The King Rama I

KING BUDDHA YOT FA CHULALOK

KING BUDDHA YOT FA CHULALOK [ Rama I ] 1782 - 1809
His Majesty King Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the first king of the Chakri Dynasty who established Bangkok as the capital of Thailand. He born in Ayutthaya on March 20, 1737, the son of Phra Aksorn Sundara Smiantra, he was formerly known as Thong Duang. Following the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 he entered the service of Phraya Taksin and fought by his side in almost every campaign until the latter became King Taksin, establishing the capital at Thonburi. He was created Luang Yorkrabat, then Phra Rajvarin, Chao Phraya Chakri and eventually Somdetch Chao Phraya Maha Kashatriya Suk by King Taksin, and following the deposition of King Taksin on April 6, 1782 [ at the age of 45 ] was chosen King, becoming the founder and first ruler of the House of Chakri two hundred years ago.

KING BUDDHA YOT FA CHULALOK

On the year of his accession he moved the capital from Thonburi to the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River, thus founding the city of Bangkok. It was during his reign that the Grand Palace was constructed and he installed the Emerald Buddha in the Chapel Royal following its completion. He died in Bangkok on September 7, 1809 and, as many historians have stated, the modern Siam dates from his reign.

King Rama I or King Ramatibodi reigned for 28 years and passed away in 1809 at the age of 74. On the occasion of the Rattanakosin Bicentennial 1982, the government decided to give the tillle of "Maharaj" or the Great to King Rama I. He would be called Pra Buddha Yodfa Maharaj.

King Rama I, whose original name was Duang or Thong Duang was born in Ayutthaya during the reign of King Barommakote. After entering monkshood, he joined the King's service as an officer of the royal household. Later, at the age of 25, he was promoted to be the governor of Ratchaburi Province and played an important part in helping King Taksin restore the country's sovereignty many times. He was crowned King at the age of 46 in 1782 and reign for 27 years, dying at the age of 73.

After his coronation, he decided that Thonburi was unsuitable to serve as capital because of limited space for expansion of the palace grounds as both sides were walled in by two temples, namely, the Temple of Dawn and Wat Tai Talad. Furthermore, the palace being located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, was subjected to erosion by the content and could one day collapse into the river. So, he deemed it appropriate to move the capital city across to the east bank of the river as the land there was level with vast space for expansion. Besides, it offered excellent security against enemy attacks.

KING BUDDHA YOT FA CHULALOK

King Rama I, after considering the pros and cons from a military strategic and economic point of view, decided to move the capital to the new site. He, therefore, erected the city's sacred foundation post as will as transferred the Lord Buddha's relics to a temporary shrine in a definite indication as to where the new capital city would be located. After the foundation post was officially erected, King Rama I moved to the new site and stayed in a temporary palace made of wood. Soon after, the construction of the new palace building began and included the Grand Palace, Dusit Mahaprasat Hall, Pimarnrattaya Hall, Ammarin Vinichchai Hall, and Chakkrabhat Piman Hall, with residential buildings on both side of the Chakkrabhat Piman Hall.

King Rama I also built the Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) within the outer compound, east of the Grand Palace. This temple id the most important one in Thailand since it enshrines the Emerald Buddha image.

King Rama I also built the fascinating Wat Po and placed 394 old Buddhist imaged around the main chapel. These images were collected from all parts of the country and restored to their original condition before being installed in their rightful places.

He tore down the Vichayen fortress and the wall on the eastern side of Thonburi in order to make room for the expansion of the city. New canals too were dug during his reign, such as the Rob Krung canal and the Maha Nakorn canal.

In ruling the country, King Rama I was very democratic. He would listen to other people's ideas since he believed that the kingdom did not belong to him alone. Consequently, the people had their say and helped in running the country.

When the new capital city was being built, King Rama I was constantly thinking of the welfare of the people. So after digging canals for the defense of the country, he ordered the digging of the Mahanak canal strictly for the people to use as a waterway.

King Rama I used the same administrative system as that if the Ayutthaya period but formed a special advisory council by combining viziers, civil servants and military personnel. These people were hand-picked from among the top echelon that we must trusted by the king. King Rama I also revised the law making it suitable to the changing times. In a book called "King Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke and his Cultural Revivals" written by HRH Prince Phitayalap Phreuttayakorn, a part reads, "His Majesty the King was worried about the missing law books, nine out of ten of which were destroyed or found missing after the Burmese sacked Ayuthaya. In 1804, King Rama I made a major revision on the laws of the kingdom and came out with a new one called "Laws of the Three Seals" which consisted of civil and military sides.