King Mongkut of Siam

The Prince Who Became a Monk

Prince Maha Mongkut was born on October 18, 1804 in the kingdom of Siam (now called Thailand). His father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, became the king of Siam (King Rama II) when Mongkut was five. Mongkut's mother was Queen Sri Suriyendra.

As was traditional, Mongkut's father kept a large harem. Mongkut had 72 brothers and sisters, borne by 38 different mothers, but Mongkut was the crown prince, expected to inherit the throne after his father's death. He was called Chao Fah Mongkut, meaning "The High Prince of the Crown." Until he was nine Mongkut lived in a palace near the Chao Phraya River, where he studied Buddhism, history and literature. He also learned to ride horses and elephants, and was trained in the use of various weapons. When he was just 12 years old, his father put him in charge of the Siamese army.

But Mongkut had a rival for the throne --- his half-brother Jetta or Chesdabodin, the son of one of Rama II's many consorts. Prince Jetta was seventeen years older than Mongkut, more experienced in government, and much more powerful.

When Mongkut was 20, his father died and a council of princes and court officials chose Jetta to be Siam's new king. Fearing for his safety, Mongkut left his wife and two young children and became a Buddhist monk. For 27 years the former crown prince lived a monastic life, but it was hardly a dull life. He travelled barefoot throughout Siam, living on handouts and learning about the way ordinary people lived. He also devoted himself to intellectual studies, learning everything from printing to astronomy. He founded the strict Thammayut monastic sect, which still exists today.

Mongkut as King

In 1851, Jetta (now called King Nangklao or Rama III) died. At last Mongkut was elected to ascend the throne. At the age of 47 he left the monkhood and became King Phrachomklao or Rama IV. One of his first acts as monarch was to name a deputy king. This was his brother Chutamani, another son of Queen Sri Suriyendra. Chutamani, now known as King Pinklao, took charge of Siam's national defense.

Mongkut was a true monarch, with total power over his five and a half million subjects. But he was different from previous Siamese kings. For one thing, he was friendly toward the West, inviting European diplomats to his coronation and introducing Western innovations into his kingdom. He spoke English, French, and Latin as well as Siamese, Pali, and Sanskrit, although he joked once that some Englishmen "have not understanding of their own language when I speak."

Despite his open-mindedness about other cultures, Mongkut made sure that Siam did not become a mere appendage of some Western nation.

In his personal life Mongkut adhered to Siamese tradition, having 82 children by 39 wives. Nine thousand women lived in his harem, kept apart from the world in a separate city that they were seldom allowed to leave. But Mongkut wanted the women of his court to be educated about the world beyond Siam. He arranged for them to receive English lessons from Christian missionaries, but the Siamese women were bored by their preaching. So Mongkut's consul in Singapore hired another woman, Anna Leonowens, to teach the king's wives and children. She arrived in Bangkok in 1862.

The Famous Governess

According to her own writings, Mrs. Leonowens had been born in Wales in 1834. Her father, a military man, was sent to India when Anna was six. He took his wife went with him, but young Anna was left behind at a girls' school run by a relative. Her father died in India, and Anna was not reunited with her mother until she was 15.

In 1851 Anna married a British officer, Major Thomas Leonowens. Her husband died young. Left with two children to support, Anna turned to teaching.

Although historians question the accuracy of Anna's version of her life story as well as her account of life in the Siamese court, her two books (The English Governess at the Siamese Court and The Romance of the Harem) created great interest in King Mongkut and Siam that continues to this day. Eventually author Margaret Landon converted Leonowens' books into the very popular novel Anna and the King of Siam, published in 1944. It was made first into a movie starring Rex Harrison, then into a Broadway musical, The King and I, starring Yul Brynner, which became a movie. It was followed by a 1972 television series, also starring Brynner. In March 1999 an animated version of "The King and I" was released.

The most recent film adaptation is Anna and the King, released in late 1999 and starring Jodie Foster as Anna. Like its predecessors, "Anna and the King" has been banned in Thailand due to its historical inaccuracy and what Thai censors perceive as its disrespect for the monarchy.

The Death of King Mongkut

In 1868, King Mongkut impressed astronomers by predicting a solar eclipse. Unfortunately, Mongkut and his 15-year-old son Chulalongkorn observed the eclipse from a marshy area infested with mosquitoes, and both contracted malaria. Knowing that he was dying, Mongkut called his advisors to his bedside and urged them to continue working for the best interests of his people. King Mongkut died on his 64th birthday.

Chulalongkorn recovered. Because he was his father's eldest royal son (his mother was Queen Thepserin), he succeeded to the throne as King Rama V.

Mrs. Leonowens was away from Siam when Mongkut died. She wrote the new king a letter of condolence. He replied politely, but did not invite her back to Siam. So Leonowens made a new life as a writer. She became well-known and successful.

Mongkut's prime minister ruled as regent until Chulalongkorn turned 20 and took charge of the country. He immediately turned tradition on its ear by announcing that the people of Siam were no longer required to prostrate themselves in the king's presence. He also abolished slavery and gave up his official ownership of all the land in Siam. His grandson, Bhumibol, is Thailand's current king.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU (Oscar Hammerstein)

Anna:
It's a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you'll be taught.
As a teacher I've been learning
(You'll forgive me if I boast)
And I've now become an expert,
On the subject I like most.
[Spoken]
Getting to know you.
[Children Giggle]
Getting to know you, getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me.
Getting to know you, putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,
My cup of tea.
[Children Giggle]

All [Except children]:
Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.
Getting to know you, putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,

Anna:
My cup of tea.

All (including children):
Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy.
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say
Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day.
Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy.
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say
Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day.