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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

authenticity and authority. The King decreed that only the laws bearing these three seals were

to be considered valid and enforceable. This collection became known as Kotmai Tra Sam Duang
(the Three Seals Law) forming the cornerstone of legal governance and judicial decisions until

the reign of King Chulalongkorn, when the legal and judicial systems were modernized in line
with Western practices.

This legal reform laid the foundation for a robust justice system to serve the people.
As recorded in the royal preamble to the Three Seals Law, the legal review was conducted by

an 11-member committee comprising 4 scribes, 3 judges, and 4 royal scholars. They reviewed
all existing legal texts, categorized them, and amended any provisions that were unjust or

contradictory. Then, King Rama I himself reviewed the amended laws, showcasing his legal
acumen. Before ascending the throne, King Rama I had served as Luang Yokkrabat of Ratchaburi,

a position equivalent to a modern prosecutor, during the Ayutthaya era. Later, he decided
to leave Ratchaburi to serve under King Taksin the Great and became a key figure in military

and administrative affairs, contributing significantly to the reunification and stabilization of
the kingdom. There were many provisions in various royal decrees in the Three Seals Law

as evidence of the royal intention to set the correct criteria to provide justice to the people
at all times, such as in the new royal decree No. 9, issued in 1784, only 2 years into his reign.

The gist of this new royal decree showed the steadfast royal intention to rule the country,
preserve Buddhism, and provide justice to the people. His Majesty upheld Buddhism and loved

his people, valuing them above material wealth by a hundred times. He emphasized in this
new royal decree that the previous kings ruled the country in accordance with the Dharma.

Moreover, the royal family members and ministers had all along adhered to the law, namely,
Phra Thammasat, Phra Rachasat, and Phra Dhammanoon Sarnyutitham in accordance with the

royal traditions. Therefore, they were able to protect the country with justice and the people
lived happily and with peace of mind. The country was stable, prosperous, and free from danger.

He criticized the royal family members and nobles during his time for abandoning the ancient
royal traditions, which required the inheritance court to accept the inheritance case. Instead,

they attempted to manipulate court rulings through bribery or undue influence. They sought
permission from the King to grant them the authority to handle the inheritance case,

proposing that, after winning the case, they will render some of the assets to the King or other
senior members of the royal family. His Majesty decreed that all disputes, including matters

related to buying and selling assets, borrowing, debts, or inheritance, must be resolved by filing
a lawsuit and having it adjudicated by a court with jurisdiction in accordance with the court’s

constitution. It was also prohibited to offer assets to the king or any member of the royal family,

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