Today is Chulalongkorn Day in Thailand. A celebration of the life of King Chulalongkorn, also known as King Rama V. October 23 marks the day of his death.

Most westerners will recognize King Chulalongkorn as the boy king depicted in the movie and musical The King and I.

King Chulalongkorn is one of Thailand’s most revered and important kings. During his reign from 1868 to 1910 he brought many reforms to Thailand that helped to modernize the country.

Born on September 20, 1853 he ascended the throne in 1868 at the age of 15 and reigned for 42 years until his death in 1910.

Ushering in a new age for Thailand he was very interested in the West and learned much of the western governments and politics while extending friendship to such countries as America, Great Britain, France, and Russia. King Chulalongkorn was the first Thai King to travel extensively, visiting neighboring countries often and Europe two times.

Of his many reforms while King the most important was the abolition of slavery. As he took the throne over 1/3 of the Thai population at the time were slaves. Slavery was for life and the children of slaves were also slaves which kept the slave population growing.

A Thai could buy their way out of slavery but the price was excessive and for the most part beyond the slaves means to pay, making them a slave for life.

On August 21st 1874 King Chulalongkorn issued the Royal Slave Ablation Act which was the beginning of the end for slavery in Thailand. The act allowed for children born of slaves in or after 1868, the year of his coronation, had the right to reduce their slave price every year and by the time they were 21 if they had not already bought their freedom they would be freed. The Act also fixed the price of a slave to be half as much as it was originally. All other slaves were to have their debt lowered to 1 baht a month until they had their freedom.

The act sought to prohibit children being born into slavery and slave trading in general.

Among his other accomplishments King Chulalongkorn established a much broader political system of ministries, expanded the national railway system, established mail and telegraph services, and Began a system of public utilities with emphasis on education and health.

King Chulaongkorn is one of the most honored Thai kings to ever live. His picture can be found in every Thai house and it is widely belevied that paying respect to him will bring prosperity and good luck.