Prajadhipok, the seventh monarch of the Chakri dynasty, ascended the throne in 1925 as the final absolute ruler of Siam. His decade-long reign navigated the economic pressures of the Great Depression and internal political instability, eventually resulting in the 1932 Siamese Revolution and his subsequent abdication before he sought permanent exile in Britain.
Military Education and Early Career
Born on 8 November 1893 at the Grand Palace, Prajadhipok was the youngest son of King Chulalongkorn and Queen Saovabha Phongsri. Following the tradition of royal children, he pursued an international education, attending Eton College in 1906 and graduating from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in 1913. He received a commission in the British Army, though he was ordered to resign and return to Siam during the First World War. His early career combined military service in the Royal Siamese Army with a brief period as a monk in 1917, followed by studies at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in France.
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Succeeding his brother, King Vajiravudh, in 1925, Prajadhipok inherited a nation struggling with a budget deficit and the global economic fallout of the Great Depression. He attempted to stabilize the state by establishing the Supreme Council of the State of Siam, composed of experienced royal family members. His domestic policy agenda was extensive, encompassing the founding of the National Library, the expansion of university education, the establishment of the Royal Institute, and the commissioning of a complete Thai-script edition of the Tripitaka.
Political Transition and Abdication
The 1932 Siamese Revolution terminated the absolute monarchy, transitioning the country toward a new democratic framework. Following the failed royalist reactionary revolt in 1933, the political atmosphere grew increasingly hostile. Prajadhipok departed for self-imposed exile in Britain, where he officially abdicated the throne in 1935. He never returned to his home country, settling in Surrey until his death in 1941. His remains were later interred at Wat Ratchabophit and the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
Fast facts
- Born: 1893, Grand Palace
- Died: 1941, Surrey
- Reign: 1925-1935
- Education: Eton College; Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
- Spouse: Rambai Barni
- Religion: Buddhism (Theravāda)
- Military Rank: Admiral of the fleet; field marshal
- Burial: Wat Ratchabophit; Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall
Questions readers ask
Why did Prajadhipok leave Thailand?
He went into self-imposed exile in Britain following the 1932 Siamese Revolution and a failed royalist revolt in 1933.
Did King Prajadhipok have children?
No, he left no heirs, which led to his young nephew Prince Ananda Mahidol being invited to succeed him.
Achievements
- Educated at Eton College, École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
- Worked as sovereign, monarch and politician
