HM The King becomes Thailand’s Oldest Monarch

Our King, who is noted for his seemingly endless talents and abilities, added yet another laurel to his long list of achievements and accomplishments just last week.

On the 22nd of May, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great was 72 years, five months and 18 days old - or 26,468 days old. On the 23rd of May, His Majesty reached the same age as the erstwhile oldest king of the Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I who founded the line. When King Phra Buddha Yod Fa Chulalok Maharaj died on the 27th of May 1809, his record as the oldest king of Thailand lasted from the Sukhothai through the Ayutthaya and Thon Buri eras up until the present Rattanakosin period.

HM The King sailing His OK dinghy off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club CA 1967. Photo Peter Cummins

On the 24th of May, King Bhumibol added yet another honour to his long list of achievements when his age passed that of Rama I and he became the oldest king in Thai history.

One would be tempted to recall the song popularized by Dinah Washington in the 1950s or thereabouts, "What a difference a day makes’. For our own King Bhumibol, the day of Wednesday 24 May made a lot of difference and the Samamongkol Royal Ceremony marked the event.

This has been practiced by the Monarch throughout his own long kingship, on many occasions, specifically when his own reign equalled that of King Chulalongkorn’s 42 years which it did in 1988, and now last week when his age matched that of Rama I.

Other landmarks along the way were on the 29th of August 1965 when the King at age 38, reached the same age as his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla. On the 7th of January 1985, the King reached the same age as his illustrious grandfather Chulalongkorn, at 57 years and 33 days. Another occasion was on the 18th of November 1997 when his 23,260 days of age reached that of his great-grandfather King Mongkut, Rama IV.

Both kings, Rama I and Rama IX, although ruling more than two centuries apart, had more similarities than differences during their respective kingships.

When Rama I acceded to the throne in 1782, for example, the country was in a constant state of war with marauding Burmese tribes and, to make a more secure capital, Rama I moved the seat of government from Thon Buri to the other side of the Chao Phraya River, establishing the new capital at Bangkok, estimating that the east bank of the Chao Phraya River would offer a more protected location.

Yet, in spite of the constant state of warfare and unrest, he managed to resuscitate the arts which had all but faded out during the years of warfare and the sacking of Ayutthaya years before. The restored Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha brought back the splendour of a bygone age.

Rama I also patronized literature and raised commerce to a high level, with a great increase in sea trade around the region with such powers as Ceylon (Sri Lanka), China, India and Singapore.

By the time of his death in September 1809, at the age of 72, Rama I had brought Siam out of the shadows and into a showcase with spectacular temples and architecture worthy of emulation and a firmly established reigning dynasty. This recognition was achieved by the 28th year of his reign.

Although the present king paralleled many of the advances of his predecessor, there were great differences in their respective approaches. For example, Rama I was 45 years-of-age when he acceded to the throne. Bhumibol was a mere lad of 19 when kingship was thrust upon him, following the tragic death of his older brother Anananda Mahidol.

Nevertheless, both became kings during troubled periods which, in Bhumibol’s case, bequeathed him a monarchy just a few years out of absolutism where it had languished for some 700 years. There were few precedents and there was no agenda for the young king to follow.

The end of World War II, the rise of communism and other insurgencies, and a fractious politico-military elite were just some of the major hurdles which the young Bhumibol was obliged to confront.

His Majesty’s achievements are there for all the world to admire and, in some cases, imitate. His means of achieving the incredible progress, which he has made virtually single-handedly, has been through his dedication to his people.

With the aura of deity gone forever, after the coup of 1932 reduced the monarchy to a constitutional role, King Bhumibol has, indeed, ruled with "righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people."

HM The King sailing His OK dinghy with Alm Dawee in pursuit CA 1967. Photo Peter Cummins

Thus, on the 24th of May, our King added yet another great laurel to his remarkable years as the King of all Thai, His people.

No doubt, one of his consolations when affairs of state weighed heavily, was his love of music and sailing. His sojourns on the sea in his own-built OK dinghy were his escape - albeit briefly.

HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha tries sailing: following in grandfather’s steps. Photo Peter Cummins

His Majesty’s love of the sea has certainly passed along to some of the family and, just last week, his own granddaughter HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha was following in grandfather’s footsteps, sailing a dinghy off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in South Pattaya.