The Birth of Rattanakosin: The Dawn of a New Siam

By Contributing Writer

After the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom — which had long served as the capital of Thailand — in 1767 AD (B.E. 2310) during the reign of King Ekkathat of the Ban Phlu Luang Dynasty, the last royal house of Ayutthaya, the nation was left in turmoil. In the aftermath, King Taksin the Great gathered his forces to reclaim the nation’s independence from Burma. However, as Ayutthaya had been so thoroughly destroyed that restoring it proved impossible, he decided to relocate the capital to Thonburi, on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Towards the end of the Thonburi era, the kingdom faced internal unrest and rebellion. It was during this period that Chao Phraya Chakri, later known as King Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great (Rama I), rose to power, establishing the Chakri Dynasty that continues to this day. This marked the beginning of the Rattanakosin Era.

At the dawn of this new era, King Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great moved the capital from Thonburi to the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. There, he began constructing the Grand Palace in an area then inhabited by Chinese settlers. The king ordered the relocation of these settlers to a new district, which is now known as Sampheng.

The Rattanakosin Kingdom, later officially renamed the Kingdom of Siam, thus began under the reign of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great, the first monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, who ascended the throne on April 6, 1782 AD (B.E. 2325).

King Rama I and the Nation-Building Era

The early half of this period was marked by the consolidation and expansion of the kingdom's power, though it was intermittently disrupted by conflicts with Burma, Vietnam, and Laos. The latter half, however, was defined by the growing presence of Western colonial powers, particularly Britain and France. This rising threat led to Siam becoming the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by the West.

The pressures from these external threats prompted the kingdom to transform into a modern nation-state with centralized authority and clearly defined borders, negotiated with Western powers. During this era, significant economic and social developments took place, including the expansion of foreign trade, the abolition of slavery, and the growth of education among the emerging middle class. However, no true political reforms were made until the absolute monarchy was replaced by a constitutional monarchy during the Siamese Revolution of 1932.

In this formative period, Siam constantly faced wars along its borders, including one of the most significant military conflicts in its history with Burma — known as the Nine Armies’ War. This war occurred during the reign of King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung Dynasty of  Burma. The Siamese forces successfully repelled the Burmese invasion.

Following the Nine Armies’ War, Burma itself came under pressure from the colonial ambitions of  Britain, which led to a prolonged period of relative peace for Siam, free from major wars for many years.

The Golden Age of Rattanakosin Art during the Reign of King Rama II(Phra Bat Somdet Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai, 1809–1824)

King Rama II, the eldest son, ascended the throne as the second monarch of the Rattanakosin period. His Majesty had a profound interest in arts and culture, both in fine arts and literature. He was honored as a “Royal Patron of the Arts.” During his reign, many temples and religious structures were built and restored. The most significant project was the renovation of a temple near the Old Royal Palace on the Thonburi side, which was grandly transformed into the royal temple of his reign and given the name Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan (Wat Arun).

His exceptional artistic talents are most clearly reflected in his personal craftsmanship. Notably, he personally carved the wooden doors of Wat Suthat Thepwararam, a magnificent work now preserved at the Bangkok National Museum.

Besides his artistic craftsmanship, King Rama II also possessed great literary genius. His most important royal literary works include the dramas Inao (I-nao) and Ramakien (the Thai version of the Ramayana). In addition to composing these himself, the King was a patron and supporter of artists and poets, making this period one of the most prosperous for Thai literature.

The greatest poet to emerge during his reign was Phra Sunthorn Voharn (Phu), better known to Thai people as Sunthorn Phu.

In terms of foreign affairs, King Rama II began to revive relations with Western countries, which had stalled since the reign of King Narai the Great. With royal permission, Portugal was allowed to establish the first embassy in Siam during this reign.

The Merchant Era during the Reign of King Rama III(Phra Bat Somdet Phra Nangklao Chaoyuhua, 1824–1851)

Prince Jessadabodindra succeeded his father and ascended the throne as King Rama III (Phra Bat Somdet Phra Nangklao Chaoyuhua). He possessed great expertise in international trade, particularly with China. During his reign, the Siamese royal court maintained especially close relations with China. Each year, numerous Siamese trading ships sailed to China for commerce. This period is considered a golden age of trade for Siam, as the King’s policies brought great prosperity to the country. The royal treasury was filled with wealth, and the King even secretly stored part of the royal fortune in red bags hidden beneath the throne. Later, this hidden wealth played a role in saving the Siamese nation during times of crisis.

King Rama III was a devout follower of Buddhism. Westerners of the time often perceived him as strict and resistant to other religions. Nevertheless, he permitted American missionaries to introduce and spread Western medicine in the kingdom.

The Opening of the Country during the Reign of King Rama IV

In truth, during the reign of King Rama III, Siam had already begun receiving envoys from Western nations who came to establish trade agreements — most notably the arrival of Sir John Bowring from England, who negotiated the Bowring Treaty, which would later have a profound impact on Siam.

However, the true effects of the country's opening became clearly evident during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV), who had a deep interest in Western arts, sciences, and knowledge. His Majesty was highly learned, mastering Pali during his 27 years in the monkhood before ascending the throne. He also studied English with missionaries until he became fluent in the language. In addition, King Mongkut was well-versed in various branches of science, especially astronomy.

During his reign, court traditions changed significantly. For example, official attire for court audiences was modernized, with courtiers wearing Western-style clothing instead of going bare-chested as was customary before. The tradition of crawling in royal presence was also abolished.

The signing of trade treaties with Western countries caused Siam to lose extraterritorial rights. England was one of the first nations to benefit, as Siam was allowed to collect only 3% tax on British goods, while England could freely import opium from India. The treaty also required Siam to abolish the royal monopoly on the rice trade, turning rice into a major export commodity for centuries. In the following years, Siam was compelled to sign similar treaties with other Western powers.

King Mongkut’s interest in science, particularly astronomy, eventually led to his death in 1868. He had accurately predicted a total solar eclipse at Wa Ko, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, and traveled there to witness the event, inviting foreign diplomats to accompany him. His precise calculation earned him great admiration from the West — at a time when even Western scientists were few in number who could predict eclipses with such accuracy. However, during this journey, the King contracted malaria and sadly passed away two weeks later.

Reforms during the Reign of King Rama V

Prince Chulalongkorn, the son of King Rama IV, ascended the throne as King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) at the young age of 15. He came to power at a time when the country was in great need of change, and he faced pressure from many directions — from the influential Front Palace faction, the nobility led by Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha Sri Suriyawongse, who served as the regent, as well as from Western colonial powers, whose ambitions showed no sign of abating.

Fortunately, both the King and his royal relatives had received a solid foundation in education and statecraft. Many of the high-ranking officials and trusted advisers close to the King were his younger brothers, to whom he regularly entrusted royal commands. Notable among them were Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, Prince Devawongse Varopakarn, and Prince Prachak Sinlapakhom, all of whom played significant roles during this era.

This period witnessed major transformations in Siam. King Chulalongkorn is remembered as a monarch who carried out significant social reforms. He abolished slavery and the corvée labor system, replacing them with a system of taxation. He also reformed the country’s administrative system by ending the system of tributary states and replacing local rulers with provincial governors — government officials appointed directly from the central administration. These changes brought about unprecedented unity and consolidation in Siam, unmatched since the establishment of the Rattanakosin Kingdom.

To prepare the country for the growing threat of Western colonialism, King Chulalongkorn sent his sons to study in Europe, particularly in Russia and Prussia. This was not only to cultivate capable leaders for the future but also to strengthen diplomatic ties with European royal courts, effectively balancing the influence of Britain and France, both of whom were aggressively expanding their colonial territories across Asia at the time.

However, during the reign of King Rama VII, in the period following World War I, the global economy experienced a severe downturn, and Siam (as Thailand was then known) was no exception. The economic crisis contributed to growing discontent within the country and ultimately became one of the key factors leading to a major political transformation. A group of military officers, driven by the desire to modernize the nation’s governance, sought to replace the absolute monarchy with a constitutional democracy. This pivotal moment marked a significant turning point in the history of the Rattanakosin period.