Country Kingdom of Thailand Founder Rama I | Founded 1782 Current head Rama X | |
 | ||
Titles King of Siam (1782–1940)
King of Thailand (1940–present) Ethnicity founder Thai, Mon, Chinese, Khmer | ||
The Chakri dynasty (Thai: ราชวงศ์จักรี; rtgs: Ratchawong Chakkri, [râ:t.tɕʰá.woŋ.tɕàk.kri:], Pronunciation) is the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand, while the Head of the house is the monarch. The dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin Era and the city of Bangkok in 1782 following the end of King Taksin of Thonburi's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The royal house was founded by King Rama I, an Ayutthayan military leader of Sino-Mon descent.
Contents
- Royal family of Thailand
- Members
- Other Members
- Non official members
- Former spouses
- Recently deceased members
- References
Prior to the founding of the dynasty, King Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the title of the civil chancellor (สมุหนายก). In founding the dynasty, King Rama I himself chose "Chakri" as the name for the dynasty. The emblem of the dynasty is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trisula), the celestial weapons of god Vishnu and Shiva, whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation.
The current head of the house is King Maha Vajiralongkorn who was proclaimed king on 1 December 2016, but has actually reigned with retroactive effect since 13 October 2016 after the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The house's current dynastic seat is the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Royal family of Thailand
The present royal family of Thailand is descended from Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkla (1891–1929) and Srinagarindra (later Princess Mother) (1900–95) forming the House of Mahidol (ราชสกุลมหิดล) (a cadet branch of the dynasty). The Prince was a son of King Chulalongkorn and his wife Queen Savang Vadhana. The Prince was also the half-brother of both King Vajiravudh and King Prajadhipok. After the death of King Ananda Mahidol (Prince Mahidol's elder son), King Bhumibol Adulyadej (the Prince's younger son) ascended the throne in 1946. In 1949 the King married his first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara (a daughter of Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara, a grandson of King Chulalongkorn). Bhumibol was succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn officially on 13 October 2016, but was proclaimed King on 1 December 2016.
Members
This is a list of current members of the royal family: