years. During his reign he consolidated the kingdom in such a way that here was no further fear of invasion from enemies. King Rama I has been praised as an accomplished statesman, a lawmaker, a poet and a devout Buddhist. Thus, his reign has been called a "reconstruction" of the Thai state and Thai culture. He was the monarch who established Bangkok as the capital of Thailand, and this is the most long-lasting creation which gains popularity as the
"City of Angels". King Rama I passed away on September 7, 1809 at the age of 72.
King Rama I's son,
Phra Buddha Loetla Naphalai,
or Rama II, then acceded to the throne. It was during his reign that a renaissance of Thai arts and culture came about, especially in literature. The King himself was a man gifted with artistic talent.
Phra Nang Klao came next. He fortified the country with a strong defence force and commissioned many buildings. It was during his reign that Thai arts reached the highest peak since Ayutthaya period. It is said that the reigns of King Rama II and III constituted a Golden Age of Literature and Arts, similar to
King Narai's in Ayutthaya. King Rama III or
Phra Nang klao was succeeded by
King Mongkut (Rama IV) who was a bold religious leader. He strated the commercial contacts with foreign countries and was responsible for the introduction of western science and modernization into Thailand. Then came
King Chulalongkorn, the benevolent monarch.
