The Chakri dynasty have ruled Thailand since king Taksin was declared mad in 1782. The name Chakri (Thai จักรี) derives from the title Phya Chakri, given to Rama I while he was a general in Taksin's army.
During the reign of King Rama III, his predecessors were usually referred as "the first king" and "the middle king". However in this naming he would have been called "the last king", which was considered a bad omen and thus not used. Instead he posthumously gave them the above names, and himself the name "Nangklao". The name "Rama" was introduced by King Vajiravudh, but his successor rejected it. Even though never readopted officially, it is the common naming in Thailand. The name Mongkut in English texts usually refers to Rama IV, but in Thailand it is usually understood as the reigning title of Rama VI, Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua.
Vice-Kings
Until 1885 every king had a vice-king (Maha Uparaja, also often translated as second king), usually the brother of the king and the designated heir to the throne - however Rama II was the only former vice-king who actually ascended to the throne. When the vice-king died before the king, the title often remained vacant for several years. The system was abolished by King Chulalongkorn when his vice-king Bovorn Vichaicharn died. He then declared his oldest son the crown prince, but not vice-king.
Siam, "the land of the White Elephant" or the country of the Muang Thai (the Free), is situated in the south-eastern corner of Asia, lying between 4° and 21° north lat.
It is bounded on the north by Tong-king and the southern states of Burma, on the east by Annam and Cambodia, on the south by the Gulf of Siam and the Malay Peninsula, and on the west by the Indian Ocean, and thus forms a buffer state between French and British possessions.
Siam, in those days the rendezvous of all commercial enterprise in the East, gave shelter to several hundred Annamite and Japanese Christians who had been expelled or lived there as voluntary exiles on account of persecutions at home.
KingPinklao was a son of King Rama II (while he was holding the title of Khrom Luang Isara Sunthorn) and Queen Srisuriyentara.
KingPinklao was born at Phra Racha Wang Derm (a former palace of KingTaksin the Great) on September 4,1808, four years after his brother, King Monkut,during the last part of the First Reign.
KingPinklao was well aware that the situation was critical and showed great loyalty to his brother, maintaining and strengthening the Throne all his life.
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