Bhumibol Adulyadej

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช, actually pronounced Phumiphon Adunyadet), King Rama IX of Thailand, born December 5, 1927, has been King of Thailand since 1946. He is currently the world's longest-serving head of state, and is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty.

Early Life

Time in the USA

King Bhumibol was born at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, as the youngest son of Mahidol Adulyadej Prince of Songkhla (son of king Chulalongkorn) and Mom Sangwal (later Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani). At the time of birth, he was known to Thai people as Phra Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol Adulyadej (พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าภูมิพลอดุลยเดช), reflecting the fact that his mother was a commoner. In fact, were he born just a few years earlier, before his uncle King Prajadhipok passed a law allowing children of a prince and a commoner to be called Phra Ong Chao (a prince of a lesser status than Chao Fa), he would even have been called Mom Chao (the most junior class of the Thai 'princes'), similar to his older brother and sister. He was brought back to Thailand on the following year, after Prince Mahidol finished his medical study at Harvard University.

Related Topics:
Cambridge, Massachusetts - United States - Mahidol Adulyadej - Chulalongkorn - Mom - Sangwal - King Prajadhipok - Phra Ong Chao - Chao Fa - Mom Chao - Harvard University

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Education

After a brief period of primary schooling at the Mater Dei school in Bangkok, Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol left from the age of six with the rest of his family for Switzerland where he continued his secondary education at the École Nouvelle de la Suisse romande, in Chailly-sur-Lausanne and received the baccalauréat ès lettres (high-school diploma with major in French literature, Latin, and Greek) from the Gymnase classique cantonal of Lausanne. He was studying science at the University of Lausanne when his elder brother, Phra Ong Chao Ananda Mahidol was crowned king of Thailand. King Ananda Mahidol then elevated his brother and sister to the Chao Fa status (the most senior class of the Thai princes) in 1935. They came to Thailand briefly in 1938, but returned to Switzerland for further study until 1945 (or 2488 in the Buddhist calendar).

Related Topics:
Bangkok - Switzerland - École Nouvelle de la Suisse romande - Chailly-sur-Lausanne - Baccalauréat - Lausanne - University of Lausanne - Chao Fa - 1935 - 1938 - 1945

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Succession

Upon the mysterious and premature death (possibly a murder) of his brother Ananda Mahidol (King Rama VIII) on June 9, 1946, Chao Fa Bhumibol acceded to the throne on the same day. However, he first wished to continue his education. His uncle, Rangsit Prince of Chainat, was therefore appointed Prince Regent while the King went back to Switzerland to finish his study. This time, he changed his fields to Law and Political Science as this would be more useful now that he was becoming king.

Related Topics:
Ananda Mahidol - June 9 - 1946 - Rangsit

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Marriage and family

While finishing his degree in Switzerland, he visited automobile manufacturing plants in Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met a distant cousin of his, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. He then became a frequent visitor to the ambassador's house. When he had a car accident which claimed one of his eyes and needed to be hospitalized in Lausanne, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit then became his frequent visitor. On one occasion, she also met the King's mother who asked her to continue her study in Lausanne, as the King had expressed his interest in her and wished to know her better. She obliged and the King chose Riante Rive, a boarding school in Lausanne for her. This eventually led to their quiet engagement while in Lausanne on July 19, 1949. He later married her on April 28, 1950 — just a week before his coronation.

Related Topics:
Mom Rajawongse - Sirikit Kitiyakara - Lausanne - July 19 - 1949 - April 28 - 1950

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The King and his wife Queen Sirikit have four children:

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• (Formerly HRH) Princess Ubol Ratana, born April 5, 1951 in Lausanne, Switzerland;
• HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born July 28, 1952;
• HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born April 2, 1955;
• HRH Princess Chulabhornwalailak, born July 4, 1957.

One of the King's grandchildren, Bhumi Jensen (also known as Khun Poom), was killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. He was the half-American son of Princess Ubol Ratana.

Related Topics:
Bhumi Jensen - 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake - Ubol Ratana

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Coronation

Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand on May 5, 1950 at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. His ceremonial name, according to the ancient tradition, is:

Related Topics:
May 5 - 1950

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:พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร์ สยามินทราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร

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:Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit

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On the same day, he made his consort Queen (Somdej Phra Boromarajini).

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The second regency

Following the death of his grandmother Queen Savang Vadhana (สว่างวัฒนา, Sawang Watthana Phra Phanvasa Areekajao), the King entered a 15 days monkhood (October 22 - November 5, 1956), as is customary. During the time, HM Queen Sirikit was appointed his regent. She was later appointed Queen Regent (Somdej Phra Boromarajininat) in recognition for this.

Related Topics:
Queen Savang Vadhana - October 22 - November 5 - 1956 - Somdej Phra Boromarajininat

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