Rama Thai Tradition

Rama (Thai: รามา, pronounced [rāːmāː]) is a term used in Thai tradition to refer to the kings of the Chakri Dynasty, which has ruled Thailand since 1782. The name Rama is derived from the Hindu deity Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, and reflects the influence of Hindu-Buddhist traditions on Thai culture. The use of the name Rama for Thai kings began with King Rama I, who founded the Chakri Dynasty and established Bangkok as the capital of Siam (now Thailand). Each subsequent king has been given a similar regnal name, with the current monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, being known as Rama X. The numbering of the Rama kings corresponds to their position in the sequence of the Chakri Dynasty, with Rama I being the first and Rama X being the tenth. The title Rama is not used as a personal name but rather as a regnal name, similar to the use of "Pharaoh" in ancient Egypt or "Caesar" in ancient Rome. In Thai, the term for king is phra mahāchat (พระมหากษัตริย์), but the regnal name Rama is widely recognized and used both within Thailand and internationally.