Thailand means “Land of Free”, and throughout its 800-years history, Thailand can boast the distinction of being the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized. Its history is divided into five major periods.

 

The Thai people founded their kingdom in the southern part of China, which are Yunnan, Kwangsi and Canton today. A great number of people migrated south as far as the Chao Phraya Basin and settled down over the central Plain under the sovereignty of the Khmer Empire, whose culture they probably accepted. The Thai people founded their independent state of Sukhothai around 1238 AD, which marks the beginning of the Sukhothai Period.

 

Thais began to emerge as a dominant force in the region in the 13th century, gradually asserting independence from existing Khmer and Mon kingdoms. Called by its rulers “the dawn of happiness”, this is often considered the golden era of Thai history, an ideal Thai state in a land of plenty governed by paternal and benevolent kings, the most famous of whom was King Ramkamhaeng the Great. However, in 1350, the mightier state of Autthaya exerted its influence over Sukhothai..

 

The Ayutthya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very beginning. No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that the kings of Sukhothai had been. Ayutthya’s sovereigns were absolute monarchs and assumed the title devaraja (god-king). The early part of this period saw Ayutthya extend its sovereignty over neighboring Thai principalities and come into conflict with its neighbors. During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial relations with western countries.

 

In 1767, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthya. Despite their overwhelming victory, the Burmese did not retain control of Siam for long. A young general named Phya Taksin and his followers broke through the Burmese encirclement and escaped to Chantaburi. Seven months after the fall of Ayutthya, he and his courses sailed back to the capital and expelled the Burmese occupation garrison.

 

General Taksin, as her is popularly known, decided to transfer the capital from Ayuthya to a site nearer to the sea which would facilitate foreign trade, ensure the procurement of arms, and make defense and withdrawal easier in case of renewed Burmese attack. He established his new capital at Thon Buri on the west bank of the Chao Phyraya River. The ruld of Taksin was not an easy one. The lack of central authority since the fall of Ayuthya led to the rapid disintegration of the kingdom, and Taksin’s reign was spent reuniting the provinces.

 

After Taksin’s death, General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, Rama 1, ruling from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king was to transfer the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri to Bangkok and build the Grand Palace. Rama II (1809-1824) continued the restoration begun by his predecessor. King Nang Klao, Rame III (1824-1851) reopened relations with Western nations and developed trade with China. King Mongkut, Rama IV (1851-1868) of the “The King and I” concluded treaties with European countries, avoided colonization and established modern Thailand. He made many social and economic reforms during his reign.

 

King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1869-1910) continued his father’s tradition of reform, abolishing slavery and improving the public welfare and administrative system. Compulsory education and other educational reforms were introduced by king Vajiravuch, Rama Vi (1910-1925). During the reign of King Prajadhipok (1925-1935), Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The king abdicated in 1933 and was succeeded by his nephew, King Ananda Mahidol (1935-1946). The country’s name was changed from Siam to Thailand with the advent of democratic government in 1939. Our present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty.

 

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. Born in December 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA, where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla was studying medicine at Harvard University, H.M King Bhumibol ascended the throne in 1946 and is already the longest reigning Thai monarch. As a constitutional monarch, he maintains neutrality in times of crisis.

 

Thai people have a deep and tradition reverence for the Royal family. To a very large degree, H.M King Bhumibol’s popularity mirrors his deep interest in his people’s welfare. He concerns himself intimately with every aspect of Thai life. He and his wife, H.M Queen Sirikit devote much of their time to inspect and improve the welfare of the people.

 

His Majesty the King’s initials the Thai letters Phor Por Ror placed at the centre of the crest, under the Royal Crown and above the Royal Throne of the Eight Compass Points, signify that His Majesty is the focus of the entire nation, binding the people’s hearts and loyalty. The yellow color of the letters is the color of His Majesty’s day of birth, and the blue color of the background that of the monarchy. The surrounding discusses (Chakra) with the Thai numeral 9 means that King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the night monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. The crest is flanked by two seven-tiered umbrellas, both types’ symbols of the kingship. The four point border represents the four regions of the country, in which the people live in peace and tranquility under the king’s supreme protection, as expressed by the green color, which is a symbol of peace and abundance. Each of the four points of the border has a lotus flower, an offering to His Majesty on the occasion of his sixth-cycle birthday anniversary. The golden rays around the crest signify His Majesty’s grace and benevolence which pervade the Kingdom and beyond, and bring pride and join the people throughout the entire land. Beneath the crest, a blue silk banner bears the inscription of the Celebration of the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty’s 6th cycle Birthday.