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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

and the dramatic increase in merchandise that tributes alone were not enough, the government

had to purchase additional goods from local producers. Labor conscription of commoners was
also reduced from four months to three months annually, allowing them more time to engage

in their livelihoods.
As for trade with the Western countries, during the reign of King Rama I foreign trade

policies largely followed those of the Ayutthaya and Thonburi periods, with minimal changes.
Phra Klang Sinkha (The Royal Warehouse) oversaw foreign trade, inspecting incoming merchant

ships and prioritizing the acquisition of goods deemed necessary by the state, such as weapons,
bullets and guns as well as setting “prohibited goods,” forbidden from being sold directly to

foreigners, for instance, bird’s nests, tin, and ivory. Anyone who had such goods had to sell
them to the Royal warehouse. If foreigners wanted them, they had to buy them through the

Royal Warehouse. As a result, foreign trade was nearly monopolized by the Royal Warehouse
because most of the goods that foreigners wanted were usually listed as prohibited goods, which

could not be directly traded. Moreover, the Royal Warehouse was also responsible for the royal
junk trade, procuring tribute goods such as tin, pepper, lac, beeswax, fragrant wood, and other

additional goods, transporting them to trade in various cities, and then buying goods from foreign
countries, such as cloth, pottery, and glazed tiles, to sell in Thailand. The monopoly trade

system of the Royal Warehouse was an important trading method of Thailand because it
ensures close state control over foreign trade preventing merchants from any single foreign

nation from gaining excessive influence. At the same time, the monopoly system of the Royal
Warehouse generated substantial revenue for the state. Krom Tha, under the jurisdiction of

Krom Phra Klang, managed all activities related to foreigners who came to trade and reside in
Thailand as well as the reception of foreign envoys.

The economic revitalization efforts during the reign of King Rama I laid a critical
foundation for the prosperity of subsequent reigns.

4.6 Revival of Literature The reign of King Rama I marked an era of revival for Thailand’s
literary heritage, much of which had been lost during the wars that led to the fall of Ayutthaya

in 1767. Concurrently, new literary works were created.
King Rama I composed five significant pieces of literature: Ramakien Dalang, Inao,

Unarut, and Nirat Rop Bhama at Ta Din Daeng. Ramakien, in particular, serves as a moral guide,
emphasizing virtuous conduct. It glorifies Phra Ram, a ruler who embodies Buddhist virtues,

adherence to truth, gratitude to his forebears, and exceptional military prowess. The kings in
Ramakien reflect the characteristics of an ideal monarch that King Rama I himself upheld. In

addition to these works, the King commissioned scholars to compile, copy, translate, as well as

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