Chakri dynasty
The Chakri dynasty (Thai: ราชวงศ์จักรี, RTGS: Ratchawong Chakkri, pronounced [râːt.tɕʰā.wōŋ tɕàk.krīː] ⓘ) is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand. The head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin Era and the city of Bangkok in 1782; following the end of Taksin Thonburi's reign, when the capital of Siam shifted to Bangkok. The royal house was founded by Rama I, an Ayutthaya military leader of Sino-Mon descent.
| House of Chakri ราชวงศ์จักรี | |
|---|---|
The royal emblem | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Founded | 6 April 1782 |
| Founder | Rama I |
| Current head | Rama X |
| Titles | King of Siam (1782–1949) King of Thailand (1949–present) |
| Estate(s) | Kingdom of Thailand |
| Cadet branches | 131 cadet houses (91 royal and 40 viceregal) |
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The King
The Queen Mother
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Prior to his accession to the throne, Rama I held for years the title Chakri, the civil chancellor. In founding the dynasty, the king himself chose "Chakri" as the name for it. The emblem of the house is composed of the discus (Chakra) and the trident (Trishula), the celestial weapons of the gods Vishnu and Shiva, of whom the Thai sovereign is seen as an incarnation.
The current head of the house is Maha Vajiralongkorn who was proclaimed king on 1 December 2016, but has reigned with retroactive effect since 13 October 2016 after the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej. The house's current seat is the Grand Palace. On Saturday, 4 May 2019, the coronation of Vajiralongkorn, with the traditional ceremony, occurred in Bangkok.