was appointed head of the royal police
department, bearing the title Phra Ratcharin. After subjugating the warlord of Phimai with his brother Bunma
(at that time called Phra Mahamontri, the future Maha Sura Singhanat), he was raised to Phraya Aphairanarit.
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After the campaign to subdue the lord of Fang in 1769, Thongduang was raised to Phraya Yommarat and in the
next year became Chao Phraya Chakri the Samuhanayok (chief minister of the northern provinces). Chakri
commanded the Siamese troops in the wars against Burma and went on to subjugate Cambodia. His brother
Bunma (who by that time held the title of Phraya Anuchit Raja), accompanied him in various campaigns.
Chakri and his brother were sent to the north to Lan Na in 1774 to free the kingdom from Burmese rule with the
help of Kawila, a prince from Lampang. In 1776, he conquered Khmer Pa Dong (around modern Surin). He was
assigned the task of conquering Lao kingdoms in 1778 and all the three kingdoms (Vientiane, Luang Prabang,
Champasak) fell to the Siamese in the same year. He was eventually raised to Somdet Chao Phraya Maha
Kasatsuek, the first official to ever hold this rank.
Ascension as King
In 1781, he went on the campaigns against Cambodia, only to return
prematurely due to the instability of Thonburi. The rebellion of Phraya
San had broken out and the rebels deposed King Taksin. Some sources
report that Taksin was consigned to a monastery. After arriving in
Thonburi in 1782, Chao Phraya defeated the Phraya San with his
forces. Later sources widely reported that the general eventually
executed the ousted Taksin, contradicting to some earlier sources. He
then seized power and made himself King, establishing the Chakri
Dynasty, which continues to rule Thailand to this day.
General Maha Kasatsuek crowned himself on 6 April 1782. Soon after,
he decided to move the capital of Siam to the east bank of the Chao
Mural of the epic Ramakien, written by
Phraya river for several reasons, including its better strategic location
the King, the Thai version of the
and a desire to promote his legitimacy by starting from a clean slate.
Ramayana, on the walls of the Temple
He decided to name his new capital "Rattanakosin" ("Keeping place of
of the Emerald Buddha, Grand Palace,
the Emerald Buddha"). Rama I also raised various members of his
Bangkok.
family to royalty. He appointed his brother Surasi (Anuchit Raja) or
Maha Sura Singhanat as the "Front Palace" (conventional title of the
viceroy and heir apparent) and his nephew Thong-In or Anurak Devesh as the "Rear Palace".
The King had 42 children. Ten of these were born to Queen Amarinda, the others by various concubines. The
Queen's children included Prince Isarasundhorn, later King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II) (whom the King
appointed as Front Palace after the death of Maha Sura Singhanat in 1803), Prince Maha Senanurak and Prince
Maha Sakdi Polsep.
Foreign Policy and War

Vietnam and Cambodia
In 1784-1785, the last of the Nguyn Lords, Nguyn nh, convinced Rama I to give him forces to attack
Vietnam, which was then under the control of the Ty Sn brothers. However, the joint Nguyn-Siam fleet was
destroyed in the Battle of Rach GamXoai Mut in the Mekong Delta region. Nguyn's appeal for Siamese
assistance enabled the Siamese to exert considerable political influence over Nguyn's court. Mac Tu Sinh, the
son of Mc Thin T and his Siamese wife, was raised among the Siamese, and held office as the governor of
H Tin until his death in 1787. Ngo Ma, a general of Siamese descent, was appointed as its acting governor in
Mac's place.[9] Nguyn nh also took refuge in Siam at the King's court waiting for the opportunities to defeat
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Ty Sn. These episodes demonstrated Rama I's willingness to extend Siamese power beyond his Kingdom.
In Cambodia, King Reamraja of Cambodia was deposed in 1779 and the throne was given to his son, the young
Ang Eng. However, the pro-Vietnamese policies of certain Cambodian aristocrats under Ang Eng alarmed
Rama I. As a result, Rama I had Ang Eng captured and deported to Bangkok, where he became Rama's adopted
son to implant pro-Siamese sentiments on him. Rama I also imposed Chao Phraya Abhaya Bhubet as the Regent
of Cambodia.
Nguyn nh secretly left for Vietnam in 1787, leaving Rama I a note. Nguyen managed to recapture Saigon by
1788 and later ascended as Emperor Gia Long in 1802.[10] (Thai; Phrachao Vietnam Ya Long)
In 1794, upon Ang Eng's majority, Rama I reinstalled him as the
Narairaja III of Cambodia. The area around Siemreap and
Battambang was annexed by Siam, and were governed by Abhaya
Bhubet. However, Rama I allowed these territories to be ruled in
accordance with Cambodian traditions.
Wars with Burma

Soon King Bodawpaya of Burma started to pursue his ambitious
campaigns to expand his dominions over Siam. The BurmeseSiamese War (17851786), also known in Siam as the "Nine
Armies War" because the Burmese came in nine armies, broke out.
The Burmese soldiers poured into Lanna and Northern Siam.
Statue of Rama I at the Phra Phutthayotfa
Siamese forces, commanded by Kawila, Prince of Lampang, put up
Memorial Bridge, Bangkok (1932)
a brave fight and delayed the Burmese advance, all the while
waiting for reinforcements from Bangkok. When Phitsanulok was
captured, Anurak Devesh the Rear Palace, and Rama I himself led Siamese forces to the north. The Siamese
relieved Lampang from the Burmese siege.
In the south, Bodawpaya was waiting at Chedi Sam Ong ready to attack. The Front Palace was ordered to lead
his troops to the south and counter-attack the Burmese coming to Ranong through Nakhon Si Thammarat. He
brought the Burmese to battle near Kanchanaburi. The Burmese also attacked Thalang (Phuket), where the
governor had just died. Chan, his wife, and her sister Mook gathered the local people and successfully defended
Thalang against the Burmese. Today, Chan and Mook are revered as heroines because of their opposition to the
Burmese invasions. In their own lifetimes, Rama I bestowed on them the titles Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri
Sunthon.
The Burmese proceeded to capture Songkhla. Upon hearing the news, the governors of Phatthalung fled.
However, a monk named Phra Maha encouraged the citizens of the area to take up arms against the Burmese,
his campaign was also successful. Phra Maha was later raised to the nobility by Rama I.
As his armies were destroyed, Bodawpaya retreated. The next year, he attacked again, this time constituting his
troops as a single army. With this force Bodawpaya passed through the Chedi Sam Ong pass and settled in Tha
Din Daeng. The Front Palace marched the Siamese forces to face Bodawpaya. The fighting was very short and
Bodawpaya was quickly defeated. This short war was called the Tha Din Daeng campaign.
Economics, Culture and Religion

Chinese immigration increased during Rama I's reign, who maintained Taksin's policy of allowing Chinese
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immigration to sustain the country's economy. The Chinese were found mainly in
the trading and mercantile sector, and by the time his son and grandson came to the
throne, European explorers noted that Bangkok was filled with Chinese junks of all
sizes.[11]
The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of

the king's many construction projects.
Rama I moved the capital from

Thonburi, which was founded by his
predecessor Taksin, and built the new
capital Bangkok. During the first few
years prior to the founding of the
current capital, he saw the construction
of the palaces and the Chapel Royal.
The Chapel Royal or Wat Phra Kaew of
which the Emerald Buddha is enshrined
is located within his Royal Palace or the
Grand Palace. With the completion of
the new capital, Rama I held an official
ceremony naming the new capital.[12]
Monarchs of
the Chakri Dynasty
Yotfachulalok
(Rama I)
Loetlanaphalai
(Rama II)
Nangklao
(Rama III)
Mongkut
(Rama IV)
Chulalongkorn
(Rama V)
Vajiravudh
(Rama VI)
Prajadhipok
In 1804, Rama I began the compilation of the Three Seals Law, consisting of old
Ayutthayan laws collected and organized. (From left to right the seals are: 1. The
Royal Lion of the Minister of the Interior; 2. The Trunked Lion of the Minister of
Defence; and 3. The Crystal Lotus of the Minister of the Port.[13]:p.9/30) He also
initiated a reform of government and the style of Kingship.
(Rama VII)
Ananda Mahidol
(Rama VIII)
Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Rama IX)
Rama I was also noted for instituting major reforms in Buddhism as well as
restoring moral discipline among the monks in the country, which had gradually
eroded with the fall of Ayutthaya. Monks had already dabbled in superstitions when he first came to power, and
Rama I implemented a law which required a monk who wished to travel to another principality for further
education to present a certificate bearing his personal particulars, which would prove a monk own's legitimacy
that he had been properly ordained. The King also repeatedly emphasised in state ceremonies to place devotion
to the Buddha, and not over guardian spirits and past rulers, of which vestiges of ancient Animist worship had a
persisted among the Thais prior to his rule.[14]
The King also appointed the first Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism, whose responsibilities included the duty
of ensuring that Rama I's laws are maintained which was to ensure law and order within the Buddhist
Sangha.[15] Rama I's passion for literature, which was also connected with his concern for Buddhist order
within the country. He was noted for advocating Thai translation of important Pali works.[16] and Buddhist texts
lost in the chaos after the sacking of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767, some were salvaged under the direction
of Rama I. He also wrote a Thai version of the Ramayana epos called Ramakian.
Rama I also, renewed the relationship with the Vatican and the Jesuits. Missionaries who were expelled during
the Taksin's reign, were invited back to Siam. Catholic missionaries's activities then continued in Siam.
Reportedly the numbers of local Catholics increased steadily to thousands as their churches were protected,
gaining freedom to propagate their belief again.[17]
Death and legacy

King Rama I died on 7 September 1809 after a short but acute illness,[18] he was succeeded by his son Prince
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Isarasundhorn as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai or Rama II.

Siam during the reign of Rama I reached a new height of power not seen since the sixteenth century. Militarily
Siam was able to successfully repel Burmese invasions and exerted control over Laos and Cambodia and
Vietnam. Culturally Rama I also encouraged cultural works to rehabilitate people after the successive series of
wars and built many temples and monuments during his reign. His policies laid the foundation for Siam to
expand within the next decades.
In Memoriam
6 April is Chakri Memorial Day, a holiday to commemorate the founder of the Chakri Dynasty.
References
1. Klaus Wenk (1968). The restoration of Thailand under Rama I,
Wikimedia Commons has
1782-1809. The University of Arizona Press. p. 3.
media related to Rama I.
2. Sulak Sivaraksa (1985). Siamese Resurgence: A Thai Buddhist Voice on
Asia and a World of Change. Asian Cultural Forum on Development.
p. 175.
3. Chris Baker, Pasuk Phongpaichit (2005). A History of Thailand. Cambridge University Press. pp. 32 and 288.
ISBN 0-521-81615-7.
4. The following article was written by King Rama IV of the Kingdom of Thailand in 1855 in response to the British
Governor to Hongkong. And another related article from (http://www.mrc-usa.org/thai-king-letter.htm) The Nation
newspaper on 13 December 1999.
5. Britannica encyclopedia (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9062561/Rama-I)
6. Down Sampeng Lane: The Story of Bangkok's China Town (http://www.cpamedia.com/articles/20060622_04/)
7. Thailand, doing business in (http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Str-The/Thailand-Doing-Businessin.html)
8. Clark D. Neher. Modern Thai Politics: From Village to Nation. Transaction Publishers. p. 50. ISBN 0-87073-916-6.
9. Nola Cooke, Tana Li (2004). Water Frontier: Commerce and the Chinese in the Lower Mekong Region, 1750-1880.
Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-7425-3083-3.
10. Nicholas Tarling (1999). The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 584.
ISBN 0-521-35505-2.
11. Chris Baker, Pasuk Phongpaichit (2005). A History of Thailand (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0521816157).
Cambridge University Press. pp. 323. ISBN 0-521-81615-7.
12. Urban Council. Sculptures from Thailand: 16.10.82--12.12.82, Hong Kong Museum. University of California. p. 33.
13. Dhani Nivat, Prince (1955). "The Reconstruction of Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty" (http://www.siamese-heritage.org
/jsspdf/1951/JSS_043_1c_PrinceDhaniNivat_ReconstructionOfRamaI.pdf) (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society (Siam
Society Heritage Trust) 43 (1). Retrieved January 17, 2013. "First page of the Law Code of 1805"
14. Nicholas Tarling (1999). The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 2212.
ISBN 0-521-35505-2.
ISBN 0-521-35505-2.
ISBN 0-521-35505-2.
17. http://www.sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2002/Oct-Dec/Catholic_Church_in_Thailand.htm
18. hunlahakkraphong (1960). Lords of Life: The Paternal Monarchy of Bangkok, 1782-1932. Taplinger. p. 114.
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Rama I
Chakri Dynasty
Born: 20 March 1737
Died: 7 September 1809
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Taksin
(of Thonburi)
King of Siam
17821809
Succeeded by
Buddha Loetla
Nabhalai
See also
List of people with the most children
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rama_I&oldid=667924067"
Categories: 1737 births 1809 deaths 1782 crimes Chakri Dynasty Thai people of Mon descent
Thai people of Chinese descent Thai monarchs Buddhist monarchs Regicides
People from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
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Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Thai:

Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great

6 April 1782 7 September 1809

Coronation 6 April 1782

Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai (Rama II)

Maha Sura Singhanat

42 sons and daughters with various

Thongdi (later Somdet Phra Prathom Borom

7 September 1809 (aged 72)