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  About Thailand
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Prathet Thai (Thailand) is known as 'the land of smiles' to the western world, although its name literally means 'land of the free,' was known as Siam until 1939 when the king at the time Rama VIII Ananda Mahidol (who was later murdered at the Grand Palace) changed the name. The capital Bangkok (Krung Thep - city of angels) has a population of over 10 million, of the kingdoms 65 million.
 
Covering 514,000 square km and stretching 1620km from north to south, and 775km from east to west, Thailand has borders with Myanmar (Burma) to the northwest, Laos and Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The country divides into four natural regions: the mountains and forests of the north, the vast rice fields of the central plains, the semi-arid farmlands of the northeast and the tropical islands and coastline of the southern peninsula. The country is the only one of south east Asia never to be colonized and retains a strong sense of identity amongst its 76 provinces.

The main 'religion' in Thailand is Buddhism (although not strictly a religion) with 95% of the population following the teachings of Lord Buddha. Of the remainder 4% are Muslim and 1% other religions. Thailand has adopted the western method of dividing the year into days, weeks and months but years are numbered according to the Buddhist era (BE) which commenced 543 years before the Christian era, so 2008 will be known as 2551.

The monarchy is a dominant force in Thailand, and the kings presence is felt throughout the country. Thailand has a constitutional monarchy, like Great Britain, with the king recognized as the Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist Religion and Upholder of all Religions. The current king is the 9th in the Chakri dynasty, king Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej. In 2006 Thailand celebrated his 60th year on the throne, making him the worlds longest serving monarch. His consort is queen Sirikit and they have 4 children: princess Ubol Ratana, crown prince Maha Vajirralongkorn, princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and princess Churaporn Walailmedak. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 5 December 1927 where his father, prince Mahidol of Songkhla, was studying medicine and his mother worked as a nurse it was never expected that he would become king. However after his brother the kings murder at the Grand Palace he was crowned at the age of 18. since then he has become one of the worlds best loved monarchs and proved himself to be a worthy successor to s, known as the his celebrated ancestors. With queen Sirikit he has traveled to every part of Thailand, the first monarch to visit some parts of the country, and has initiated more than 2000 beneficial projects for the country, particularly in rural areas and often at his own expense.

There have been 5 key periods in Thai history: the Nanchao period (650 - 1250AD) which saw the creation of the kingdom with settlements to the south of the Chao Phraya river basin under the sovereignty of the Khmer empire.

In 1238AD the Thai Independent state of Sukhothai, the first capital, was founded, thus beginning the second era, known as the Sukhotai period, until 1438AD. Considered to be the golden era of Thai history (and called by its rulers 'the dawn of happiness')it was during this time that Thailand asserted its independence from the Khmer and Mon kingdoms. The most famous monarch of this period was king Ramkamhaeng the Great, credited with creating the Thai language.

1438 saw a new capital and the beginning of the Ayuthaya Period, reigning until 1767AD. The kings during this period were absolute monarchs who assumed the title of 'devaraja' or God-king' and it was during this time that Siam, as Thailand was then known, commenced diplomatic relations with western countries. In 1767 after many years of Thai-Burmese fighting interspersed with years of peace and development, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing and destroying Ayuthaya and, although not holding power for long, putting an end to the Ayuthaya period in Thai history.

Seven months after the fall of Ayuthaya it was reclaimed from the Burmese by a young general called Thaksin. He moved the capital nearer to the sea to facilitate foreign trade, so beginning Thonburi period, a relatively short and unsettled period in Thai history from 1767 - 1782AD.

The current reigning Chakri dynasty were established in 1782 . One of the first kings actions (Rama I 1782 - 1809) was to move the capital to Bangkok, across the river from Thonburi, and oversee the building of the Grand Palace. One of the most revered and famous kings of this period was Rama V who during his reign abolished slavery in Thailand and became known as the father of Thai medicine. The country changed from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy during the reign of Rama VII, who abdicated in 1933 and was succeeded by his nephew king Ananda - the king who reigned until his murder in 1946, to be succeeded by the current monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej.