Kingdom of Thailand
Thailand, 1932 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Following the Siamese revolution of 1932 by the Khana Ratsadon, Siam transitioned to a parliamentary constitutional monarchy and was officially renamed Thailand. During World War II, the country was under the military dictatorship of Plaek Phibunsongkhram and allied with the Empire of Japan as part of the Axis powers. In the 1970s through 1990s, Thailand alternated between liberal democracy and military dictatorship. In the 21st century, Thailand has experienced political conflict between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, leading to the 2006 and 2014 coups d'état.
Seat of power: Bangkok
Rulers
Prajadhipok
King of Thailand, 1925–1935
After a failed royalist reactionary revolt in 1933, he went into a self-imposed exile in Britain and later abdicated. He ascended the throne in 1925 and reigned until his abdication in 1935.
Portrait of Prajadhipok: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Ananda Mahidol
King of Thailand, 1935–1946
He was the eighth king of Siam (later Thailand) from the Chakri dynasty. He returned to Thailand in December 1945, but six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot dead in his bed. Although at first thought to have been an accident, his death was ruled a murder by medical examiners, and three royal aides were later executed following irregular trials.
Portrait of Ananda Mahidol: กรมแผนที่ทหารบก (Royal Thai Army Survey Department), Public domain, file
Bhumibol Adulyadej
King of Thailand, 1946–2016
His reign of 70 years and 126 days is the longest of any Thai monarch. Bhumibol presided over Thailand's transformation into a major US ally and regional economic power. Bhumibol's reign was characterized by several periods of gradual democratization punctuated by frequent military coups.
Portrait of Bhumibol Adulyadej: Harry Pot / Anefo, CC0, file
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Rama X of Thailand
King of Thailand, 2016 to today
He is the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, succeeding his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He assumed the throne following his father's death on 13 October 2016, and his coronation took place from 4 to 6 May 2019. Vajiralongkorn's reign has seen a marked centralisation of royal power and personal wealth.
Portrait of Rama X of Thailand: The Public Relations Department (กรมประชาสัมพันธ์), CC BY 3.0 th, file
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Culture
- During the Cold War, Thailand became a key major non-NATO ally of the United States.
- Between 1985 and 1994, Thailand was the world's fastest-growing economy according to the World Bank.
- As a newly industrialised country, its economy relies chiefly upon manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
Picture
The monument was commissioned in 1939 to commemorate the 1932 Siamese coup d'état, which led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Image: Nawit science, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.