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Moral
features
characteristic
of

Prajadhipok,the
Prince
of
Sukhodaya

who
became
King
of
SIam

Prudhisan Jumbala*

Abstract

The moral features characteristic of Prajadhipok,the man who
became King of Siam in 1926 for 9 of his 48 years of life,are posited

in this paper and the oral presentation.His education and upbringing at
home and in the UK,including a three months period in the Buddhist

monkhood ,are shown as accounting for the formation of such
features,which endured throughout his life.These were exhibited in his
various deeds,writings and speeches,both before and during his

kingship.What the man brought to the performance of the monarchical
role,both Absolute and then Constitutional,is argued to be of

significance to the drama that unfolded.

The features highlighted are his adherence to peaceful means

and the pursuit of peace and happiness for the people;his diligence in
life-long learning and doing;his liberal,open-minded,disposition and
respect for majority opinions even if they were contrary to his

own;and his resolute pursuit of CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY as a
democratic ‘brand’ of government undergirded by the rule of

law,despite his intellectually critical stance towards democracy as well
as towards absolutism.

* Associate Professor, retire from the Faculty of Political Science,
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok; Committee Member, the King Prajadhipok Museum.