 King
Phra Buddha Lertla Napalai, the 2nd King of the Chakri Dynasty, ascended the
throne in 1809, had an extremely gentle temperament and never resorted to
violence if it were not for the good of the people as a whole.. Throughout
his reign, he did only meritorious deeds, thus peace and harmony were the
order of the day during that era. King Rama II died on July 21, 1824 at the
age of 58.
During his rule, the country was relative at peace with neighboring
countries. It was, therefore, an ideal time to build up the country. King
Phra Buddha Lertla Napalai improved the administrative system, promoted
religious, culture and introduced land reforms which stipulated that it was
compulsory for anyone owning land, regardless of social status, to cultivate
it otherwise it would be expropriated.
The populace rightly called him "White Elephant King" which came from his
possession of three white elephant. This is why all Siamese seagoing middle.
Later on, this flag became the national flag. King Rama II was a devout
Buddhist and, consequently, ordered his subjects including members of the
royal family and officials to shun all vices. King Rama II also revived the
celebrations of Visakha Bucha - the day that Lord Buddha was born,
enlightened and died. He revised the Buddhist Tripitaka by translating the
chanting of prayers in Pali into Thai so that people would understand what
they were reciting.
During his 16 years of rule, the kingdom enjoyed harmony, peace and
prosperity. The populace led lives in conformity with Buddhism and the
wishes of their beloved monarch, which centered around kindness and peace.
His many contributions to the country still remain as a living remainder
of his kindness. It is the duty of all Thais to preserve such heritage and
to vow that they will be loyal to the Chakri Dynasty with their hearts and
souls. |
