Mongkut, King
(1804–1868), Ruler of Thailand. King Mongkut (reigned 1851–1868) of Thailand is remembered for his policies of modernization and for preserving his country's independence. He was the son of King Rama II (reigned 1809–1824). Mongkut donned the garb of a Buddhist monk at the age of nineteen and led the life of an ascetic until his coronation. He devoted his time to studying Western science and humanities as well as to studying Buddhism. Well-versed in European affairs, he learned Latin and English. He ascended the throne in 1851 as Rama IV after the death of his half brother Rama III (reigned 1824–1851).
In 1855, he signed an unequal treaty of friendship and commerce with Britain, followed by similar treaties with France, the United States, Prussia, Portugal, and other nations. The unequal treaties provided the Europeans with most favored nation status; they limited Thai tariff control; and they allowed extraterritoriality, which meant that foreigners were not subject to Thai laws and enjoyed special privileges. Thailand also surrendered its claim on parts of Cambodia to the east of the Mekong River to France in 1867.
An undated portrait of Mongkut when he was Crown Prince of Siam (Thailand). (BETTMANN/CORBIS)By relating to Britain and France and playing them off against each other, Mongkut retained the country's independence from colonialism. He initiated reforms in education and health, encouraging medical work of missionaries, teaching his sons English and liberal arts, establishing a royal mint, relaxing court rituals, and publishing an official gazette. He also established the Buddhist sect called dhammayutika, which rationalized Buddhism and remains the center of Thai Buddhism. Anna Leonowens was the English governess of his children, whose story is told in the movie The King and I, which is still banned in Thailand for distorting Thai history and patronizing Mongkut to the point of ridicule. The motion picture Anna and the King (1999) generated further controversy in Thailand. The Thai Censor Board ruled that Thais should notsee the movie, which misrepresents the monarchy and exaggerates the extent of impact of Anna on Mongkut. An avid astronomer, Mongkut invited the courtiers and foreign community to Thailand to observe the solar eclipse in 1868 in malaria-infested Sam Roi Yod. Stricken with the disease, he died soon afterward.
Further Reading
Cady, John F. (1976) Southeast Asia: Its Historical Development. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.
Moffat, Abbot Low. (1961) Mongkut, the King of Siam. Ithaca, NY, Cornell University Press.
Sardesai, D. R. (1981) Southeast Asia: Past and Present. New Delhi: Vikas.
Warren, William. (1993) "Who Was Anna Leonowens?" In Travelers' Tales Thailand, edited by James O'Reilly and Larry Habegger. San Francisco: Travelers' Tales, Inc.
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