King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)

Last week, I had a conversation with a friend about the Kings of Thailand. During our conversation I wanted to know more about King Rama V because of the role he played to ending slavery in Thailand. King Rama V, also known as Chulalongkorn was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was born in 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra and given the name Chulalongkorn. His father gave him a comprehensive education, including constant instruction from Western tutors.

 

In 1867, King Mongkut led an expedition to the Malay Peninsula. His father became sick with malaria and passed away. Chulalongkorn was sworn in as the new king. He established the Royal Military Academy to train officers in the Western fashion. He then abolished the Nakorn Bala methods of torture, viewed by many as inhumane and barbaric. In 1887, French troops invaded northern Laos demanding Laotian land east of the Mekong River. Siam objected and resented the invasion, which led to the Franco–Siamese War of 1893. In the end, Siam agreed to yield Laos to France. This defeat had a significant impact on Chulalongkorn and this realization led him in 1898 to implement and maintain the Royal Thai Naval Academy.

During the reign of King Ramathibodi II of Ayutthaya, there was a system of slavery in place. All Siamese men were subject to this system. From lack of opportunities to depressed economic conditions, people sold themselves into slavery in great numbers, producing large numbers of household slaves. In 1867, slaves accounted for one-third of the population. King Chulalongkorn associated slavery in the United States with the bloodshed of the American Civil War. To keep Siam from experiencing such violence, he initiated several steps towards the abolition of slavery. In 1874, he enacted a law that lowered the reinstatement price of household slaves and freed all of them when they reached the age of 21. The Slave Abolition Act of 1905 ended slavery permanently in Siam.

 

King Chulalongkorn was convinced that Thailand needed European technology and ideas, but not at the expense of Thai tradition and independence. His far-reaching reforms reflected a vision years far ahead of his time. He was responsible for the modernization of Siam and ensuring the independence of Siam from French and British control. He is remembered as one of the most revered monarchs in Thai history.

Famous Cards

https://simondalexy.com/