King Mongkut, the King and I King
King Mongkut (Rama IV, ruled 1851-68) was Thai rule featured in the film and Broadway musical The King and I. He kept Thailand free during a time when Southeast Asia was coming under the control of the European colonial powers and is considered one of the most important figures in Southeast Asian history. Treaties with Western countries and extensive economic reforms were carried out during his reign. He retained foreigners as advisors for the first time and was a self-taught astronomer who accurately predicted a full solar eclipse, and was honored as the “Father of Thai Science” in later days.
Just prior to his father’s death Mongkut was ordained as a Buddhist monk at an unusually young age and he studiously absorbed the knowledge of Buddhist texts and the mental discipline of meditation. His half-brother, King Rama III, who claimed the throne after the death of their father (Rama II). He appointed Mongkut abbot of a new Buddhist order, which also served as a center for western scientific and mathematic studies.
Rama III died in 1851 and was succeeded by the Mongkut succeeded to the throne at age 47. As King, Mongkut made economic concessions to foreign powers and established personal diplomatic relations with various world powers in order to insulate Siam against British and French colonialism. He also set a slow course for domestic changes that he knew would take time to implement and were continued by his son King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).