Kings of Thailand, Chronologically Quiz

Born as Li Thai, Maha Thammaracha I was one of Thailand's first kings when the country was known as the Sukhothai Kingdom. He succeeded Ngua Nam Thum, who ruled for 24 years and whose name translates to "the fifth son". According to findings by historians, Li Thai was the first Buddhist philosopher to write in Thai, including works like "Traiphum Phra Ruang". His issue continued his legacy as they also ruled for decades after him. These were: Lue Thai, Saileuthai, and Borommapan, otherwise known as Mahathammaracha II, III, and IV.

This king is not to be confused with Maha Thammaracha, king of Ayutthaya. The latter ruled between 1584 and 1590 and a "giant Buddha" called "Phra Phuttha Maha Thammaracha", built in his honor, is now a monument in Thailand.

Borommatrailokkanat is one of the most famous kings of Siam, back when modern Thailand was known as the Ayutthaya Kingdom. He was born in 1431 and was known as Prince Ramesuan, since he was the son of King Borommarachathirat II. Borommatrailokkanat lived in a period when the Sukhothai Kingdom was transforming into the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

He was revered by those around him and was thought to possess a "white elephant", which meant he was "glorious and happy". His father gave him power when he was very young, allowing him to be well-prepared to become king in 1448.

Indeed, his family was in power for decades, starting with Intharacha I in 1409 and all the way to Ratsadathirat in 1533.

Also known as Sanphet II or Phra Naret, Naresuan the Great reigned in the Ayutthaya Kingdom between 1590 and 1605, the year of his death. He was the son of Mahathammarachathirat I, the king who started the Sukhothai dynasty's reign. In Thailand, Phra Naret is best known and revered for his role in the Battle of Nong Sarai (also known as the elephant battle), where he fought against and defeated Crown Prince Mingyi Swa. Today, many monuments dedicated to King Naresuan the Great can be found around Thailand, from an image of him in the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters to a statue of him at Naresuan University.

Songtham or Intharacha III was King of Ayutthaya between 1611 and 1628. He was next in line of the Sukhothai dynasty that had started in 1569. His father, Phra Ekathotsarot, succeeded his brother Naresuan the Great following the latter's death in 1605.

Then, Ekathotsarot's second eldest son, Si Saowaphak, was in power only for about a year. He had an older brother, Prince Suthat, but he died before Ekathotsarot did. After Si Saowaphak's death, Phra Songtham was invited to take the throne. Under King Intharacha III, the Kingdom favored the Dutch over the British by signing commerce treaties with the former.

He also built the Wat Phra Phutthabat temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Thailand.

The Prasat Thong dynasty was one of the shortest dynasties in Thai history. It started when the controversial Prasat Thong staged a coup against the monarch in power, King Chetthathirat. His brother Athittayawong was then installed by Prasat Thong, making him the last ruler of the Sukhothai dynasty. Prasat Thong, otherwise known as Sanphet V, was a strong leader feared by his enemies. He was known for occasionally executing prisoners himself. After his death, his son Chao Fa Chai and then his brother Si Suthammaracha both ruled for about a month.

In 1656, Prasat Thong's other son, Ramathibodi III, took over the Kingdom. Narai the Great or Ramathibodi III went on to rule for over 40 years, in a period known for his acceptance of foreign influences like the French and the British. He was overthrown by the Siamese revolution of 1688, after which Phra Phetracha came into power.

Phetracha or Ramesuan III was a key leader of the Siamese revolution of 1688. This war was fought between the ruling Prasat Thong dynasty (supported by the French) and rebels led by Phetracha and supported by the Dutch. King Narai's permissiveness of foreign influences gave rise to nationalistic feelings among Siamese lords in 17th century Thailand.

When Phetracha declared victory and rose to power, he expelled the French from the territory and focused on diplomatic efforts with other countries. Phetracha died in 1703 after 14 years in power.

He left the throne to his adopted son Suriyenthrathibodi.

King Sanphet VIII, better known as Suriyenthrathibodi, was an important leader of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya despite only being in power for about seven years. As the second King of Ayutthaya representing the Ban Phlu Luang dynasty, he constructed the Wat Pho Prathap Chang Buddhist temple. Previously known as Luang Sorasak, Suriyenthrathibodi was an adoptive son of King Phetracha and became ruler after his father's death in 1703.

Historical accounts of Suriyenthrathibodi's reign tell that he was known as Phra Chao Suea or "Tiger King" because he was thought to be evil and cruel.

His son Sanphet IX succeeded him after his death in 1709.

Taksin the Great is distinguishable from all other kings of Thailand because he was the only ruler of the Thonburi Kingdom. Born in 1734, Taksin was a well-known figure long before he became king. The son of a Chinese father and Thai mother, he became the governor of the Tak province in 1764, and was called Phraya Taksin. Taksin also was a general whose soldiers followed him when he fled Ayutthaya and established a new government in the city of Thonburi. By 1767, Taksin was officially crowned as King of Siam once Thonburi became the new capital.

His reign lasted until 1782, when he was supposedly executed by generals who were unhappy with his rule.

Also known as Maha Chulalongkorn, King Rama V had his first coronation in 1868, when he was around 15 years old. His parents were King Mongkut and Queen Debsirindra. Mongkut is believed to have died of malaria in 1868, inheriting the throne to the monarchy of Siam to his son. Chulalongkorn was crowned, this time as Rama V, in 1873.

He oversaw important historical events like the Franco-Siamese War of 1893, the abolition of Siamese slavery, and establishing amicable relationships with the British through, among other agreements, the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. King Rama V died in 1910.

His son, King Rama VI (Vajiravudh) took over as king.

Born Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX ruled Thailand from 1946 to 2016, the year of his death. His father, Mahidol Adulyadej, studied public health at Harvard University at the time Rama IX was born, making him the first-ever Thai king to be born outside of Thailand (in Cambridge, Massachusetts). Rama IX succeeded his brother Rama VIII (Ananda Mahidol) after he was found dead in 1946 at the young age of 20.

There are several theories about what caused Rama VII's death, including that he killed himself and that Bhumibol accidentally shot him. Bhumibol Adulyadej was 19 years old at the time he ascended to power and saw a number of important events in Thailand's history, like the Thammasat University massacre and a coup in 2006.

The king died in 2016 after a long fight with lumbar spinal stenosis.