Vajiravudh
Vajiravudh, or Rama VI, was king of Siam from 1910 to 1925. He promoted Thai nationalism, expanded modern education, and wrote plays and essays.
Thai nationalism: A political movement and ideology emphasizing the unity, identity, and sovereignty of the Thai nation. Vajiravudh promoted national identity through education, public rituals, and patriotic writing.
Chulalongkorn: King of Siam from 1868 to 1910, known for centralizing reforms and abolishing slavery. Vajiravudh succeeded his father and inherited a state transformed by his reforms.
Chakri dynasty: Thailand’s ruling royal house, founded in 1782 and still represented by the reigning monarch. Vajiravudh ruled as a member of this dynasty and its sixth king.
Khun Chang Khun Phaen: A long Thai narrative poem about love, rivalry, warfare, and courtly life, compiled from oral traditions. Vajiravudh drew on Thai literary heritage while shaping a modern national culture.
Wild Tiger Corps: A volunteer paramilitary corps founded in Siam by Vajiravudh in 1911. It embodied his effort to cultivate loyalty to king and nation beyond the army.
Prajadhipok: King of Siam from 1925 to 1935, also known as Rama VII. His younger brother inherited a monarchy facing financial strain and growing political pressure.
Siam: The historical kingdom in mainland Southeast Asia whose territory became the modern state of Thailand. Vajiravudh ruled Siam before the country adopted the name Thailand.
The Tiger King: A 1920 American silent film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, based on a play by Vajiravudh. Its source play illustrates his work as a dramatist and its international reach.
Boy Scouts of Thailand: Thailand’s national scouting organization, founded in 1911 under Vajiravudh. He adapted scouting into a vehicle for discipline, service, and national loyalty.
Damrong Rajanubhab: A Siamese prince and statesman who helped shape modern Thai administration and historical scholarship. His administrative legacy formed part of the centralized state Vajiravudh inherited.