Rethinking National Defence During the Reign of King Chulalongkorn
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105024398941
Journal Title
New Directions in Thai Studies
Start Page
47
End Page
69
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
New Directions in Thai Studies (2025) , 47-69
Suggested Citation
Boontanondha T. Rethinking National Defence During the Reign of King Chulalongkorn. New Directions in Thai Studies (2025) , 47-69. 69. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-83860-6_3 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/113591
Title
Rethinking National Defence During the Reign of King Chulalongkorn
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Abstract
The fundamental goal of Chulalongkorn’s modernization of the Siamese Military Forces, according to many experienced academics, was to gain more control over the country. According to Paul Chamber’s research Knights of the Realm: Thailand’s Military and Police, Then and Today, modern military forces were supposed to quell internal rivalries rather than fight external wars. The Military, Government, and Society in Siam, 1868–1910: Politics and Military Reform During the Reign of King Chulalongkorn by Noel A. Battye is considered to be the most influential study on the history of the Thai military. In his writings, he argued that centralizing power under Chulalongkorn included modernizing the armed forces. Despite this, Chulalongkorn was under pressure to modernize the military quickly. Nonetheless, he was highly concerned about the offspring of noble clans studying the military in Europe, particularly Chaophraya Surawongwatsak, who travelled to Britain to study artillery and was one of the most knowledgeable military figures at the time. Due to his lack of faith in their loyalty, the King chose not to nominate these aristocrats to major positions in the military services. Surawongwatsak had never been appointed to the position that commanded a regiment or division. His most important position in the army was the commander of the military academy. On the other hand, the King assigned numerous princes, including the younger brothers of Chulalongkorn-Prince Damrong, Prince Bhanurangsri, and Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs-to important positions in the army. Additionally, according to Battye, Chulalongkorn restructured the military because he intended to eradicate the independent military groups that belonged to the princes and nobles since they posed a threat to his stability. Battye’s argument shows that the king’s internal security was the true motivation behind the modernization of the military forces.