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67-587: The museum was established and opened in 1874 by King Chulalongkorn to exhibit the royal collections of his father King Mongkut . Today the galleries contain exhibits covering the Thai History back to Neolithic times. The collection includes The King Ram Khamhaeng 's Inscription, which was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme registered in 2003 in recognition of its significance. Other than preserving and displaying Thai artifacts dating from

134-505: A Semang orphan boy named Khanung. In 1907 he founded the royal rice varieties competition, at first only for the Tung Luang and Rangsit Canal districts. The next year it was held at Wat Suthat and since then has been held at various locations around the kingdom, by Chulalongkorn and his descendants. Siamese authorities had exercised substantial control over Malay sultanates since Ayutthaya times. The sultans sought British support as

201-513: A novice monk for six months at Wat Bawonniwet according to royal tradition. Upon his return to his secular life in 1867, he was designated Krommakhun Phinit Prachanat ( กรมขุนพินิตประชานาถ .) In 1867, King Mongkut led an expedition to the Malay Peninsula south of the city of Hua Hin , to verify his calculations of the solar eclipse of 18 August 1868 . Both Mongkut and his son fell ill of malaria. Mongkut died on 1 October 1868. Assuming

268-562: A bloodbath in Siam, provided several steps towards the abolition of slavery, not an extreme turning point from servitude to total freedom. Those who found themselves unable to live on their own sold themselves into slavery by rich noblemen. Likewise, when a debt was defaulted, the borrower would become a slave of the lender. If the debt was redeemed, the slave regained freedom. However, those whose parents were household slaves (ทาสในเรือนเบี้ย) were bound to be slaves forever because their redemption price

335-550: A cave at the Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park in May 2020. Some of the depicted pictures are still visible and clear, while some paintings were damaged by limestone etching. According to archeologist Kannika Premjai, paintings describe humanlike figures with accessories on their bodies, hunting scenes with bow and arrow. Moreover, there is also an animal figure seems to be serow (a goat-like mammal found regionally) found among

402-438: A constitutional monarchy. Chulalongkorn demurred, stating that the time was not ripe and that he himself was making reforms. Throughout Chulalongkorn's reign, writers with radical ideas had their works published for the first time. The most notable ones included Thianwan Wannapho , who had been imprisoned for 17 years and from prison produced many works criticizing traditional Siamese society. In 1863, King Norodom of Cambodia

469-491: A counterweight to Siamese influence. In 1909, the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was agreed. Four sultanates ( Kedah , Kelantan , Terengganu and Perlis ) were brought under British influence in exchange for Siamese legal rights and a loan to construct railways in southern Siam. Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Prachuap Khiri Khan ( Thai : ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ , pronounced [prā.tɕùap kʰīː.rīː kʰǎn] )

536-573: A major impact, as it ended the power of all local dynasties. Central authority now spread all over the country through the administration of intendants. For example, the Lanna states in the north (including the Kingdom of Chiangmai , Principalities of Lampang , Lamphun , Nan , and Prae , tributaries to Bangkok) were made into two monthons, neglecting the existence of the Lanna kings . Local rulers did not cede power willingly. Three rebellions sprang up in 1901:

603-564: A network of cities according to the Mandala system codified by King Trailokanat in 1454, with local rulers owing tribute to Bangkok . Each city retained a substantial degree of autonomy, as Siam was not a "state" but a "network" of city-states. With the rise of European colonialism, the Western concept of state and territorial division was introduced. It had to define explicitly which lands were "Siamese" and which lands were "foreign". The conflict with

670-487: A source of his later ideas for the modernization of Siam. He was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on 16 November 1873. Sri Suriwongse then arranged for the Front Palace of King Pinklao (who was his uncle) to be bequeathed to King Pinklao's son, Prince Yodyingyot (who was Chulalongkorn's cousin). As regent, Sri Suriwongse wielded great influence. Sri Suriwongse continued the works of King Mongkut. He supervised

737-577: Is Prince Chumphon North Park (upper) Wildlife Sanctuary , 378 km (146 sq mi) The city of Muang Na Rang was reconstructed after it had been abandoned during the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767. The town was rebuilt at the mouth of the Ron River and renamed "Prachuap Khiri Khan" in 1855, which means 'city in the mountains'. King Mongkut gathered the people of three towns—Bang Nangrom, Kui Buri, and Khlong Wan—and resettled them in

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804-587: Is on the Kra Isthmus , the narrow land bridge connecting the Malay Peninsula with mainland Asia. The province has the narrowest part of Thailand, just 12.38 km (7.69 mi) from the Gulf of Thailand to the border with Myanmar in the Tenasserim Hills . Geographically, Prachuap Khiri Khan is a moderate plain with elevations varying from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). The maximum elevations are found in

871-514: Is on the southern route from Bangkok. There are five major stations in Prachuap Khiri Khan: Hua Hin Railway Station , Pran Buri Railway Station , Prachuap Khiri Khan Railway Station , Bang Saphan Yai Railway Station , and Bang Saphan Noi Railway Station . Prachuap is on Highway 4 ( Phetkasem Road ), which links the central region with the south. The Ministry of Public Health operates two large general hospitals in

938-417: Is one of the western provinces ( changwat ) of Thailand . It is in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula , some 240 km (149 mi) south of Bangkok. Neighboring provinces include Phetchaburi to the north and Chumphon to the south. To the west, it borders Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar . Prachuap Khiri Khan covers an area totaling 6,367 square kilometers (2,458 sq mi). The province

1005-513: Is the provincial fish. The provincial slogan is 'City of pure gold, delectable coconuts and pineapples, delightful beaches, mountain and caves, land of spiritual beauty'. The province is divided into eight districts ( amphoes ). The districts are further divided into 48 subdistricts ( tambons ) and 388 villages ( mubans ). As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Administration Organisation ( ongkan borihan suan changwat ) and 16 municipal ( thesaban ) areas in

1072-626: The Slave Abolition Act ended Siamese slavery in all forms. The reverse of 100 baht banknotes in circulation since the 2005 centennial depict Chulalongkorn in navy uniform abolishing the slave tradition. The traditional corvée system declined after the Bowring Treaty , which gave rise to a new class of employed labourers not regulated by the government, while many noblemen continued to hold sway over large numbers of Phrai Som . Chulalongkorn needed more effective control of manpower to undo

1139-501: The Dvaravati , Srivijaya , to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods, the museum also displays extensive collections of regional Asian Buddhist Arts such as Indian Gandhara , Chinese Tang , Vietnamese Cham , Indonesian Java , and Cambodian Khmer arts . As of April 2019, the museum is nearing the end of a decade-long renovation of its exhibition rooms. Twelve halls have been revamped already. Four more halls will be renovated over

1206-705: The Fine Arts Department has marked that day as the birth of the first national museum of Thailand. In 1887, Chulalongkorn ordered the museum moved from Concordia to the Front Palace, and called it "Wang Na Museum" or 'Front Palace Museum'. In 1926, it was named the "Bangkok Museum" and subsequently developed into the Bangkok National Museum, when it came under the direction of the Fine Arts Department in 1934. The National Museum Bangkok currently houses three permanent exhibition galleries: In May 2024,

1273-660: The Ngiao rebellion in Phrae , the 1901–1902 Holy Man's Rebellion in Isan , and the Rebellion of Seven Sultans in the south. All these rebellions were crushed in 1902 with the city rulers stripped of their power and imprisoned. Ayutthaya King Ramathibodi II established a system of corvée in 1518 after which the lives of Siamese commoners and slaves were closely regulated by the government. All Siamese common men ( phrai ไพร่) were subject to

1340-531: The Torrens title system, though it was not until the year 1901 that the first–fruits of this survey were obtained. In 1873, the Royal Siamese Government Gazette published an announcement on the abolition of prostration . In it, King Chulalongkorn declared, "The practice of prostration in Siam is severely oppressive. The subordinates have been forced to prostrate in order to elevate the dignity of

1407-490: The phu yai . I do not see how the practice of prostration will render any benefit to Siam. The subordinates find the performance of prostration a harsh physical practice. They have to go down on their knees for a long time until their business with the phu yai ends. They will then be allowed to stand up and retreat. This kind of practice is the source of oppression. Therefore, I want to abolish it." The Gazette directed that, "From now on, Siamese are permitted to stand up before

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1474-491: The " Haw wars ". Chulalongkorn reigned from 1868 until his death in 1910. All his reforms were dedicated to ensuring Siam's independence given the increasing encroachment of Western powers, so that Chulalongkorn earned the epithet Phra Piya Maharat or known as the Great Beloved King . King Chulalongkorn was born on 20 September 1853 to King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra and given the name Chulalongkorn. In 1861, he

1541-479: The 15-year-old Chulalongkorn to be dying as well, King Mongkut on his deathbed wrote, "My brother, my son, my grandson, whoever you all the senior officials think will be able to save our country will succeed my throne, choose at your own will." As Mongkut had not designated who would succeed him, the choice fell to a council to decide. The council led by Prince Deves, Mongkut's eldest half-brother, then choose Chulalongkorn as Mongkut's successor. However, Chulalongkorn

1608-541: The Burmese, but he did not do so. Freed of the Front Palace and Chinese rebellions, Chulalongkorn initiated modernization and centralization reforms. He established the Royal Military Academy in 1887 to train officers in Western fashion. His upgraded forces provided the king much more power to centralize the country. The government of Siam had remained largely unchanged since the 15th century. The central government

1675-511: The Council of State as a legislative body and a privy council as his personal advisory board based on the British privy council . Council members were appointed by the monarch. On the night of 28 December 1874, a fire broke out near the gunpowder storehouse and gasworks in the main palace. Front Palace troops quickly arrived, fully armed, "to assist in putting out the fire". They were denied entrance and

1742-585: The French in 1893 was an example. Sukhaphiban ( สุขาภิบาล ) sanitary districts were the first sub-autonomous entities established in Thailand. The first such was created in Bangkok, by royal decree of King Chulalongkorn in 1897. During his European tour earlier that year, he had learned about the sanitary districts of England, and wanted to try out this local administrative unit in his capital. With his experiences during

1809-524: The Front Palace. Chulalongkorn appointed Chaturonrasmi to be an executive of the organization, which he closely oversaw. From the time of King Mongkut, the Front Palace had been the equivalent of a "second king", with one-third of national revenue allocated to it. Prince Yodyingyot of the Front Palace was known to be on friendly terms with many Britons, at a time when Siamese relations with the British Empire were tense. In 1874, Chulalongkorn established

1876-910: The Golden Boy, a 4-feet tall and about 900-year-old bronze statue, was repatriated to Thailand from the U.S. and unveiled at the museum. Another related statue, the Kneeling Lady, was also opened to the public. Both statues were at the Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York for about 3 decades previously. This repatriation was a rare victory for Thailand in its efforts to recover thousands of artifacts which have been looted or trafficked. The museum has three main exhibition spaces: 13°45′27″N 100°29′32″E  /  13.75750°N 100.49222°E  / 13.75750; 100.49222 Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn

1943-610: The Great , was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty , titled Rama V . Chulalongkorn was born as the son of Mongkut , the fourth king of Siam. In 1868, he travelled with his father and Westerners invited by Mongkut to observe the solar eclipse of 18 August 1868 in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province . However, Chulalongkorn and his father both contracted malaria which resulted in his father's death. Chulalongkorn's reign

2010-697: The Heo insurgents. However, the French troops never left, and the French demanded more Laotian lands. In 1893 Auguste Pavie , the French vice-consul of Luang Prabang , requested the cession of all Laotian lands east of the Mekong River . Siam resented the demand, leading to the Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893 . The French gunboat Le Lutin entered the Chao Phraya and anchored near the French consulate ready to attack. Fighting

2077-456: The House of Bunnag , was a powerful aristocratic dynasty of Persian descent. It dominated Siamese politics since the reign of Rama I . Chulalongkorn then married four of his half-sisters , all daughters of Mongkut: Savang Vadhana , Saovabha Phongsri , and Sunanda Kumariratana (Mongkut with Concubine Piam ), and Sukhumala Marasri (Mongkut with Concubine Samli ). Chulalongkorn's first reform

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2144-465: The Siamese corvée system. Each man at the time of his majority had to register with a government bureau, department, or leading member of the royalty called krom ( กรม ) as a Phrai Luang ( ไพร่หลวง ) or under a nobleman's dominion ( Moon Nai or Chao Khun Moon Nai มูลนาย หรือเจ้าขุนมูลนาย ) as a Phrai Som ( ไพร่สม ). Phrai owed service to sovereign or master for three months of

2211-423: The area of Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan District . Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park was established in 1966 to protect Thailand's largest freshwater marshes. The park contains some mangrove forests and mudflats. Most of the marshes were converted into shrimp farms, despite being in a national park. There are a total of six national parks, make up region 3 (Phetchaburi branch) of Thailand's protected areas. There

2278-578: The beginning of World War II , Japanese troops invaded Thailand. On 8 December 1941, they struck first near the city of Prachuap Khiri Khan. After resisting the Japanese in the Battle of Prachuap Khiri Khan , after several hours the defenders were ordered to cease fire by the government in Bangkok. The discovery of 3,000 years old cave paintings was announced by archaeologists from the Fine Arts Office in

2345-557: The cession of Laos in 1893, but the French troops in Chantaburi and Trat refused to leave. The cession of vast Laotian lands had a major impact on Chulalongkorn's spirit. Prince Vajirunhis died in 1894. Prince Vajiravudh was made crown prince to replace him. Chulalongkorn realised the importance of maintaining the navy and established the Royal Thai Naval Academy in 1898. Despite Siamese concessions, French armies continued

2412-653: The coast the land quickly rises into the Tenasserim Hills, the mountain chain that forms the border with Myanmar. Due to its narrow watershed, the rivers in the province are all small. The only one of significance is the Pranburi River in the north. Among the smaller rivers is the Khlong Kui . Prachuap Khiri Khan has a dubbed as "Mueang Sam Ao", which meaning "city of three bays ", refers to Ao Noi, Ao Prachup , and Ao Manao all three bays are lined up and are located in

2479-404: The digging of several important khlongs , such as Padung Krungkasem and Damneun Saduak, and the paving of roads such as Charoen Krung and Silom. He was also a patron of Thai literature and performing arts. At the end of his regency, Sri Suriwongse was raised to Somdet Chao Phraya , the highest title a noble could attain. Si Suriyawongse was the most powerful noble of the 19th century. His family,

2546-503: The dignitaries. To display an act of respect, the Siamese may take a bow instead. Taking a bow will be regarded as a new form of paying respect." The construction of railways in Siam had a political motivation: to connect all of the country so as to better maintain control of it. In 1901, the first railway was opened from Bangkok to Korat . In the same year, the first power plant of Siam produced electricity and electric lights first illuminated roadways. In 1906 King Chulalongkorn adopted

2613-611: The drawings. The provincial seal shows the Kuha Karuhas Pavilion, which was built when King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) visited the Praya Nakorn Cave ( Sam Roi Yot District ). Depicted behind the pavilion is the island of Ko Lak in Prachuap Bay , the historic center of administration. The provincial tree as well as the provincial flower is the rayan or manilkara ( Manilkara hexandra ). Milkfish ( Chanos chanos )

2680-491: The fire was extinguished. The incident demonstrated the considerable power wielded by aristocrats and royal relatives, leaving the king little power. Reducing the power held by the nobility became one of his main motives in reforming Siam's feudal politics. When Prince Yodyingyot died in 1885, Chulalongkorn took the opportunity to abolish the titular Front Palace and created the title of " Crown Prince of Siam " in line with Western custom. Chulalongkorn's son, Prince Vajirunhis ,

2747-487: The first Siamese monarch to do so, and he desired European recognition of Siam as a fully independent power. He appointed his queen, Saovabha Phongsri , as regent in Siam during his travel to Europe. During a visit to Spain and Portugal , on 26 October, he condemned and ordered his servant to be executed for a breach of etiquette committed in Lisbon , according to the telegram news from Saragossa . Siam had been composed of

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2814-618: The liberal notions of democracy and elections they encountered in republics like France and constitutional monarchies like the United Kingdom . In 1884 (year 103 of the Rattakosin Era ), Siamese officials in Europe warned Chulalongkorn of possible threats to Siamese independence from the European powers. They advised that Siam should be reformed like Meiji Japan and that Siam should become

2881-509: The marshes near Sam Roi Yot. He contracted malaria , of which he died on 1 October. In the reign of King Rama II , a new city was established at the mouth of the I Rom Canal known as Muang Bang Nang Rom. Prachuap became a seaside resort during the reign of King Rama V . Besides tourism, the province is heavily agricultural. Coconuts are a major crop. As much as 40 percent of farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan solely cultivate coconuts. At

2948-508: The next three years. All will receive new interiors, better lighting, and computer-aided multimedia displays. Bangkok National Museum was originally established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) around the collection of antiquities of his father King Mongkut (Rama IV). The National Museum is on the grounds of the former Wang Na, the " Front Palace " which was built for the vice king , a sort of crown prince ( Thailand has no law of primogeniture. The king traditionally named his own successor, who

3015-446: The northeastern and central west regions, which make up approximately 30 percent of the province. The total forest area is 2,485 km (959 sq mi) or 38.7 percent of provincial area. The long coast of the Gulf of Thailand has many sandy beaches. One of the best known, Hua Hin , has been a popular resort town since King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) built a summer palace there. From

3082-401: The occupation of Chantaburi and Trat for another 10 years. An agreement was reached in 1904 that French troops would leave Chantaburi but hold the coast land from Trat to Koh Kong . In 1906, the final agreement was reached. Trat was returned to Siam but the French kept Koh Kong and received Inner Cambodia. Seeing the seriousness of foreign affairs, Chulalongkorn visited Europe in 1897. He was

3149-429: The outset, members of the royal family. Ministries were established in 1892, with all ministries having equal status. The Council of State proved unable to veto legal drafts or to give Chulalongkorn advice because the members regarded Chulalongkorn as an absolute monarch, far above their station. Chulalongkorn dissolved the council altogether and transferred advisory duties to the cabinet in 1894. Chulalongkorn abolished

3216-495: The power of nobility. After the establishment of the monthon system, Chulalongkorn instituted a census to count all men available to the government. The Employment Act of 1900 required that all workers be paid, not forced to work. Chulalongkorn had established a defence ministry in 1887. The ending of the corvée system necessitated the beginning of military conscription , thus the Conscription Act of 1905 in Siam. This

3283-676: The province. Prachuap Khiri khan and Hua Hin have town ( thesaban mueang ) status. Further 14 subdistrict municipalities ( thesaban tambon ). The non-municipal areas are administered by 44 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO ( ongkan borihan suan tambon ). Hua Hin Airport is in Hua Hin District. AirAsia serves the airport with a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur that commenced on 18 May 2018. In 7 August 2020, AirAsia flight to Huahin from Chiang Mai and from Udon Thani every Friday and Sunday. The railway in Prachuap Khiri Khan

3350-633: The province: Hua Hin Hospital and Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital . The other remaining districts are served by community hospitals. Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017. Thailand's royal family and especially former kings were

3417-508: The rebuilt city. At the same time, he renamed a portion of what is now Trat province and Koh Kong province in Cambodia "Patchan Khiri Khet". The name was chosen to rhyme with "Prachuap Khiri Khan" on the opposite side of the Gulf of Thailand at the same latitude. In 1868, King Mongkut invited foreign guests to Prachuap Khiri Khan to watch a solar eclipse he had predicted for 18 August. The dignitaries viewed it from an observation point in

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3484-563: The remaining Haw. The city of Nong Khai maintains memorials for the Siamese dead. In Burma, while the British Army fought the Burmese Konbaung Dynasty , Siam remained neutral. Britain had agreements with the Siamese government, which stated that if the British were in conflict with Burma, Siam would send food supplies to the British Army. Chulalongkorn honored the agreement. The British expected he would send an army to help defeat

3551-515: The traditional Nakorn Bala methods of torture in the judiciary process, which were seen as inhumane and barbaric to Western eyes, and introduced a Western judicial code. His Belgian advisor, Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns , played a great role in the development of modern Siamese law and its judicial system. Chulalongkorn was the first Siamese king to send royal princes to Europe to be educated. In 19th century Europe, nationalism flourished and there were calls for more liberty. The princes were influenced by

3618-537: The travel to British colonies and the suggestion of Prince Damrong , Chulalongkorn established the hierarchical system of monthons in 1897, composed of province , city , amphoe , tambon , and muban (village) in descending order. (Though an entire monthon, the Eastern Province, Inner Cambodia, was ceded to the French in 1906). Each monthon was overseen by an intendant of the Ministry of Interior . This had

3685-448: The villages. In 1875, Chulalongkorn sent troops from Bangkok to crush the Haw who had ravaged as far as Vientiane . However, they met strong Chinese resistance and retreated to Isan in 1885. New, modernized forces were sent again and were divided into two groups approaching the Haw from Chiang Kam and Pichai. The Haw scattered and some fled to Vietnam . The Siamese armies proceeded to eliminate

3752-530: The year. Phrai Suay ( ไพร่ส่วย ) were those who could make payment in kind (cattle) in lieu of service. Those conscripted into military service were called Phrai Tahan ( ไพร่ทหาร ). Chulalongkorn was best known for his abolition of Siamese slavery ( ทาส .) He associated the abolition of slavery in the United States with the bloodshed of the American Civil War . Chulalongkorn, to prevent such

3819-531: Was appointed the first Crown Prince of Siam, though he never reigned. In 1895, when the prince died of typhoid at age 16, he was succeeded by his half-brother Vajiravudh , who was then at boarding school in England. In the northern Laotian lands bordering China, the insurgents of the Taiping Rebellion had taken refuge since the reign of King Mongkut. These Chinese were called Haw and became bandits, pillaging

3886-689: Was characterised by the modernisation of Siam, governmental and social reforms, and territorial concessions to the British and French empires. As Siam was surrounded by European colonies , Chulalongkorn, through his policies and acts, ensured the independence of Siam. He was mentioned as "One of the Rulers of the World at the Beginning of the 20th Century" and the "Greatest King of Siam and Thailand's History." Later, known for his conflicts in " 1893 Franco-Siamese crisis " and

3953-590: Was designated Krommamuen Pikhanesuan Surasangkat . His father gave him a broad education, including instruction from Western tutors such as Anna Leonowens . Chulalongkorn, along with his siblings, were educated by Leonowens from her arrival in August 1862 through to her departure in 1867. During this time, Chulalongkorn became friends with Leonowens' son Louis Leonowens who was two years younger than Chulalongkorn. His friendship with Louis would continue his adulthood where he assisted Louis' business in Siam. In 1866, he became

4020-533: Was extremely high. Because of economic conditions, people sold themselves into slavery in great numbers and in turn they produced a large number of household slaves. In 1867 they accounted for one-third of Siamese population. In 1874, Chulalongkorn enacted a law that lowered the redemption price of household slaves born in 1867 (his ascension year) and freed all of them when they had reached 21. The newly freed slaves would have time to settle themselves as farmers or merchants so they would not become unemployed. In 1905,

4087-522: Was followed in 1907 by the first act providing for invoking martial law , which seven years later was changed to its modern form by his son and successor, King Vajiravudh. The Royal Thai Survey Department , a Special Services Group of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, engaged in cadastral survey , which is the survey of specific land parcels to define ownership for land registration , and for equitable taxation . Land title deeds are issued using

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4154-481: Was forced to put his country under French protection. The cession of Cambodia was officially formulated in 1867. However, Inner Cambodia (as called in Siam) consisting of Battambang , Siam Nakhon , and Srisopon , remained a Siamese possession. This was the first of many territorial cessions. In 1887, French Indochina was formed from Vietnamese and Cambodian lands. In 1888, French troops invaded northern Laos to subjugate

4221-608: Was headed by the Samuha Nayok (i.e., prime minister), who controlled the northern parts of Siam, and the Samuha Kalahom (i.e., grand commander), who controlled southern Siam in both civil and military affairs. The Samuha Nayok presided over the Chatu Sadombh (i.e., Four Pillars). The responsibilities of each pillar overlapped and were ambiguous. In 1888, Chulalongkorn moved to institute a government of ministries. Ministers were, at

4288-511: Was observed in Laos. Inconstant and Comete were attacked in Chao Phraya, and the French sent an ultimatum: an indemnity of three million francs, as well as the cession of and withdrawal from Laos. Siam did not accept the ultimatum. French troops then blockaded the Gulf of Siam and occupied Chantaburi and Trat . Chulalongkorn sent Rolin-Jacquemyns to negotiate. The issue was eventually settled with

4355-592: Was often his brother rather than his son). The post was eliminated by Chulalongkorn and the National Museum was set up in the former palace in 1887. In 1874, Chulalongkorn ordered the establishment of the first public museum at the Concordia Pavilion inside the Grand Palace to exhibit the collections of his father and other objects of general interest. The Concordia Museum was opened on 19 September 1874, and

4422-401: Was only 15 and so the council choose Si Suriyawongse to become the regent until Chulalongkorn came of age. The young Chulalongkorn was an enthusiastic reformer. He visited Singapore and Java in 1870 and British India in 1872 to study the administration of British colonies. He toured the administrative centres of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay, and back to Calcutta in early 1872. This journey was

4489-407: Was to establish the " Auditory Office " (Th: หอรัษฎากรพิพัฒน์) on 4 June 1873, solely responsible for tax collection, to counter the influence of the Bunnag family who had been in control of wealth collection since early Rattanakosin . As tax collectors had been under the aegis of various nobles and thus a source of their wealth, this reform caused great consternation among the nobility, especially

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