Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej , 1927-, king of Thailand (1946-), b. Cambridge, Mass. A member of the Chakri dynasty, he was at school in Switzerland when his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, died (1946) under mysterious circumstances. Bhumibol ruled with a regent until 1950, when he was formally crowned Rama IX. The longest-ruling monarch in Thailand's history, in 2000 he also became longest-reigning ruler in the world. He has enjoyed great popular support although his power is largely ceremonial. The king has actively promoted development projects and has been generally a stabilizing force in the country's turbulent politics, intervening several times to resolve governmental crises or criticize government leaders. His displeasure with the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra partially contributed to the coup that ousted Thaksin, and the king subsequently gave his approval to the coup and new government. The king's name also appears as Phumiphen.

Bibliography: See study by P. M. Handley (2006).

Bhumibol, Adulyadej (b. 5 Dec. 1927). King ( Rama IX) of Thailand 1946–  Born in Massachusetts, where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, studied medicine, he succeeded his brother, Ananda Mahidol, to the throne, and was crowned in 1950 upon finishing his studies in Switzerland. Following the abolition of the absolute monarchy in the 1932 revolution, the King retained a largely ceremonial role as head of state, and as Commander-in-Chief. The long experience of Bhumibol in office, however, enabled him to become an important integrative national symbol, and a moderating force in the country's stormy political history, which was characterized by varying degrees of military rule.