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King Rama V

Chulalongkorn
จุฬาลงกรณ์
King Rama V
Chulalongkorn LoC.jpg
King of Siam
Reign 1 October 1868 – 23 October 1910
Coronation 11 November 1868 (1st)
16 November 1873 (2nd)
Predecessor Mongkut (Rama IV)
Successor Vajiravudh (Rama VI)
Regent Si Suriyawongse (1868–1873)
Saovabha Phongsri (1897)
Vajiravudh (1907)
Vice King Bowon Wichaichan (1868–1885)
Born (1853-09-20)20 September 1853
Grand Palace, Bangkok
Died 23 October 1910(1910-10-23) (aged 57)
Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall
Dusit Palace, Bangkok
Spouse Sunandha Kumariratana
Sukumalmarsri
Savang Vadhana
Saovabha Phongsri
and 32 other consorts and concubines (116 in total)
Issue 33 sons and 44 daughters
House Chakri Dynasty
Father Mongkut (Rama IV)
Mother Debsirindra
Religion Buddhism
Signature
Monarchs of
the Chakri dynasty
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke portrait.jpg Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
(Rama I)
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai portrait.jpg Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
(Rama II)
Nangklao portrait.jpg Nangklao
(Rama III)
Rama4 portrait (cropped).jpg Mongkut
(Rama IV)
King Chulalongkorn.jpg Chulalongkorn
(Rama V)
King Vajiravudh.jpg Vajiravudh
(Rama VI)
Prajadhipok portrait.jpg Prajadhipok
(Rama VII)
King Ananda Mahidol portrait photograph.jpg Ananda Mahidol
(Rama VIII)
Portrait painting of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.jpg Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Rama IX)
HRH Vajiralongkorn (Cropped).jpg Vajiralongkorn
(Rama X)
Styles of
King Chulalongkorn
Rama V of Siam
Standard of the King of Siam (Rama V).svg
Reference style His Royal Majesty
Spoken style Your Royal Majesty
Alternative style Sir

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poraminthra Maha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาจุฬาลงกรณ์ พระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว), or Rama V (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang (พระพุทธเจ้าหลวง, the Royal Buddha). His reign was characterized by the modernization of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to the British and French. As Siam was threatened by Western expansionism, Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, managed to save Siam from colonisation. All his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siam's survival in the face of Western colonialism, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat (พระปิยมหาราช, the Great Beloved King).

King Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra and given the name Chulalongkorn. In 1861, he was designated Krommamuen Pikhanesuan Surasangkat. His father gave him a broad education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens. In 1866, he became a novice monk for six months at Wat Bawonniwet according to royal tradition. Upon his return to his secular life in 1867, he was designated Krommakhun Phinit Prachanat (กรมขุนพินิตประชานาถ.)

In 1867, King Mongkut led an expedition to the Malay Peninsula south of the city of Hua Hin, to verify his calculations of the solar eclipse of 18 August 1868. Both father and son fell ill of malaria. Mongkut died on 1 October 1868. Assuming the 15 year-old Chulalongkorn to be dying as well, King Mongkut on his deathbed wrote, "My brother, my son, my grandson, whoever you all the senior officials think will be able to save our country will succeed my throne, choose at your own will." Si Suriyawongse, the most powerful government official of the day, managed the succession of Chulalongkorn to the throne and his own appointment as regent. The coronation was held on 11 November 1868. Chulalongkorn's health improved, and he was tutored in public affairs, traveled to India (then under the British Raj) and Java (then under Dutch colonial rule) to observe the workings of modern public administration. He was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873.


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