Phumipon Adulyadej (Rama IX) is the ninth monarch of the Chakri dynasty. In the history of Thailand, it is the most long-lived. Many consider King Phumipon to be the father of the whole nation, the patron of democracy, the soul and heart of the people. This monarch is an important figure both in history and in the ordinary life of Thailand. He earned the respect not only of his people, but of the whole world.
A family
Phumipon Adulyadej was born on December 5, 1927 in the USA, in the state of Massachusetts, in the city of Cambridge. His father was Prince Mahidol Songkl. He studied medicine at Cambridge at the time his son was born.
After returning to Siam (now Thailand), Mahidol died. At that time, his son was not yet two years old. Phumipon's mother, Mom Sangwal, at first was simply the wife of the monarch, but then she was given a higher title - Mother of Thailand. In the family, Bhumipon was the third and youngest child.
Study
Phumipon first graduated from a regular Thai high school. Then he continued his studies in Switzerland. He studied French, German and English, law and political science. He was going to get the profession of "engineer". But fate decreed otherwise.
Ascension to the throne
At 19, Phumipon came to Thailand. Only a few months passed, and his elder brother overtook a sudden death. As a result, on June 9, 1946, Phumipon took the throne. The coronation procedure took place on May 5, 1950. Phumipon became the 9th monarch in the Chakri dynasty and took the name Rama IX. Prior to his coronation, he studied law and political science in Switzerland.
The young monarch arrived only at the ceremony, to pronounce the traditional oath. Then he went back to Switzerland to graduate. He finally returned to Thailand only in 1951. And in 1956, according to Buddhist traditions, he took the temporary monastic rank.
Crash
On November 4, 1948, Phumipon had a car accident. At that moment, he was driving along the Geneva – Lausanne highway. As a result, he severely injured his back, lost his sight in one eye, and his whole face was cut off by pieces of glass. Therefore, after the accident, King Phumipon Adulyadej was photographed exclusively with dark glasses. American journalists even gave him an offensive nickname - Bhumibol bespectacled. Although it was not accepted by society and was soon forgotten.
Phumipon Adulyadej: children and personal life
King Phumipon met Princess Sirikit in Switzerland. Their wedding took place in the spring of 1950. Now it is a royal couple. They had four children. Three daughters and one son.
Coups
Phumipon Adulyadej, whose biography from his youth was already connected with the throne and power, could always promptly influence critical moments, sometimes occurring in the country. For example, in 2006 in Thailand there was a difficult and crisis situation. Due to the confrontation between the Prime Minister and the opposition. They boycotted the election. Phumipon took their side, and the prime minister’s victory was annulled by the constitutional court.
Until 2006, 17 coups took place in Thailand. Then, after the 18th coup, the military junta overthrew Prime Minister Thaksin and promised to return all power to the people. Outside observers decided that these events happened with the consent of Phumipon (only silent), given his enormous popularity in the country. The king approved General Songhi, who participated in the overthrow of Thaksin, as the interim government.
Bhumibol's attitude towards his subjects
The tradition of close communication with citizens was begun by Rama V. During his reign, Bhumibol Adulyadej supports this direction. Phumipon always tries to keep abreast of the moods and problems of his subjects. They answer him with devotion and love.
In an interview that Phumipon once gave to Danish reporters, the king said that the story never interested him, and the monarch did not seek to exaltation. From the very beginning of his accession to the throne, the main thing for him was the happiness and peace of his subjects.
The words are beautiful, and were uttered not just for ambition. King Phumipon really cares about his people. First of all, about the safety of people and the exclusion of wars. King Phumipon constantly visits even the most remote villages in the countryside. The Thai monarch prefers to know first-hand about the needs and problems of his subjects. He travels around the country, looks at the situation himself and does not believe the word of officials.
King Phumipon and his projects
Having traveled all over his country (even the most distant villages), Phumipon Aduliadet (whose photo can be seen in this article) tries, if possible, to help his subjects not only with advice. The king developed over a thousand new projects that served the good of his people.
Phumipon is the first of the monarchs to receive patents for his inventions. For example, the monarch independently invented a method of artificially challenging rains. Or - an aerator, which is still widely used in the agricultural and industrial sectors of the country.
The Royal Flower project is also distributed throughout Thailand. Flowers growing all over Thailand are planted by order of the monarch. Thus, Phumipon is trying to encourage his people to abandon the cultivation of opium.
King's fortune
Phumipon Adulyadej, whose fortune is estimated at $ 35 billion, does not spend a dime from the state treasury to maintain the royal family . Every year, part of the money goes to charity. Dollars from his personal condition are transferred to hospitals and other socially significant institutions and projects. Thus, the king does not have any official salary.
One of the richest people in the world is the king of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Forbes list made it to the TOP 14 most wealthy and famous. The king spends his tremendous fortune. For the development of agriculture in the country, the king personally developed over 3,000 projects.
In addition to the above, Phumipon owns a well-known and expensive collection of precious stones. In the world, she gained wide popularity and significantly increases the king’s condition, above the previously mentioned figure. Specific data on its value were not disclosed.
Religion and king
In Thailand, Buddhism is the state religion. Phumipon personally sets an example of devotion to the Buddha. According to tradition, all young people in Thailand in their youth go to monasteries for a short period of time. Phumipon did not make an exception for himself. He became a monk in 1956 and, like everyone else, dressed in saffron, he collected alms in the streets of Bangkok.
The Thai Constitution states that monarchs should patronize all religions, and not just Buddhism. Therefore, Phumipon equally pays attention to any religion, despite the worship of his subjects.
Talents of Phumipona
King Bhumibol Adulyadej is not only skilled in politics. He has a number of other talents. And they help the monarch in governing the country. Phumipon showed engineering abilities. Thanks to this, the king was able to create a land reclamation system that is widely used throughout the country.
The talent in photography was also not "buried in the ground." The works of the King of Thailand, Phumipon, are shown at exhibitions even in foreign countries. In his youth, the monarch was fond of music, and even wrote it himself. Best of all he got jazz. One of these compositions took 1st place on Broadway among other musical productions.
Governing body
The Kingdom of Thailand has a constitutional monarchy established since 1932. The monarch and his family are considered inviolable. Any criticism of the royal family is prohibited. For this you can go to prison for up to 15 years. The minimum term is three years.
December 5, the birthday of King Phumipon, is considered a national holiday. It is noted widely. On the streets are festive processions, various concerts and many other recreational activities.
Thus, the subjects of Thailand express their love and devotion to King Bhumipon. The houses are decorated with flowers, flags and portraits of the king. Buddhist monasteries hold religious ceremonies. All the people of Thailand pray on this day that the Gods endow Bhumibol with health, strength and happiness.
Thanks to the attention and care that the king has always shown to his subjects, he remains in power longer than all the previous rulers of Thailand, and is still on the throne, despite his advanced age.