Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 949

THE KING
His image present everywhere from towering roadside billboards to the country's money, King Bhu-
mibol Adulyadej is not only Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, but also the longest-reigning living
monarch in the world. Known in English as Rama IX (the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty), Bhu-
mibol Adulyadej was born in 1927 in the USA, where his father Prince Mahidol was studying medi-
cine at Harvard University.
Fluent in English, French, German and Thai, Bhumibol ascended the throne in 1946 following the
death of his brother Rama VIII (King Ananda Mahidol; r 1935-46), who reigned for just over 11 years
before dying under mysterious circumstances.
An ardent jazz composer and saxophonist when he was younger, Rama IX has hosted jam sessions
with the likes of jazz greats Woody Herman and Benny Goodman. The king is also recognised for his
extensive development projects, particularly in rural areas of Thailand. For an objective English-lan-
guage biography of the king's accomplishments, King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work (Nicholas
Grossman and Dominic Faulder, 2010) is available in most Bangkok bookstores.
Rama IX and Queen Sirikit have four children: Princess Ubol Ratana (b 1951), Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn (b 1952), Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn (b 1955) and Princess Chulabhorn (b 1957).
After more than 60 years in power, and having recently reached his 86th birthday, Rama IX is pre-
paring for his succession. The king has spent most of the last few years in hospital, and the Crown
Prince has performed most of the royal ceremonies the king would normally perform, such as presid-
ing over the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, changing the attire on the Emerald Buddha and handing out
academic degrees at university commencements.
Along with nation and religion, the monarchy is very highly regarded in Thai society - negative
comment about the king or any member of the royal family is a social as well as legal taboo.
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History
Rise of Thai Kingdoms
It is believed that the first Thais migrated here from modern-day Yunnan and Guangxi,
China, settling into small riverside farming communities.
By the 13th and 14th centuries, what is considered the first Thai kingdom, Sukho-thai,
began to chip away at the crumbling Angkor empire. The third Sukhothai king,
Ramkhamhaeng, developed a Thai writing system and built Angkor-inspired temples that
defined early Thai art.
Sukhothai was soon eclipsed by another emerging power, Ayuthaya, which was estab-
lished in present-day Thailand's central plains in 1350. This new centre developed into a