Bangkok City

The History of Bangkok

Bangkok, the official name of which is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, has been the fourth capital of Thailand founded in 1782, the year that King Rama I established himself as the first king of the Chakri Dynasty. King Rama I decided to move the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok for two obvious reasons. First, Thonburi was too crowded and was also located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River, where the currents continually eroded the bank. The east side, where the new capital was to be founded, was more spacious. Besides the Chao Phraya itself would serve as a natural barrier, making it more difficult for enemies, particularly the Burmese, to advance on the city

Upon the completion of the construction of Bangkok in 1785, King Rama I ordered an auspicious ceremony to celebrate his coronation as well as the new capital at the same time. Later, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) the Centenary of the founding of Bangkok was commemorated in 1882, and in the reign of King Prachathipok, another celebration was organized to commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the founding of Bangkok in 1932. As a part of the latter, a statue of King Rama I was unveiled and Budhayodfa Bridge, or the Memorial Bridge, was built and opened to the public.