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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

1. Establishment of the Chakri Dynasty and Creation of Political and Government Support

The ascension to the throne of King Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great on April 6, 1782
is considered the founding day of the Chakri Dynasty, in which His Majesty was the first monarch.

King Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great took solid steps to establish strong political and
governmental support for himself and the royal family, as follows:

1.1 Establishment of the Royal Family. King Rama I established his “relatives”
as the royal family, divided into two groups:

The first group was the close royal family, most of whom were blood relatives, divided
into living royal family members and deceased royal family members. As for the social promotion

in this situation, almost all of them were in the families of high-ranking noblemen who were
already the ruling class. Therefore, it was an elevation within the ruling class, not an elevation

between classes. It was rather a change of status from high-ranking noblemen who were already
in the ruling class to royalty. These noblemen were established to be new royal family members

who would rule the country during the Rattanakosin Era.
The second group was the distant royal family members who were granted royal

permission to be royalty. They were distant relatives, not close relatives like the first group.
1.2 Appointment of nobles and government officials. Another group of nobles or

officials was appointed to a higher position in large numbers. They were divided into 2 groups:
The first group were appointed by the royal command of His Majesty; they were officials

of the Grand Palace, both in the capital and the provinces. The second group were appointed
by the royal command of His Royal Highness Prince Maha Sura Singhanat; they were officials of

the Front Palace.
The officials of the Grand Palace were then divided into 2 groups according to the

order of appointment and importance, as follows:
The first group appointed included the two principal ministers: the Samuha Nayok

(Minister of Civil Affairs) and the Samuha Phra Kalahom (Minister of Military Affairs), along with
the four ministers of the Chatusadom system, which comprised six key ministerial positions for

governing the kingdom. These appointments were based on the Ayutthaya-era administrative
system, which was reinstated during the early period of a new reign, the establishment of the

new capital, and the founding of a new royal dynasty. These appointments were urgently
necessary to ensure that capable and loyal individuals were brought in to manage the newly

established kingdom. At the same time, a royal command was issued to promote other senior
ministers holding the rank of Phraya to the rank of Chao Phraya. The second group comprised

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