Page 67 - -25-0508(ALLs)

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

Phra Phutthayotfa Maharaj” (King Rama I the Great). Subsequently, on April 27, 1982, marking

the bicentennial of the establishment of Bangkok, the Cabinet officially declared April 6 of
every year as “Somdet Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj Memorial Day and Chakri Dynasty

Memorial Day.

Summary
Throughout his 27-year reign (1782–1809), King Rama I established stability in both

the kingdom and the religion. He founded the Chakri Dynasty and established Bangkok as
the new capital. He restructured the central and regional administrative systems, enhanced

Buddhism, revitalized and reformed the economy, as well as revived and preserved Thai art
and culture. At the same time, His Majesty fostered diplomatic relations with other nations and

ensured the kingdom’s security against invasions. All of his royal duties reflect the qualities of
a great ruler, the qualities seen in his own literary works and in those His Majesty commissioned

scholars to translate from Chinese literature. It can be said that these royal initiatives and
royal duties reflect his far-reaching “vision” in laying the foundations for the enduring stability,

prosperity, and sustainability of Thailand’s key institutions: the Nation, Religion, and Monarchy,
which have remained central to Thai society up until the present. For more than two centuries,

all of King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj’s resolutions and accomplishments affirm
his exceptional abilities as the founding monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, whose legacy continues

to benefit Thailand to this day.

60

7/7/2568 BE 15:17
-25-0508(001)P5.indd 60
-25-0508(001)P5.indd 60 7/7/2568 BE 15:17