King of Thailand: King Rama IX
Katai and I (Doug) visited the exhibition on the Royal Cremation Ceremony of his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Borommanathbobitra (also known as King Rama IX). The pronunciation of King Bhumibol was actually written on his father’s personal stationary to be “Poomipon”… so now you know how to pronounce his name as most Thai people refer to him as King Bhumibol (pronounced King ‘Poomipon’). King Rama IX was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Monday, December 5, 1927 and died on October 13, 2016.
For the Thai people, the passing of King Rama IX was deeply emotional. When Katai learned of the King’s passing (on October 13, 2016), she cried. And while we visited the exhibition, Katai frequently had soft tears rolling down her cheeks. Clearly the King was loved by his people. So I will attempt to tell his story.
King Rama IX was the third born child, having an older brother King Rama VIII and an older sister.
But wait. You can’t tell the story of King Rama IX without telling the story about how he got to be king.
King Rama VIII (9/20/25 to 6/9/46)
King Rama VIII’s real name was Ananda Mahidol, who was 2 years older than his younger brother, King Rama IX. King Rama VIII became king when he was 9 years old but he was not really king (ordained) until December 1945 after he returned to Thailand. King Rama VIII was a frail boy, had poor eyesight and a nervous temperament. While he became King when he was 9 years old, he was out of the country (in Switzerland being educated) and did not return to Thailand until December 1945 (after WWII). You might recall that that Thailand (then called Siam) was under Japanese rule and was formally an Axis in the war.
Six months from his return, on June 9, 1946, King Rama VIII was found shot to death in his room. At the time (and even today) there is much controversy as to whether his fatal shooting was a suicide, an accident or a murder. There have been several books and many theories. The initial story was that it was an accident, then it came out that it is an odd accident in that the King was right handed and the gun was found in his left hand. Also the King had been laying down at the time and it is rare (never) that someone takes his life by laying down. Further, the gun shot was to his forehead which would be awkward. Still further is there were no gun shot powder to his forehead. Still further is there was no cartridge to be found. And lastly, the gun in his hand was not fired. So one might conclude that this shooting was not an accident or suicide.
In 1955 three people were executed for the plotting and carrying out of the murder. Katai read a book saying that the butler did it… but a good American detective could have guessed that. Some suggest/gossip that his mother was behind it, but that is wild speculation with absolutely no facts to back that theory up and no one likes to think of one’s mother in plotting a son’s demise.
Events of 9 June 1946
The Boromphiman Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. The king’s bedroom is on the upper floor.
Keith Simpson, pathologist to the British Home Office and founding chairman of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Guy’s Hospital in London, performed a forensic analysis of the king’s death and recounted the following sequence of events on the morning of 9 June 1946:[2]
- 06:00: Ananda was awakened by his mother.
- 07:30: His page, But Patthamasarin, came on duty and began preparing a breakfast table on a balcony adjoining the king’s dressing room.
- 08:30: But saw the king standing in his dressing room. He brought the king his customary glass of orange juice a few minutes later. However, by then the king had gone back to bed and refused the juice.
- 08:45: The king’s other page, Chit Singhaseni, appeared, saying he had been called to measure the King’s medals and decorations on behalf of a jeweller who was making a case for them.
- 09:00: Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej visited King Ananda. He said afterwards that he had found the king dozing in his bed.
- 09:20: A single shot rang out from the king’s bedroom. Chit ran in and then ran out along the corridor to the apartment of the king’s mother, crying “The King’s shot himself!” The king’s mother followed Chit into the king’s bedroom and found the king lying face up in bed, bloodied from a wound to the head.[2]
You can review at your own interest and draw your own conclusions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananda_Mahidol
After such sordid details, one must be disciplined to return to the topic at hand… King Rama IX.
King Rama IX (known as “Rama the 9th” or “9 luang” -the King, His Majesty, boss of the bosses):
Rama the 9th was loved by all his people. He was a modest, humble man and the media loved him up. Note that the Thai media is very different than the American media in that it is unlawful to say anything unkind about the King. I heard a story where a passenger in a Thai Airlines plane (who was over served with alcohol) and made drunken, unflattering comments about the King that the captain of the Thai jet, returned to Bangkok where the passenger was arrested. Suffice it to say that no one makes disparaging comments about the King.
The above being said, the Thai people loved the King Rama IX. Note that he became King on June 9, 1946 and remained King until his passing on October 13, 2017 for a total of 70 years and 126 days and died at the age of 89 years old. During that time, he lead the Thai people in an amazing journey.
During his reign he had 10 principles that are referred to as the “The Ten Virtues of the King” which are:
- Charity
- Morality
- Altruism
- Honesty
- Gentleness
- Self-control
- Imperturbability (incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited)
- Non-violence
- Forbearance
- Uprightness
I know… you’re probably thinking the same as I am… it’s obvious these are all identical of Donald J. Trump’s core principles. If only ‘The Donald’ had the Thai press behind him…
Some notable facts of King Rama IX:
- While a modest man, it was estimated in May 2014 that he was worth US$30 billion. (This is remarkable since in the early 1950’s Thailand’s population was about 1 million people with the average life expectancy of 50 years old and per capita income was less than US$100 per year. This compares with today’s Thailand population of 69 million… with Bangkok having 8.2 million people and an annual income of $5,901 per year. In 2009 Thailand’s life expectancy was 69 years old. It is estimated that 2018’s Thai life expectancy will be 75.5 years old.)
- Notable political activists and Thai citizens who criticized the king or institution of monarchy were often forced into exile or to suffer frequent imprisonments. “There is a strict and strictly enforced, ‘lese majeste’ law in Thailand. Criticism of the king, queen, crown prince, and more recently, former kings, members of the royal family, and even their pets has long been strictly prohibited, with large fines and prison sentences of up to 35 years being imposed.” (from wikipedia)
- King Rama IX followed the male tradition where each male becomes a monk, which typically takes one month.
- In 1942 King Rama IX became a jazz enthusiast and learned to play the saxophone, a passion he kept throughout his life.
- In 1947, King Rama IX met his future wife when she was 15 years old and studying to be a concert pianist and was the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. She was born on August 12, 1932 (so she would be 4 years and 252 days younger than King Rama IX).
- In 1948 King Rama IX was driving a car and rear ended another car causing him to lose his right eye. His future wife visited him while he was recovering and they were married on April 28, 1950.
- On May 5, 1950 King Rama IX was officially crowned King. (That would be just 7 days after their wedding). At his ceremony he pledged the he would “reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people”.
- October 22, 1956 to November 5, 1956 (15 days) the King entered a 15-day monkhood, as is customary for Buddhist males on the death of elder relatives. (I’ve heard that it is customary for Thai men to enter monkhood and study for 30 days. Also, I believe this is open to other people who want to learn Buddhism.)
- September 16, 1957 King Rama IX stayed in power even though there was a military coup and the King imposed a martial law through out the kingdom under the Sarit Thanarat era. Sarit Thanarat was considered the Prime Minister and King Rama IX had a very close relationship with him. Sarit died on December 8, 1963.
- Following Sarit’s death, General Thanom Kittikachorn rose to power to lead Thailand’s military dictatorship, which was challenged in 1973 by Thai popular uprising. King Rama IX initially asked that the Thai people disband. When poice attacked and killed dozens of students, sparking protest riots, King Rama IX announced General Thanom’s resignation and departure from Thailand. King Rama distanced himself from the Thai military… only to embrace the military later.
- Essentially, King Rama IX threaded the political needle of military coups, Vietnam’s conflict era politics and transitioned Thailand in 1992 to a democratic system. The political climate of Thailand bounced back and forth with what I perceive being the ONLY consistent theme being the King himself. In other words, the King held Thailand together.
- I urge you to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej to understand the political coups that King Rama IX, primarily because of the people’s love for the King, navigated Thailand’s political climate. As wikipedia suggests, “the king is very skillful and never becomes obviously involved. If this coup goes wrong, Sonthi will get the blame, but whatever happens, the King will only get praise.”
Love of the King:
There is no question that the King was loved by his people, which is truly justified by his modesty guided by his 10 virtues mentioned above. And while his country had the influence of several coups, his 70 year reign held the country together.
Effect of news:
Thailand’s “lese-majeste”, a law that forbids criticism of the King is an interesting law. How much did the law contribute to the King’s love from his people?
Being from USA, it crossed my mind what would USA look like if USA had the same law. And I thought… silly me, we know what it would look like as CNN glowed over Obama in spite of Obama’s ineptness in imploding USA with an additional $10 trillion of debt. Obama could do no wrong. Any and all infractions, double standards, etc. would be swept under the rug. Then I thought, “What would happen if the lese-majeste applied to Trump. What would happen if the media praised Trump for creating $5.2 trillion of wealth in less than one year, would the world sense the vigor of prosperity? This is an extraneous and tangential thought and I do not wish to deviate from the importance of the King for truly the King deserved the love he earned from his people as he guided them faithfully and lovingly along a very prosperous 70 years.
Will the new King (King Rama X) be as popular?
This is a tough question to answer as there are certainly some headwinds to this King who was born July 28, 1952 and was 64 years old at the time of his father’s passing. Headwinds include:
- King Rama X was married and divorced 3 times and currently has 5 sons and 2 daughters. At present, he is not married. However I will quote from a biography of “A Life’s Work” about Thailand’s Monarchy In Perspective”, “The concept of a Thai king having only one queen is a modern phenomenon. Even in the 20th century, it was normal practice for a Siamese monarch to have many wives. Apart from helping secure successions, the custom enabled kings to form alliances with powerful families, many of whom offered their daughters to the monarchs. King Vajiravudh (1910–1925) had a number of marriages during his reign. In 1925–1935, King Prajadhipok personally believed in monogamy. King Bhumibol (Rama IX) continued with the precedent of monogamy set by his uncle, King Prajadhipok. So perhaps the Thai people can be understanding of King Rama X’s marriage history.
- While lese-majeste law is very much in effect, today’s Facebook and twitter feeds combined with just about every Thai person owning a smart phone, opinions may leak out. This being said, truly the Thai people believe in the law and the spirit of the law of honoring the King.
- While King Rama IX was truly loved and accomplished a tremendous amount in virtually every area, there are areas of improvement in terms of healthcare, environment, etc. where King Rama X can create his signature. It will be exciting to see what King Rama X will bring to Thailand.
Conclusion:
King Rama IX was deeply loved by his people. In spite of his passing on October 13, 2016, people still tear up when they talk of King Bhumibol.