Nangklao (Rama III), or King Jessadabodindra (full royal name Prabath Somdej Pra Paramadhiwarasetha Maha Jessadabodindra Siammintarawirodom Borommadhammikkarajadhirat Boromanathbopitra Phra Nangklao Chaoyuhua) (March 31, 1788 - April 2, 1851) third of the Chakri dynasty, was king of Siam from 1824 to 1851. He was selected as successor by an Ascension Council because his younger brother, later Rama IV, was considered less suitable, although born to a senior Queen. The future Rama IV took monastic vows as a Buddhist monk to avoid possible assassination.
Contents
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1 Before succession
2 Succession
3 Naming the reign
4 The wealthy king
5 Rama III and foreign relations
6 The faithful king
7 Death and succession
8 Notes
9 References
10 Credits
Rama III was the last traditional monarch of Siam. Though his successors were also traditionalists, they started to modernize the kingdom. Rama III was king over the largest territory ever to be subject to Thai rule. He entered a trade-treaty with Britain in 1826. His father had received two diplomatic missions from Singapore but no treaty had resulted. Rama III realized that unless he made some concessions to the British, who had now entered Burma, they might simply take by force what they failed to gain by peaceful means. He actually gave limited trade concessions, but this was sufficient to cement a special relationship with the British that opened up Thailand to trade while yielding none of her independence. Thai remained the only nation in Indochina that did not fall to one of the colonial powers. Instead, by negotiating with the British to the West and the French to the East, the Thai kings secured recognition as a neutral buffer zone.
Rama III statue in Bangkok