Info on King Buddha Yodfa (Rama I)

Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great or Phutthayotfa (1737 – 1809), posthumously titled Rama I, was King of Siam (now called Thailand) from 1782 to 1809, and the founder of the Chakri dynasty which rules Thailand to this day. Publicly acclaimed "the Great" (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja).

Early Life

Phutthayotfa was born Thong Duang on March 20, 1737 in Ayutthaya, the son of Phra Aksorn Sundara Smiantra, a minor noble of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya of Mon descent, and his part-Chinese wife. Phra Aksorn later assumed the title of Chao Phya Chakri Pitsanuloke following the fall of Ayutthaya.

After receiving his education in a Buddhist temple, his father sent him to become a squire for King Uthumphon, and it was at this moment that he met his childhood friend Taksin, who would become King Taksin, Phutthayotfa's future predecessor. At the age of 25, Phutthayotfa became the Governor of Ratchaburi province and later became one of Taksin's six ministers. After the fall of Ayutthaya, he rejoined the ranks of King Taksin under the name Chao Phraya Chakri, and together with Phraya Pichai were they were regarded by Taksin as his two most valuable generals.

King of Siam

Following the deposition of King Taksin in 1782, Phuttayodfa was chosen as King, becoming the founder and first ruler of the Chakri Dynasty. His coronation date, April 6th, has since become a public holiday in Thailand, the Chakri Memorial Day. He restored economic and political stability following the disastrus defeat of Ayutthaya by the Burmese and also strengthened the social order through the introduction of new laws, the Book of Three Seals. He also moved the capital from Dhonburi to the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River, thus founding the city of Bangkok. It was during that reign that the Grand Palace was constructed and he installed the Emerald Buddha in the Chapel Royal following its completion.

Death and Legacy

Rama I died on September 7, 1809 after a short but sharp illness. By then the kingdom had been consolidated and the threat of invasion by traditional enemies had receded. Upon his demise, he was succeeded by his son Prince Isarasundorn, who assumed the throne name of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (now posthumously titled Rama II). He was later given the name Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke posthumously by his grandson Nangklao, who later became King Rama III.