Abstract:
One of the important attempts of the Kings in Early Bangkok Period in building up the political stability was the creation of good relationship within the ruling group which consists of the Kings, Princes and Nobles in order to minimize the political conflicts caused by the problems of succeeding the throne for which there were no certain rules. This thesis aims at studying the social relationships within the ruling group which directly affected the Thai politics in Early Bangkok Period. The characteristics of the political contradiction among the ruling group during the preceeding eras was investigated as they had strong influence on the forming of the political administration policy in the early Chakri Dynasty. It aims also at studying the characteristics of the social relationships within the ruling group which caused the economic and political mutual benefit bartering among them. It includes as well the study of the factors of such relationships and their effects on the politics of the country during the Early Bangkok Period. This study shows that after the conflicts within the ruling group for the succession to the throne in the late Ayudhaya Period and after the loss of Ayudhaya Capital to the Burmese in the year 1782 A.D., some central nobles who attempted to establish the state as that of Ayudhaya united. It was firstly headed by King Taksin. However, he was faced by problems which led to a new political change. Later, King Rama I Successfully established the Chakri Dynasty under the characters of kinship and patronage which deeply immersed among the central nobles of late Ayudhaya Period. The relationship with the kinship and patronage characters was greatly emphasized to become firmer and wider in The Early Bangkok Period by loosening the former strict rules and formed the goodwill among the Chakri Dynasty Household. In a relative relationship between the Kings and Princes, there was no emphasis on Birth Status of Princes due to the maternal line. This made it open for any royal members who were qualified both in Spirit and Morality to decend to the throne and be accepted by the ruling group. However, he still had to depend on the political supports form other Princes and Nobles. This formed a close and mutual patronage in the economic and political relationship amony the kinship. The factors that made a relationship within the ruling group possible were due to their social and economic changes of the environment, which affected the overall economic goals of the Early Bangkok Period, during which time there was expansion in the foreign trade affairs. It, in turns, yielded both great benefits and close relationship within the ruling group which resulted in strengthening the political stability of the Kings in Chakri Dynasty.