Renata KowalskaIn the early medieval era, Thailand experienced a period of peace. The country was ruled by various monarchs for different reasons, but ultimately, it came to be known as “the land of the lily” because of its lush green nature. There were numerous royal courts in Thailand, and each one of them had its own customs and traditions. However, there was one shared trait between all the monarchies: they were all related to Buddhism. In other words, Thai royals believed in Thailand as their home. One might ask why then, if most Thai people are now so devoted to nationalism and democracy? In this article, we’ll explore why some Thais still love their monarchy and others embrace nationalism more than 100 years after the last Thai monarchy was removed from power.
If you are thinking about going abroad consider visiting a dentist before! Healthy teeth will help you avoid many bad situations.
Before traveling, remember to vaccinate. You will perform them in the travel medicine clinic.
Thailand’s History of War and Love
The early history of Thailand is closely linked to the story of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. This kingdom was built by King Ramathibodi I in the 15th century and achieved prominence during the Ayutthaya period. Ramathibodi I was the son of I King Mahasamanachai, King of Luang Prabang. He was born in 1425 and ascended the throne in 1438. His reign was marked by constant warfare with the Burmese, who were attempting to invade the country and annex it to their kingdom. Ramathibodi I, who was a great warrior and was also a great scholar, made attacks on the Burmese Empire and expanded his kingdom. He was able to expand the borders of his kingdom from what was then the eastern end of the Irrawaddy River to the western end of the Salween River. The Burmese forces were so weak that the king of Arakan attacked the Arakanese instead of the king of Ayutthaya. In order to protect his kingdom, the king of Ayutthaya had to fight the Arakanese forces, and this resulted in the loss of many territories. Ramathibodi I was a great leader and strategist. His peaceful reign came to an end when a Burmese invasion force marched into Ayutthaya. The Burmese were so strong that they were able to defeat the king of Ayutthaya and annex the kingdom to their kingdom. The Burmese invaded Ayutthaya again in 1568 and again in 1767, and as a result, the city of Ayutthaya was destroyed by fire on many occasions. Archaeologists have discovered that the walls of the city were made of a special type of cement that was baked in special ovens. The Burmese finally withdrew from the area in 1767 and allowed the people of Ayutthaya to rebuild their city.
Thai Monarchy: An Ancient Institution with a Recent History
In the 12th century, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk named Devavamsa founded a new religion in Thailand. He was a staunch advocate of monarchy and believed in a strict adherence to the teachings of the Buddha. He established a number of monasteries in Thailand, one of which was Wat Bench Plaisir, which is still in operation today. The monarchy that was established by Devavamsa followed the principle of “royal son,” which meant that the king was a direct descendant of the Buddha. This system was continued even after Buddhism was replaced as the official religion in Thailand. In the early days of the Thai monarchy, the kings were able to keep their power by establishing a strong army. However, this army was composed of both soldiers and monks. The kings were able to maintain their control over the country because the people were mostly farmers and were not educated enough to overthrow the monarchy. The monarchy changed drastically when King Mongkut of Siam established the first Thai constitution. The monarch’s powers were drastically reduced, and it was made mandatory for the king to be a member of a noble family. Mongkut was able to do this because the Thai people were now literate and were able to read and write. Mongkut was also able to establish the first Thai university, Thammasat, which became the center of Thai culture. After Mongkut, several other Thai kings tried to establish constitutions, but most of them were overthrown by military coups.
Before traveling, remember to vaccinate. You will perform them in the travel medicine clinic.
The last Thai monarchy, the House of Rattanakosin
King Mongkut was succeeded by his son, King Chulalongkorn, who was also a very important figure in Thai history. He modernized the Thai constitution and established ministries. He was also responsible for reforms in the education system. Chulalongkorn had a number of wives and children. As a result, the House of Rattanakosin was formed, which is the current ruling family of Thailand. The last king of this house is King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is the world’s longest-serving living monarch. The current king is 86 years old and has been on the throne for 65 years. The Thai monarchy is one of the longest-lasting and most stable in the world. In 2016, Bhumibol Adulyadej became the world’s longest-serving living monarch when his father, King Mongkut, died at the age of 88. A lot of people believe he should be the one to step down from the throne, but Bhumibol has consistently said he does not want to abdicate.
Why do some Thais love their Monarchy?
The fact that the Thai monarchy is more than a hundred years old and has survived for so long is evidence that Thais still love the monarchy. Many Thais believe that the monarchy is still an important part of Thai culture, and they would not want to see it change. They believe that the monarchy is an important part of Thai history and deserves to be protected. The fact that the current king has been on the throne for 65 years is also evidence that many Thais still love their monarchy. The current king is the world’s longest-serving living monarch and is still very popular with the people.
If you are wondering what vaccinations you should visit before traveling abroad, read about it on the Vaccines and Travel Medicine page.
Thailand’s Future as a Republic?
The Thai people are now much more educated than they used to be, and they have also become much more independent. In the past, most Thais were extremely grateful for the opportunity to live in Thailand and were happy to obey the king. However, in the past few years, a number of Thais have become more interested in the idea of being a republic, and they want to see the country become a republic. Many people believe that the monarchy should be protected, but the people want a republic where the king has little power. The current king’s health is deteriorating, and some people believe that it is time for him to step down from the throne and let a more democratically elected president take over. The king has said that he does not want a republic, but many Thais are now hoping that he will step down and allow for a more democratic government.
If you are wondering what vaccinations you should visit before traveling abroad, read about it on the Vaccines and Travel Medicine page.
