Chulalongkorn Day in Thailand Date in the current year: October 23, 2024

Chulalongkorn was born on September 20, 1853. He became king in 1868, following the death of his father King Mongkut. He was crowned as King Rama V in 1873. The young king craved for government and social reforms and modernization of Siam.

During Chulalongkorn's rule, Siam was threatened by Western colonialism. The king had to cede some territory to French Indochina and the British Empire. These territorial cessions helped him save Siam from colonization and earned him the epithet “the Great Beloved King”. Due to his extensive reforms, Chulalongkorn is regarded as one of the greatest kings of Siam.

Rama V died of kidney disease on October 23, 1910. The death anniversary of the beloved king was designated as a public holiday. Chulalongkorn Day is marked with solemn ceremonies held throughout the country. Flowers are lain at his statues and memorials. The most famous statue is located at the Royal Plaza in front of the Ananta Samakhon Throne Hall in Bangkok. The equestrian statue of King Rama V was erected in 1908.