Yesterday was Chulalongkorn Day in Thailand. A much needed day off to cut this week in two. We went for a lovely lunch with a friend (Hoisin Duck pizza....yummy!!)and just lazed around for the day.
This day, (23rd OCtober) honours the 1910 death of King Chulalongkorn the Great (Phra Chula Chumklao Chaoyuhua, พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, known in the West as Rama V) with Chulalongkorn Day (Wan Piyamahraj). He is highly regarded as one of the greatest kings of Siam; the Thai people call him “The Great Beloved King” because of the many reforms he initiated in order to modernize the country.
Chulalongkorn was born 20 September 1853 as the first son of Queen Ramphai Pamarapirom (Thepsirindra) and the ninth surviving son of King Mongkut (Rama IV). His father gave him a broad education, including instruction from European tutors such as Anna Leonowens. He
His long reign of 42 years was a busy era of full-scale reform and the emergence of Thailand into the modern age. He had already travelled extensively and made friends with the major powers of Britain, America, France, and Russia. He managed to keep his country independent even though both France and Britain were colonizing much of Southeast Asia during this period. In 1897, he became the first Thai king to visit Europe.
The King’s reforms involved almost every aspect of Thai life. These included the abolition of slavery, the expansion of the communication system through the construction of the first railroads in Thailand, the establishment of the postal and telegraph services, and the introduction of the modern system of banknotes to Siam. In 1892 Chulalongkorn modernized the government by creating a ministerial system. The modern administration of provinces (changwat) and districts (amphoe) is still in place today. In addition, the King also established a variety of public utilities, particularly in the fields of health and education; Thailand’s first university — Chulalongkorn University — was named in his honor upon it’s establishment in 1917. It was during his reign that the Western calendar replaced the traditional lunar calendar and religious freedom was declared, allowing Christianity and Islam to be practiced in the Buddhist country.
King Chulalongkorn had four queen consorts and at least 77 children, of which 33 were boys, with the four queens and his royal common wives. His second son, Vajiravudh, succeeded him as Rama VI. His death on 23 October 1910 was a great loss to the entire nation.
The Thai people believe in the King’s miraculous power of bringing good luck and prosperity to the person who pays respect to him. Thus, Chulalongkorn’s picture is still to be found in almost every Thai household. People from all walks of life lay wreaths at his equestrian statue at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok and his statues in the provinces.
